Salisbury Life
Restaurant Reviews
The Somerset Arms
Chruch Street
Maiden Bradley
Tel: 01985 844207
www.somersetarms.co.uk
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 12-2.30pm, 7.30-9.30 pm, closed Sunday evening, Mon evening bar food only
We visited: Tuesday evening
Prices: Tue-Fri 2-course lunch menu £9.95
Do they welcome children? Of course
Vegetarian choice: Enough alternatives
Disabled access: Possible
Wine list: well considered
Service and atmosphere: service could be better, atmosphere in bar hoppin’ and jumpin’
“The Somerset Arms successfully walks the fine line between somewhere to go for a quick beer in the bar, settle in with the papers in the comfort of a large sofa, or enjoy an excellent dinner and, even better, it’s great value for money.”
Anokaa
60 Fisherton Street
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP2 7RB
Tel: 01722 414142
www.anokaa.com
Opening hours: Mon-Thu lunch midday-2.30pm; dinner 5.30pm-10.30pm, Fri-Sun 5.30-11pm.
Vegetarian choice: Plenty of choice
Prices: Starters from £3.55, main courses £9.95-£14.55, puds
Children: Welcome
Disabled access: Accessible
OUR VERDICT
As special as it proclaims, a culinary twist to the usual Indian menu and everything presented with panache. Waiters couldn’t have been more charming, yet weren’t intrusive.
"It certainly wasn’t the usual crowd one expects in a curry house on a Saturday night…what credit crunch? The couple next to us were drinking Taittinger champagne – yes, the tables are somewhat close together, but it does encourage people to chat to their neighbours – and everyone looked prosperous and happy."
The Alice Lisle
Rockford Green
Ringwood
Hampshire BH24 3NA
Tel: 01425 474700
www.gales.co.uk
Opening hours: Drinks: 11am – 11pm, Food: Mon-Fri midday-2pm and 6pm-9pm; Saturdays midday-9pm; Sundays midday-8pm,
Prices: Starters from £3.95, main courses from £7.95
Our verdict: Great place for families at the weekends, and not half bad in the evenings either.
‘It’s a funny thing, but when you have children things change. No, I don’t just mean the sleepless nights, dwindling bank account and the inability to spot baby sick on your shoulder: or is it more that I am sooo tired I just don’t care anymore? No, one of the other things is your world starts to shrink. There are places you used to frequent happily that are suddenly no-go areas. I’m thinking of peaceful gardens, quiet churches and…decent pubs…
‘…Now I am not holding The Alice Lisle up as a shrine to Heston Blumenthal, but it ain’t half bad and they are making a big effort to make things even better.’
The Oak Inn
Pinkney Lane, Bank
Lyndhurst
Hampshire
SO43 7FE
tel: 02380 282350
www.fullers.co.uk
"Neat, clean and tidy with scrubbed wood tables, stripped wood panelling, milk churn bar stools, beamed freplace, candles and just the right amount of nic nacs to be interesting without being fussy and cluttered. Bit surprised to see spears on the ceiling though."
“The staff must have art O-levels – the puddings were a work of art”
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 11.30-3.30pm, 6-11.30pm Food 12-2.30pm, 6-9pm Sat: 11.30am-11.30pm. Food midday to 2.30pm, 6-9.30pm, Sunday: midday to 11pm. Food midday to 2.30pm, 6-9pm,
Prices: Starters from £4.75, Mains from £6.95
Reviewed: Issue 85
Published: September
The Ship Inn
Burcombe Lane
Burcombe, Salisbury
Wiltshire SP2 0EJ
Tel: 01722 743182
www.theshipburcombe.co.uk
“We spent a good five minutes just feasting with our eyes”
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 11am– 3pm; 6pm – 11pm Sunday and bank holidays: 12 – 3pm; 6.30pm – 10.30pm.
Vegetarian choice: Yes
Prices: Starters from £6.85, mains from £11.95, puddings £5.75
Children: Welcome
Disabled access: Yes
The George
14 Bridge Street
Fordingbridge
Hampshire
Tel: 01425 652040
"One agreed to take my drinks order when I asked, but then lost 10 points when she asked whether I wanted soda water or lemonade in the spritzer. AAAAAh!"
Opening hours: Week days 10am – 11pm Food served 12 – 3pm. 5.30pm – 10pm. Weekends: Food served 12 – 10pm.
Prices: Starters from £4.95. Mains from £5.95. Puddings from £4.95
Vegetarian choice: Yes
Children: Welcome
Disabled access: Yes
Reviewed: Issue 83
Published: August
Après LXIX
9-13 St John Street
Salisbury
Wilts
tel: 01722 340000
"Sharp shards of what looked like a decoration" on a Philip Treacy hat"
Opening hours: Mon-Sat midday to 2.30pm, 6pm to 9.30pm; Sun midday to 3.30pm
Vegetarian choice: good selection of interesting-sounding dishes.
Children: no particular provision, ie special menu or high chairs.
Disabled access: possible.
Reviewed: Issue 82
Published: July
The Mulberry Restaurant
Bishopstrow House Hotel & Spa
Bishopstrow
Warminster
Wiltshire
tel: 01985 212312
Bishopstrow is an imposing Georgian mansion set in acres of grounds some five miles from Warminster.
OUR VERDICT
Should be better than it is for the prices charged – excellent food in places, but let down by carelessness in the detailing.
