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Walhampton Arms, Walhampton near Lymington
PUB landlady Julie Brooker found herself back on home ground after she and her husband agreed to run one of Lymington's most popular inns.
Julie, 55, was manager of the Lymington branch of Woolworths during her previous career, which also included spells in charge of the company's Romsey and Totton branches.
Her life changed ten years ago when she met her future husband Paul, 59, who was running the Red Rover pub at West Wellow.
The couple managed pubs in West Sussex and Somerset before taking charge of what was then Towles earlier this year.
One of the first things they did was change the title from Towles to the Walhampton Arms.
Julie said: "We wanted a name that said what we were and where we were. We also altered the menu slightly and made the pub completely no smoking, which went down very well."
More changes are due to be introduced early next year in a bid to further enhance the inn's growing reputation.
The Walhampton Arms is an old farm behind Hordle Walhampton School on the B3054 Lymington to Beaulieu road.
Originally part of the Walhampton Estate, the former Home Farm included a dairy that produced milk and butter for people living nearby.
The buildings were arranged in a quadrangle. The middle courtyard was eventually roofed over and converted into a barn, which now forms the entrance to the pub.
Customers approaching the front door walk through an archway decorated with old-fashioned farming implements.
Also on display are two large photographs of Home Farm staff in the 1930s. One shows cowman Bill Whittron and the other is of Will Peek, who was the farm's bailiff between 1933 and 1937.
Perched on top of a hill overlooking Lymington town centre, the pub's rural setting provides a perfect antidote to urban life.
Jazz concerts are held there every month and the inn also enjoys visits from magicians who perform tricks at customers' tables.
Apart from the main eating area, the Walhampton Arms has a large function room that is used for wedding receptions and discos. The building boasts attractive beams and a Penny Farthing bicycle mounted on the end wall.
Key members of staff include head chef Fred Gallo, who has worked there for nine months.
12:16pm Friday 2nd February 2007
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CommentPosted by: jean, lee-on-solent on 7:12pm Fri 13 Jul 07
having had a very good meal at your place last saturday iwant to send a friend a email recommending it but i don,t understand why i have to give their email add sincerly j
having had a very good meal at your place last saturday iwant to send a friend a email recommending it but i don,t understand why i have to give their email add sincerly j
Posted by: J, Soton on 9:48am Mon 23 Jul 07
I went here to celebrate my mum's 50th birthday and we had a wonderful evening.
The food was plentiful, presented well and tasted superb. My steak was cooked perfectly, nice pink inside, cooked outside.
My pudding was to DIE for... moist, rich chocolate sponge with oozing chocolate sauce.
It was very reasonable prices and the layout, decor and size of the place is great.
I highly recommend a visit, it's a lot better than Towles was.
I went here to celebrate my mum's 50th birthday and we had a wonderful evening.
The food was plentiful, presented well and tasted superb. My steak was cooked perfectly, nice pink inside, cooked outside.
My pudding was to DIE for... moist, rich chocolate sponge with oozing chocolate sauce.
It was very reasonable prices and the layout, decor and size of the place is great.
I highly recommend a visit, it's a lot better than Towles was.
Posted by: suzanne, southampton on 5:38pm Fri 10 Aug 07
My husband and I ate there last night and although the service was excellent and the food was hot, the quality was very poor. We both had the moussaka. It was mainly just sauce and cheese with a sprinkling of lamb mince and a few slices of aubergine. We felt that for £8.45 each this was very over priced and would not visit or recommend again.
My husband and I ate there last night and although the service was excellent and the food was hot, the quality was very poor. We both had the moussaka. It was mainly just sauce and cheese with a sprinkling of lamb mince and a few slices of aubergine. We felt that for £8.45 each this was very over priced and would not visit or recommend again.
Posted by: Rob and Em, West Totton on 6:58pm Fri 31 Aug 07
[quote][bold]suzanne[/bold] wrote:
My husband and I ate there last night and although the service was excellent and the food was hot, the quality was very poor. We both had the moussaka. It was mainly just sauce and cheese with a sprinkling of lamb mince and a few slices of aubergine. We felt that for £8.45 each this was very over priced and would not visit or recommend again.[/quote] My wife and I are very choosy about where we eat - we like quality food, good service and a nice environment. The Walhampton Arms delivers all of these and we have [bold]always had excellent food and service[/bold] .
We haven't yet eaten our way through the entire menu though we certainly intend to!!!
I think Suzanne and her husband were very unlucky and had they bothered to mention their concerns at the time to Paul, Julie or any of the extremely helpful and friendly staff, they'd have been able to do something about it there and then (and no doubt shared their disappointed just as much). Ultimately Suzanne and her husband could have left as extremely satisfied customers. I've eaten in far more expensive restaurants than the Walhampton Arms and even they can get it wrong from time to time, I've even eaten in Harry Ramsden's and had substandard chips and thats their core business!! It's a very competitive market and most restaurateurs AIM to deliver quality and value, not moderation, but no-one is perfect and occasionally things will go wrong ....if you're unhappy, speak up at the time.
We're off for yet another excellent meal at the Walhampton Arms !!!!
suzanne wrote:
My husband and I ate there last night and although the service was excellent and the food was hot, the quality was very poor. We both had the moussaka. It was mainly just sauce and cheese with a sprinkling of lamb mince and a few slices of aubergine. We felt that for £8.45 each this was very over priced and would not visit or recommend again.
My wife and I are very choosy about where we eat - we like quality food, good service and a nice environment. The Walhampton Arms delivers all of these and we have
always had excellent food and service .
We haven't yet eaten our way through the entire menu though we certainly intend to!!!
