Really cool pub. Vibrant downstairs, tranquil upstairs. Great views across Hamble Marina out to Southampton Water. Three Greene King cask ales, and the typical Greene King menu which is rather heavy on meat and stodge, but amongst the small print a reasonably healthy and environmentally friendly plant based meal can be extracted. I like Greene King beers, but I do tend to despair of their menus. From Hungry Horse up to Chef & Brewer, the focus on chips, cheese, and meat is not encouraging or exciting in this day and age. However, the menus are popular and bring in a profit, so why should Greene King care? That said, the food is generally as you'd expect from that sort of menu - comforting rather than connoisseur. Food that people are not going to complain about, as it is often what we get at home, but presented more attractively. Our food was presented attractively, tasted nice, and was satisfying. Our waitress, Sarah, was attentive, pleasant, and did everything required, even though the upstairs room was almost full. We didn't wait long for anything - drinks, food, confirmation that everything was OK, and the bill, arrived promptly and with the ghost of a smile. Decent lunch time meal for two with drinks came to less than £30 in well run, comfortable surroundings in a room with possibly the best views in the area. Anyone coming here, provided they accept the limitations of the menu (and I totally do - The Greene King name is clearly displayed outside, so you know what you're getting), are not going to be disappointed.
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| Ambiance |
Quibbles? Yes. Two. On arriving at the pub we had to pass two smokers by the porch. We were forced to breathe in the toxins from their cigarette smoke, and endure the smell on our clothes. Smokers should be encouraged to stand well away from entrances when smoking. We, along with another party who had booked, were directed upstairs where someone would show us to our tables. Sadly there was nobody upstairs, and we all had to stand aimlessly waiting for someone to turn up and tell us where our tables were.
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| Food: Scampi and chips |
Do these quibbles really matter? Yes and no. Smokers seem to stand at the entrance to most pubs, and few pubs seem to have the will to insist that smokers stand away from the entrance. It matters, but the problem, to be fair, is not unique to the Rising Sun. And that the upstairs waitress was not available at that particular moment is not something the pub should be damned for. It happens. But perhaps a little thought, like having clearer table numbers so people can find their tables themselves at busy times, would be useful.
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| View over Hamble Marina to Southampton Water |
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| The Lads Who Lunch try for a selfie |
OK. Quibbles aside, this is one of the best pubs in the Southampton area, and - if you've not been - is well worth seeking out. There is a public car park right in front of the pub.
Date: Nov 2021 Score: 8