Opening hours: lunch 12–2pm; dinner 7–9pm
Vegetarian choice: excellent, but turn the page of the menu to find it
Prices: à la carte: two courses £32, three courses £40, coffee/tea £3.95
Children: welcome
Disabled access: ramp available
Reviewed: Issue 81
Published: June
The Cross Keys
Lyes Green
Corsley
Warminster, Wilts
tel: 01373 832406
An evening meal with friends at this country pub found Nicola Cunningham enjoying the atmosphere and food. A gastropub with villagey atmosphere, serving good food, with a choice of surroundings – trad or contemporary. “Enough fish to keep a piscivore as happy as a sole could be, Pam pointed out that I had actually ordered monkfish tails”
Opening hours: Food served Mon-Sat midday-2.15pm, 7pm-9.30pm; Sun midday-2.30pm, 7.15pm-9pm
Vegetarian choice: good choice
Prices: on the steep side
Children: over 14 only and not on Fri or Sat evenings – dogs always welcome . . .
Disabled access: difficult
Reviewed: Issue 80
Published; May
The Bell
High Street
Wylye
Wiltshire
tel: 01985 248338
A real village pub that caters for locals and people looking for a takeaway pizza or something more, says Nicola Cunningham. “All just as a village pub should be: flagstone floors, not over-decorated”
OUR VERDICT
For a village pub, this is perfection: nothing too poncey, a fine old building, and food that is honest and may yet improve. “The chef had decided the loin of cod wasn’t good enough”
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.30am-3pm, 6pm-11.30pm; Sun 12-3pm, 6pm-10.30pm;
Food served: Mon-Thur/Sun 12-2.30pm; Fri/Sat 12-2.30pm, 6pm-9.30pm
Vegetarian choice: yes
Prices: starters from £5.25, pizza from £6.45, puddings from £4.25
Children: welcome
Disabled access: yes
Reviewed: Issue 79
Published: April
Paprika
32a George Street
Warminster
tel: 01985 212064/215558
There’s nothing like a curry on a cold Monday night, so Nicola Cunningham and friend ventured out into Warminster.
OUR VERDICT
A friendly local takeaway and restaurant that delivers sustaining food in an intimate and pleasant atmosphere. Prices are pretty good too.
Opening hours: Midday-2pm, 5.30pm-11pm, Fri to Sat 5pm-11.30pm
Vegetarian choice: Plenty of choice
Prices: Cheap and very cheerful
Children: Welcome
Disabled access: Possible
Reviewed: Issue 78
Published: April 11th
The Beckford
Fonthill Gifford
Salisbury
SP3 6PX
tel: 01747 870385
www.the-beckford.co.uk
Nicola Cunningham enjoys a mid-week lunch at a traditional hostelry in
Fonthill Gifford – once she manages to find the door, that is . . .
OUR VERDICT
A comprehensive and seasonal menu with home-cooked lasagne and fine gourmet food. Like the food, the décor is a mix of traditional and modern, a bit of everything. Staff lackadaisical (but friendly enough), with no-one seemingly in charge.
Opening hours: 11am-11pm daily
Vegetarian choice: Good – there’s a separate menu
Prices: Starters approx £5-£7, mains approx £8-17
Children: Yes, as long as they’re well behaved
Disabled access: Unfortunately not
Reviewed: Issue 77
Published: March 20
The Spread Eagle Inn
Church Lawn, Stourton
Warminster, Wiltshire
BA12 6QE
tel: 01747 840587
www.spreadeagleinn.com
OUR VERDICT
A return visit to a favourite local turned out to be a bit of a disappointment for Nicola Cunningham. “I felt like Eeyore on his birthday: a bit short-changed”
A change of hands has brought with it a distinct lowering in the standard of cooking, but the building is beautiful and no doubt the tourists will buoy up trade in the summer months.
Opening hours: Daily, lunch 12-2.30pm, cold food until 3pm; dinner 7-9pm
Vegetarian choice: limited
Prices: Starters from £4.50, main courses from £9.95, puds from £3.95
Children: welcome
Disabled access: Listed building so not easy, but can be done
Reviewed: Issue 76
Published: Feb 29
Gastrobistro at the Pheasant Inn
19 Salt Lane
Salisbury
Wilts SP1 1DT
Tel: 01722 414926
OUR VERDICT
Bistro within trad pub serving unpretentious but seasonal food – pleasant atmosphere and staff
The idea of the gregarious Gallic owner of the Gastrobistro at the Pheasant Inn drew Nicola Cunningham and daughter in for dinner. “Cabbage that would have won the approval of my mother-in-law”
Opening hours: Daily, lunch from 12-2.30pm, dinner 6-9.30pm; Sat & Sun breakfast 11am-2.30pm; Bar open midday to 11pm
Vegetarian choice: limited
Prices: three courses + wine £60 for two
Children: welcome (special menu)
Disabled access: yes
Reviewed: Issue 75
Published: Feb 8
The Trough
The Ginger Piggery
Boyton
Warminster, Wilts
tel: 01985 850381
OUR VERDICT
Pigging out at a café serving locally-sourced food saw Nicola Cunningham happy as a pig in clover. A relaxed café where meat takes centre stage and puddings come a close second. Everything is sourced locally, within 48 miles of the Piggery.
Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm. Lunch from midday to 2.30pm
Vegetarian choice: Not a huge choice, but there are salads and quiches
Prices: Excellent value
Children: Welcome
Disabled access: Easy access
Reviewed: Issue 74
Published: Jan 18
The Bath Arms
Clay Street, Crockerton
Nr Warminster
Wiltshire BA 12 8AJ
Tel: 01985 212262
www.batharmscrockerton.co.uk
OUR VERDICT
With some reluctance, Nicola Cunningham reveals the identity of one of her favourite pubs and what attracts her to it. “A wonderful confection of soft meringue and griottes in brandy”
Opening hours: 11am–3pm, 6pm–11pm; food served midday to 2pm, 6pm to 9pm daily
Vegetarian choice: Always something available
Children: welcome
Disabled access: accessible at the back
Reviewed: Issue 73
Published: Dec 28