I think Suzanne and her husband were very unlucky and had they bothered to mention their concerns at the time to Paul, Julie or any of the extremely helpful and friendly staff, they'd have been able to do something about it there and then (and no doubt shared their disappointed just as much). Ultimately Suzanne and her husband could have left as extremely satisfied customers. I've eaten in far more expensive restaurants than the Walhampton Arms and even they can get it wrong from time to time, I've even eaten in Harry Ramsden's and had substandard chips and thats their core business!! It's a very competitive market and most restaurateurs AIM to deliver quality and value, not moderation, but no-one is perfect and occasionally things will go wrong ....if you're unhappy, speak up at the time.
We're off for yet another excellent meal at the Walhampton Arms !!!!
Posted by: Charles Wallace, Lymington on 6:52pm Sun 2 Dec 07
Well my family, a party of 14 people went for a meal recently and we were all very disappointed. We arrived just after 7pm, table was booked for 7:30pm, the food arrived at 9:20pm ! The children were offered lumps of stale bread while they waited for are food which we were prepared to wait for because we were all to catching up with each other. At no point was their an explanation or an apology regarding the long wait, with good service you should be served within 10 -15mins. When the food did arrive I questioned the Manager who seemed to want an argument with me rather than apologise for such a disgusting Service.
Food: Average to Poor
Service: Below Average
Location: Good
The good company kept my family there but we shall not be returning and when asked if I can recommend a Restaurant it won’t be the Walhampton Arms!
My advice is stay away.
Well my family, a party of 14 people went for a meal recently and we were all very disappointed. We arrived just after 7pm, table was booked for 7:30pm, the food arrived at 9:20pm ! The children were offered lumps of stale bread while they waited for are food which we were prepared to wait for because we were all to catching up with each other. At no point was their an explanation or an apology regarding the long wait, with good service you should be served within 10 -15mins. When the food did arrive I questioned the Manager who seemed to want an argument with me rather than apologise for such a disgusting Service.
Food: Average to Poor
Service: Below Average
Location: Good
The good company kept my family there but we shall not be returning and when asked if I can recommend a Restaurant it won’t be the Walhampton Arms!
My advice is stay away.
Posted by: charmaine, banwell on 9:58am Mon 25 Feb 08
th ok i will come n see you soon
love you both
love charmaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx
th ok i will come n see you soon
love you both
love charmaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: James Sturgess, Sway on 9:11am Sun 9 Mar 08
I recently visited the Walhampton Arms with a group work collegues, we waited nearly 2 Hours for arm food! 3 of us did complain without any luck, seems like the Walhampton Arms is on a downward spiral. & of the group left because they were fed up of waiting, I did wait for the food and now wished I hadn't! Terrible service and also a terrible attitube from the Manager.
I recently visited the Walhampton Arms with a group work collegues, we waited nearly 2 Hours for arm food! 3 of us did complain without any luck, seems like the Walhampton Arms is on a downward spiral. & of the group left because they were fed up of waiting, I did wait for the food and now wished I hadn't! Terrible service and also a terrible attitube from the Manager.
Posted by: Paul Stewart on 5:32pm Thu 20 Mar 08
My wife and I, family & friends have visited the Walhampton Arms on several occassions now and we have nothing but praise for the whole organisation, good food in quality & quantity, good drinks and plenty of choice and most of all very polite and accommodating Management & staff. Well done to you all.
My wife and I, family & friends have visited the Walhampton Arms on several occassions now and we have nothing but praise for the whole organisation, good food in quality & quantity, good drinks and plenty of choice and most of all very polite and accommodating Management & staff. Well done to you all.
Posted by: Neville Brooker, Dover on 5:05pm Mon 14 Jul 08
Firstly I am no relation to the Landlady. I visited Towles during June this year whilst on Holiday for an evening meal. The food and the service was perfectly agreeable. I must confess to the fact that we were undercharged for a second bottle of wine and the sweets which I had failed to notice.... mainly due to that second bottle of wine ! I am afraid for me personally I do dearly miss the old regime at Towles which to me was without doubt some of the finest food I have come across and most certainly the best service levels ever, anywhere.... and I do know a lot of the locals feel the same.
Firstly I am no relation to the Landlady. I visited Towles during June this year whilst on Holiday for an evening meal. The food and the service was perfectly agreeable. I must confess to the fact that we were undercharged for a second bottle of wine and the sweets which I had failed to notice.... mainly due to that second bottle of wine ! I am afraid for me personally I do dearly miss the old regime at Towles which to me was without doubt some of the finest food I have come across and most certainly the best service levels ever, anywhere.... and I do know a lot of the locals feel the same.
Posted by: Gerald Simpson, Lyndhurst on 9:28pm Mon 21 Jul 08
I've only just found this review site but my experience of the Walhamptons Arms was not good!
Where do I start..Bad Service..Cold Food...Staff Attitude. If your expecting anything like the old Towles then your going to be very disappointed.
Gerald Simpson
I've only just found this review site but my experience of the Walhamptons Arms was not good!
Where do I start..Bad Service..Cold Food...Staff Attitude. If your expecting anything like the old Towles then your going to be very disappointed.
Gerald Simpson
Posted by: Tom Grant, Sway on 10:54pm Thu 24 Jul 08
Well im going to be straight to the point..AVOID THE WALHAMPTON ARMS!
Food - Rubbish
Service - Rubbish
Value for money - Rubbish
My advice - Go to Burger King the Walhampton Arms is terrible full stop!
Well im going to be straight to the point..AVOID THE WALHAMPTON ARMS!
Food - Rubbish
Service - Rubbish
Value for money - Rubbish
My advice - Go to Burger King the Walhampton Arms is terrible full stop!
Posted by: Jannice Chance, Sandbanks on 5:50pm Sat 9 Aug 08
What an awful ghastley place, totally horrible.
What an awful ghastley place, totally horrible.
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