The Wheatsheaf, Shedfield, 25th January 2017

As a gesture of remembrance for our recently-departed friend Joe, we decided that this month's outing should be yet another visit to our (and Joe's) favourite pub of all time, The Wheatsheaf Inn at Shedfield, midway between Botley and Wickham, and conveniently on the 69 bus route.  We have, of course, been here many times before: Our first visit was in 2012, quickly followed by a 2nd visit in 2013 (when we presented them with a well-deserved "Pie of the Year" award), and for our AGMs in 2013 and 2014, and another formal evaluation in 2015. Although their pies have long been highly revered in our memories, it was time for a formal re-evaluation, as we know from bitter experience that things can change over the years. All the same, it was with great expectations that we approached the pub this time.

Some of us, in the throes of a new-year fitness binge, decided to walk the 3.1 miles from Bishops Waltham, and did quite well, completing the distance in 50 minutes. There's nothing like the prospect of a great pie and pint to spur us on! Our more sedate members took the 69 bus.

So quickly did we complete the walk that we arrived at the pub before opening time, so for a while there was the pathetic sight of several very tired and thirsty Pie Club members waiting outside the door with tongues hanging out.After a few minutes the landlord Tim took pity on us and let us in. We found that he was in the final stages of an interior refit, with an extension to the dining area.

The results make the interior look much smarter, but Pie Club members are renown for their conservative views regarding pub interiors. The changes gave us plenty to talk about, and we doubt if Joe would approve of them.  One thing that hasn't changed is the quality and price of the beers, which remain as good as ever.

We were also relieved to see that Sally had done another brilliant job in preparing the Steak & Kidney pie, which was also up to her usual very high standard. The pie had been prepared for 10 people, but luckily for us (and sadly for Doug), one of us had to drop out of this trip at the last minute, leaving 9 of us to cope with this magnificent pie.

The only problem was in dividing this pie up into 9 equal portions, and there were the usual squabbles about some people getting bigger pieces than others. But generally speaking, Stephen did quite a good job of taking over Joe's traditional role in cutting up the pie.

The pie was served with generous quantities of vegetables and new potatoes. 

Gravy was served separately, in jugs on the side, just the way we like it, and the end result was an excellent meal.  

Scores for The Wheatsheaf Inn (Max 5 in each category - total 25 overall):

Pastry - 4.65

Filling -  4.5

Beer   -  4.85

Ambience - 4.0

Value  - 4.8

 

Overall  - 21.89

Although this score is lower than in previous visits (perhaps a reflection of our more discerning judgement), this still remains, in our view, as near as you can get to the perfect Pie and Pint.  Once again The Wheatsheaf leaps straight in at number one in our tables.

The Hunters Inn Swanmore 24th November 2016

The Hunters Inn Swanmore 24th November 2016

This was our first visit to the Hunters Inn so the walking party set off from Bishops Waltham across fields and orchards to meet up with the others at the pub.

We have used various modes of transport to arrive at our Pie Club venues but never on horseback - maybe one for the future!

On arrival it was quite busy but we managed to get ourselves to the bar to find that there was a choice of 3 real ales: Bowmans Swift One - 3.8%, Sherfield on Loddon Best Bitter - 4.2% and Theaktons Best - 3.8%. Most of us started on Swift One as it one of our favourite local beers.

We had a choice of 2 pies which we had selected in advance, Steak and kidney and Venison and they were served in the traditional way with chips and peas.

There were some initial concerns when the pies arrived as they were in dishes and appeared to have just a pastry topping. However when we delved inside there was lovely shortcrust pastry on the sides and bottom and loads of filling and no confusion on which pies were which!

The plates were cleared and everyone agreed that both pies were excellent. Despite being well fed a few of us elected to have a pudding which included homemade rum and raisin ice cream and treacle sponge and custard.

We headed back to Bishops Waltham by foot car and bus but definitely not on horseback!

Scores (max. 5 in each category, 25 overall).

• Pastry      4.35
• Filling       4.32
• Beer         4.15
• Ambience 3.97
• Value        4.79
• Overall    21.58

Our thanks to everyone at the Hunters Inn for an excellent lunch.

The Hinton Arms Hinton Ampner 27th October 2016

The Hinton Arms Hinton Ampner 27th October 2016

This was our first visit to the Hinton Arms so we set off from Bishops Waltham in taxi's full of  anticipation.

On arrival we found the pub to be very busy, which we should have expected due to it's proximity to the National Trust property at Hinton Ampner (well worth a visit). So we fought our way to the bar to be confronted with a good selection of 4 real Ales.

We had to choose from Hintons Own from Bowman -3.8%(we suspect this was Swift One), Hampshire Rose from from Ichen Valley - 4.2%, Old Dick from Southwick Brewery - 3.8% and Sportsman from Bowman - 4%(which could have been Wallops Wood). Over the lunchtime, between us, we managed to try all the beers on offer which were all in good condition. Unfortunately, our Guinness drinking member found that it was not to his liking so had to change to lager.

