Squirreled away in Romsey ‘village’, elbow-to-elbow with period cottages, this rejuvenated 400-year-old pub has thankfully not gone all clever-clogs gastro. Dark beams and timbers, exposed brick
and slate flagstones retain traditional character, while thoughtful refurbishment delivers modern-day comforts in keeping with its country pub outlook. The Tuns’ new owners (the team behind the
Chesil Rectory in Winchester) take a seasonal and local approach to food, serving up dependable classics such as devilled lamb’s kidneys on toast or beer-battered fish with hand-cut chips, mushy
peas and homemade tartare sauce. Blackboard specials show more ambition, perhaps Isle of Wight sea bass teamed with a casserole of lentils and roots, cauliflower purée and red wine sauce,
while puds pay closer homage to the comfort agenda with Hampshire rhubarb and pear crumble or New Forest strawberry Eton mess. There’s a restaurant-quality wine list, or you can quaff hand-pumped
real ales from the traditional bar.