
The Rose and Thistle
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Quick info
About The Rose and Thistle
The Rose and Thistle is a historic village pub in Fordingbridge, on Rockbourne Rd, with a restaurant alongside the bar. The Sunday roast centres on roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, vegetables and cauliflower cheese, and the chef spends four days making the gravy. The kitchen works with local farm meat and fresh, seasonal local produce. Steak pie and fish and chips sit on the menu, and starters include a nduja scotch egg. Drinks include a wine list and a range of non-alcoholic options. Dogs are welcome, so visitors can bring them along, and parking is available behind the pub.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Parking
- Good for kidsGood for kids
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast, roast beef with gravy, extensive wine list and beautifully presented dishes.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast, roast beef with gravy, extensive wine list and beautifully presented dishes.
Customer Review Summary
Sunday roast is what reviewers raise most, with the gravy singled out repeatedly as incredible and generous, and one reviewer relaying that the chef spends four days making it. The beef is called tender and cooked to perfection, the roasties crispy, and the Yorkshire pudding great, with cauli cheese and fresh apple sauce also praised. Close behind are the other dishes diners name: a nduja scotch egg, a lobster roll, a crème brulé, a steak pie, fish and chips, and sourdough with chicken butter. Several describe the plates as beautifully presented and the pricing as reasonable for the quality, and the wine list and beer selection draw praise too. Service is described as friendly, attentive and quick, and the welcome as warm, with locals and visitors alike made to feel included. One reviewer enjoyed the front garden for drinks, and a jazz playlist won appreciation from one diner. No reviewer raises a complaint. One reviewer drove an hour for the Sunday dinner and said it did not disappoint.
Customer Review Summary
Sunday roast is what reviewers raise most, with the gravy singled out repeatedly as incredible and generous, and one reviewer relaying that the chef spends four days making it. The beef is called tender and cooked to perfection, the roasties crispy, and the Yorkshire pudding great, with cauli cheese and fresh apple sauce also praised. Close behind are the other dishes diners name: a nduja scotch egg, a lobster roll, a crème brulé, a steak pie, fish and chips, and sourdough with chicken butter. Several describe the plates as beautifully presented and the pricing as reasonable for the quality, and the wine list and beer selection draw praise too. Service is described as friendly, attentive and quick, and the welcome as warm, with locals and visitors alike made to feel included. One reviewer enjoyed the front garden for drinks, and a jazz playlist won appreciation from one diner. No reviewer raises a complaint. One reviewer drove an hour for the Sunday dinner and said it did not disappoint.
Featured reviews
- Sally Stimpson
“WOWEEEEE! This is everything you could ever want from a village pub — and more. I had the absolute delight of visiting in the summer and, as a dedicated foodie, I was completely blown away by the menu. Deciding what to eat was a genuine dilemma, as every dish sounded so delicious. We were completely spoilt for choice. Of course, concocting an impressive menu is one thing — it’s easy to promise the world with pen and paper — but actually delivering it on the plate is quite another. Somehow, they went above and beyond even my wildest expectations. Before the divine and sophisticated flavours had even hit my palate, I was presented with what can only be described as artwork on a plate. The presentation was absolutely beautiful and genuinely worthy of a Michelin-starred table. This should absolutely be a destination pub for foodies. I also made the mistake of glancing at the wine list and was amazed by just how good it was, particularly at such reasonable prices. Sadly, I was driving, but even then I was delighted by the brilliant range of non-alcoholic drinks. We visited on a beautiful sunny weekday and the atmosphere was everything I crave from a proper village pub. There were clearly lots of friendly locals, but rather than making you feel like an outsider, there was such a warm and welcoming sense that everyone was invited in. It really feels like a pub at the heart of its community. Honestly, this should be on tourists’ lists as somewhere to experience a little of what village life used to feel like before so many communities were hollowed out by holiday homes and poor transport links. There is something genuinely special about this place. We loved it so much that we immediately Googled the nearest accommodation so that next time we can stay over and properly enjoy that wine list! And while it was completely glorious on a beautiful summer’s day, I am already dreaming of going back on a cold winter’s afternoon, settling in somewhere cosy and working my way through another wonderful meal. An absolute diamond of a pub and well worth the journey. The warmth of the welcome more than matches the beauty of the village. Truly magical.”
- sharon finney
“How have we missed this perfect pub? Sat in the garden today and enjoyed a family birthday lunch. Fabulous food and service. Lovely attentive staff 10/10 for everything. We will be back.”
- Bethany Britt
“The Rose and Thistle was great!! Our server was excellent, attentive and helpful and the service was quick. The food was delicious!! Beautifully presented and so tasty! The price range is very reasonable for the quality of food you’re getting. Will definitely be coming back!”
- Gaby Jackman
“Lovely place for Sunday dinner. We drove an hour to get here and it did not disappoint! The roasts are absolutely amazing, definitely the best roast dinner I’ve had. Sourdough with chicken butter is incredible. Perfect service, felt very looked after. Will definitely be returning.”
- Natalie Williams
“Unbelievably good Sunday roast. Such good produce. Proper straight from the ground veg and the meat from a local farm cooked to perfection. Apple sauce made fresh from apples from waitress’ garden. Delicious gravy made with so much love (and PLENTY of it too). And excellent cauli cheese. I’m storing this pub as a firm favourite on Google and can’t wait to come back when I’m in this area again. 10 out of 10!!! Sorry no pics. Was hungry and inhaled it before taking pics of the proof. Oh and the playlist was jazz which was much appreciated as jazz musicians!!!”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“A quintessential English pub, open Wednesday to Sunday. Our restaurant is open for lunch Wednesday and Thursdays and is open all day Friday, Saturday and Sundays. See our opening hours for full details of our full service information.”
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Free parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Food at bar
- Cozy
- Beer
- Food
- Table service
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Highlights· 2
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Parking· 1
- Parking
- Dining options· 1
- Seating
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Atmosphere· 2
- Casual
- Romantic
Location
Bars near The Rose and Thistle
- 5 mi away£20–30ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
sunday roast, crayfish dishes, dog-friendly pub
- The Albion Inn4.33266.1 mi away£10–20Reservations
chicken gyros, homemade pies, sunday roast
- The King's Head Inn4.04,0887.4 mi awayReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
cooked breakfast, dirty tables outside, unclean toilets
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rose and ThistleReservations · Outdoor seating · Good for kids | 4.7333 | — | £20–30 | sunday roast, roast beef with gravy, extensive wine list |
| The Royal Oak North GorleyReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.6983 | 5 mi away | £20–30 | sunday roast, crayfish dishes, dog-friendly pub |
| The Albion InnReservations | 4.3326 | 6.1 mi away | £10–20 | chicken gyros, homemade pies, sunday roast |
| The King's Head InnReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.04,088 | 7.4 mi away | — | cooked breakfast, dirty tables outside, unclean toilets |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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