So after a couple of pints we had built up an appetite and were ready for the pies. There were two on offer, a steak and kidney and steak and stilton in suet pastry!

When the pies arrived they were huge!

Both pies had plenty of filling with very tender beef. The steak and kidney pie had a traditional shortcrust pastry and the steak and stilton had a crumbly suet pastry. Both came with with a selection of veg and new potatoes and chips.

To follow there were a good selection of desserts on offer, but only those of us who do not have watch their waistlines were able to indulge!

Scores (max. 5 in each category, 25 overall).

• Pastry       4.34
• Filling        4.47
• Beer          3.85
• Ambience  4.27
• Value         4.03
• Overall     20.96

Our thanks to everyone at the Hinton Arms for an excellent lunchtime visit.

The Rising Sun Swanmore 29th September 2016

The Rising Sun Swanmore 29th September 2016

We had visited this pub on two previous occasions but as there had recently been a change of management we felt obliged to revisit, particularly as we were getting good reports about the pies on offer. So six of us set off on the short walk from Bishops Waltham to  Swanmore, meeting the other three members at the pub.

We received a warm welcome from Amy and Ben and were interested to see that one of the beers on offer was Wayfarer (4%) from a new brewery in Swanmore just around the corner from the pub.This was the obvious choice for our first beer as none of us had sampled this beer before. Unfortunately there were only 2 pints left in the barrel and a replacement barrel was not ready to be tapped - so we will have to keep our eyes open for beers from this new brewery!

The other beers on offer were:

Ringwood Red Boar 3.9% and Goodens Gold 4.8%. We all decided on the Red Boar which was a good supping ale. Goodens Gold is an excellent beer but a bit too strong for us at a lunchtime.

We were all getting quite excited about the pie as Ben was producing a homemade rabbit pie which would be a new experience for some of us. Indeed the pie was excellent, with a lovely shortcrust pastry filled generously with succulent rabbit and served traditionally with huge portions of chips and peas with gravy on the side, just as we like it!

Plates were cleared so it was surprising to see that a number of the group elected to have a pudding. Maybe not so surprising when we looked at the selection of puddings available.

As the pub closed at 2.30pm we drank up and started out on the return walk to Bishops Waltham, stopping off at the Brickmakers to quench our thirst.

Scores (max. 5 in each category, 25 overall)

• Pastry  4.64
• Filling  4.77
• Beer      3.86
• Ambience 4.13
• Value      4.13
• Overall  21.53

Our thanks to Amy and Ben for their hospitality and for providing us with such an excellent homemade pie. We know that Ben produces a range of homemade pies so we will be back!

The Brushmakers Arms Upham 25th August 2016

The Brushmakers Arms Upham 25th August 2016

We had visited this pub before but as there had recently been a change of management and we were hearing encouraging reports, through the grapevine, we felt it was our duty to have a return visit and find out for ourselves.

So six of us set off from Bishops Waltham on a hot and humid summers' day for the 4 mile walk to Upham. Four other gents were due to join us at the pub but for some reason didn't fancy the walk!

On arrival, we were obviously suffering from extreme dehydration (the walkers that is) so we headed straight to the bar for sustenance in the form of beer! 

We were warmly welcomed and presented with a choice of  a good selection of four beers:

Upham Fields of Gold - 3.8%, Palmers Copper Ale - 3.7%, Fullers London Pride - 4.1% and Cheriton Goodens Gold - 4.8%. Most of us opted for the Upham Fields of Gold which was a refreshing straw coloured beer, which was just what the doctor ordered.

Having satisfied our thirst over a couple of pints it was time for the main event - the pie!

This months offering was to be individual chicken, ham and leek pies with chips and vegetables The pies were presented in individual enamel pie dishes which we thought was a nice traditional touch.

With a little coaxing the pies turn out perfectly onto the plate which suggested that they were cooked to perfection. Which indeed they were! The pastry was very good and there was plenty of excellent filling and it all came with gravy on the side - yum.

Everybody cleared their plates and some of us even had room for a pudding from the extensive menu.

The taxi duly arrived to take us back to Bishops Waltham, it was felt that to walk back after such an excellent lunch would be a step too far! However, two of our group did decide to walk back taking a different route - never to be seen again!(they did turn up eventually having taken a wrong turn or two - or had they found another pub?).

Scores(max. 5 in each category, 25 overall):

• Pastry 4.25
• Filling 4.40
• Beer 4.24
• Ambience 4.38
• Value 4.49
• Overall 21.76

Many thanks to Nicki and her team for a most enjoyable visit and congratulations on an excellent pie which puts the Brushmaker into 2nd position overall for 2016 so far.

 

The Elm Tree, Swanwick, 28th July 2016

The Elm Tree, Swanwick, 28th July 2016

This was a new venue for Pie Club so we set off for the short taxi ride to Swanwick.

 On arrival we were delighted to find that three of our favourite beers were available on handpump.

Most of us started on the Flowerpots Bitter - 3.8% and during the course of the lunch also sampled Doom Bar - 4.0% and the delightful but deceptively strong Goodens Gold - 4.8%. All the beers were in excellent condition, as was the Guinness - to the delight of our Guinness drinking member. Whilst enjoying the beer we had to make a choice between three pies on offer - Lamb and Vegetable, Chicken Ham and Leek and Steak and Stilton. Now having already chosen our beer to have to make another decision so quickly was beyond most of us, so by the time we had decided the last Lamb and Vegetable pie had gone, but we still had  two to choose from.

Both the pies on offer were individual pies with shortcrust pastry tops and came with either chips or new potatoes with an excellent selection of vegetables, thus ensuring that we all got our '5 a day' which is important to healthy eating gents like us!

The pies were also accompanied by extra gravy in jugs, just as we like it. Both pies had good fillings with plenty of meat and the overall opinion was that they were good pies. A special mention for the chips that were excellent.

All plates were cleared so it was a surprise that most of us elected to have a pudding. But the pudding selection was very tempting, so it just had to be done!

By the time we had finished the puddings most of us felt like having a snooze, but the taxi was beckoning to take us back to Bishops Waltham.

Scores (max. 5 in each category, 25 overall): 

• Pastry 3.91
• Filling 4.44
• Beer 4.53
• Ambience 4.21
• Value 4.15
• Overall 21.24

A very enjoyable first visit to the Elm Tree and our thanks to Lorraine and all the staff for their service and for making us so welcome.

The Cricketers, Curdridge, 30th June 2016

For this month's outing Doug decided that it was about time that we re-visited The Cricketers, Durley.  Our last visit to this fine pub was in June 2013, when we were presented with some rather unconventional pasties and it scored a very respectable 19.625. Since then the pub has been taken over by new management and had a refurbishment, so it's due a re-evaluation.

This was to be Joe's last outing with us as he has had enough of England and decided to return to his homeland, Canada. This is a sad occasion for us as Joe has long been a popular member of the club. He tells us that he intends to start up a similar club in his home town, Ontario. We wish him well in this venture, and look forward to establishing reciprocal visiting rights in due course.

Joe's departure means that there there will soon be a vacancy in our membership, and we were joined on this outing by a young contender, Nigel, who is hoping to step into Joe's place.

As usual with the Cricketers, there was some confusion about how best to get there. It's not far from Bishops Waltham as the crow flies, but it's not a very pleasant walk along the main road and we couldn't find any alternative routes, so we went by bus again. Since out last visit the local buses have changed and the now had to get a No. 10 bus, which follows the same circuitous route as the old No. 8, and thankfully still stops just outside the pub.

This is a Greene King pub, and the beers available were Sticky Wicket (3.7%), Old Trip (4.2%), and Speckled Hen (4.5%).  The beers were served up by a delightful barmaid and found to be very quaffable.  

There was only one type of pie available: A Steak Pie served with mashed potato (with chives) and mixed seasonal vegetables (green & yellow courgettes with carrots). So that's what we ordered.

This time the pies were shaped conventionally. They were good-sized individual pies made of short crust pastry packed with lots of meat, served with mixed vegetables which were perfectly cooked, and a delicious mashed potato with chives. A small amount of gravy was pre-applied, but more was provided, served separately in jugs on the side, just the way we like it.  Although the pie was of a good size, we felt the portions of vegetables and potato were a bit on the small side, although they were very nicely cooked, and the whole meal was very tasty.


Afterwards we still felt a bit hungry so we sampled the puddings. There was a good selection to choose from, and they were all very nice.

The general ambience of the pub was very good. It's clean, has nicely up-market furnishings, and has no distractions such as music or fruit machines. The gardens are extensive but we didn't use them as the weather wasn't very good. The service was good, but unfortunately the pub closes at 3.00pm.  We had to wait ages for the bus back to Bishops Waltham as the bus had broken down and was running half an hour late. We could have done with the pub still being open as this was valuable drinking time which is now lost for ever.

Scores (max. 5 in each category, 25 overall): 

• Pastry 3.81
• Filling 3.98
• Beer 4.19
• Ambience 3.86
• Value 3.59
• Overall 19.44

This score is slightly down on the 2013 score, and puts The Cricketers 5th out of 5 pubs visited so far this year. There's nothing wrong with this pub, and the meal was excellent, but other pubs are better.  Our scores may have been affected by our sadness at losing Joe and paying for his share of the bill.