The Kings Arms Pub, Fernhurst

So, for anyone who lives or is in Fernhurst regularly, you'll know that this pub has been through many changes over the last couple of years.  From very good, to absolutely awful, to pretentious, it's been a pub of many faces and now it's back to being simply The Kings Arms pub, albeit with another makeover. I'm not talking about the Banyan here either which is the Indian restaurant to one side, this is purely about the pub.

Having been in there for a drink on a few occasions since it was revamped, we decided last night to try it for something to eat.

I was quite surprised to see it so empty on a Wednesday night, maybe people were staying in before the bank holiday weekend, but we almost had the place to ourselves.  The bar staff were very friendly and welcoming and the pub dog is an absolute joy of a chocolate lab.

The menu is reasonably small with some lovely sounding options.  Due to my current burger fetish, I chose the beefburger and hubby chose the lamb chop with mash, veg and a lovely gravy.  Both were delicious.

My burger was a huge deepfilled slab of meat on a very nice bun bottom (the other half to one side with cheese and tomato) and the chips were also thick and tasty, looking to be homecooked.  One part of my meal delighted me most was the dollop of coleslaw which to me, is a must with a burger! It was really lovely and just what was needed to loosen the palate a bit.

Hubby's lamb chop was delicious, cooked pink with a lovely mash and sauce.  Almost tempted to have it myself and I would certainly choose it in the future.

As I'm a dog fan I didn't mind being watched by the pub dog and the owners were very concerned that he wasn't causing us any problems (he wasn't but would have been moved if he had without quibble).

As a result of the enormous burger, which I couldn't manage to finish, we didn't have any room for dessert but if I did have, there was a lovely sounding crumble to be sampled.

The décor in the new pub is definitely rustic comfort, big sofa's on the left as you walk in, tables to the right and the bar area is slightly small so possibly on busy days, it might feel a bit crowded.  The restaurant area is again lovely, has about 7 tables or so, so I would recommend booking if you had a confirmed date in mind just in case.  Outside there's a lovely garden with plenty of seating, all overlooking the fields behind.  While it is set right by the road, the noise doesn't seem to permeate and it's a lovely setting to enjoy sitting outside having a drink with friends.

I'd like to see a few more salad on the menu (did I just say salad?!) specially with summer coming up.

The best thing about this establishment isn't the relaxed atmosphere, the friendly staff or nice décor, it's probably that it's good food at excellent prices.  I really hope they keep this price point and don't ruin it by putting the prices up.  There are plenty of pubs nearby that are more expensive and some that are cheaper, but for a good food at a reasonable price, I don't think you can beat it locally.

The Halfway Bridge, between Petworth and Midhurst

It's been a while since I've written up anything here but I have definitely been out and about sampling all sorts of goodies in and around Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex.

I've got two for you today, first post is going to be about The Halfway Bridge inbetween Midhurst and Petworth.

I popped in here the other day for a quick lunch with hubby and border terrier, Poppy.  As it was a lovely day and we'd just had a massive walk, we thought we'd take advantage of sitting outside.  There's plenty of parking here, either right out the front or round the back. 

A lovely little garden sits at the front and there's a smaller, more intimate courtyard round the back. 

The menu is nice, a good choice for lunch but not so much that it'll leave you feeling bewildered.  My husband had had the open smoked salmon sandwich once before and left feeling a bit hard done by portion wise so this time we both opted for the lamb burger.  Makes a nice change from the normal beef burger and we're both huge fans of homemade burgers as they can vary so much from place to place.

So, after we were bought out some complimentary olives and good, strong napkins (not paper I might add), our burgers arrived.

Well, they were huge!! Arranged on a wooden platter with a wire basket of hand cut chips, it looked delicious.   And it was! Juicy, very lamby and the bun was to die for.  I ended up having to eat mine with a knife and fork (I am a lady you know!) due to the thickness of it, while hubby dislocated his jaw to eat his!

By the end of it, we were both absolutely stuffed for want of a better description.  Due to the fact it's lamb, we both found it quite rich and certainly wouldn't have wanted any more - of anything.

I like the Halfway Bridge, it's staff are very friendly, it's a nice atmosphere and not too far from home.  I do find it a little pricey though but I guess it's on par for a 5* hotel / bed and breakfast with a gastro pub on site.

All in, I'd recommend it for lunch and as somewhere nice to spend an evening as a couple or with friends if you're not too budget conscious.

Faustino's - Midhurst

I love nibbly type food so was over the moon when a friend suggested we went out to Faustino's in Midhurst for dinner.  Despite being a local, somehow I'd managed to never visit before so was really looking forward to it.

I have to admit to being a bit dubious because I'd heard both good and bad things about it beforehand, but as usual, I went with an open mind.

It's a place full of character when you go in, cosy and closed in.  We had a table reserved and were sat down very quickly.  The only downside to our table (and in fact the whole night) was that our table was closest to the bar area and there were people hanging around the bar almost leaning on us (so tip - sit as far from the bar as you can).

Anyway, there's an extensive choice of tapas available that should suit all tastes from meat and cheese lovers to vegetarians.

We chose goats cheese, garlic mushrooms, meatballs, chorizo and a few others and they came out quickly and were really delicious.  You can essentially just nibble on a few bits whenever you feel like it or can order a load at once.  They also do paella's and other main meals but the ethos really is to nibble and share.

As girls it was essential that we tried the pudding of chocolate fondue and we were suitably impressed!! A huge platter of fruit, biscuits and marshmallows came out with enough chocolate to satisfy the strongest of chocolate cravings!

Overall, recommended for a casual, fun night out with friends.  Go!!

The Urban Reef, Boscombe beach, Bournemouth

Apologies to my South East followers, it's another from Bournemouth!!

This time, I'd like to mention a fab place on Boscombe beach called The Urban Beach.

Situated on the sea front to the left of the pier, this is a cafe/bar/restaurant with a real seaside, modern, funky and casual vibe.  Colourful outdoor seating overlooking the beach, it's the ideal place to relax with a drink or coffee during the day and a great place to meet friends for a beer or two in the evening.

Unfortunately we didnt' get to eat here as it was fully booked (certainly seems that all the good places in and around Boscombe get booked early!!) but we had a good look around both the day time menu and evening menu.  Also, we made sure to have a sneaky peak at all the food going out during the day and the bar snacks at night and it really looked great. Very popular, fresh and local wherever possible and a reasonable price.

Next time we're down, we'll definitely be booking dinner.

The Urban Reef, Boscombe

The Larderhouse, Southbourne, Dorset

I know, I know, it's not technically the South East but having just spent a weekend in and around Bournemouth I have a few reviews to make.

The first of these being The Larderhouse.  This unique little gem is hidden behind a bus stop on the pretty non descript high street of Southbourne in Dorset. 

During the day, this place is a coffee shop but in the evening it transforms into a really quirky eaterie with a relaxed, casual atmosphere.

Decor is understated and a bit rough round the edges, lighting low, buzzy feel to the place.  We hadn't booked which we should have for a Saturday night, but managed to get squeezed in thankfully.  The service was excellent - friendly yet not too much. 

I ordered potted rabbit with sourdough to start, calzone for main. Hubby had a melon and freshly sliced serrano ham starter and the calzone.  Both were absolutely delicious and came pretty quickly. 

I really can't fault the place and would recommend a visit but BOOK your table in advance!

The Larderhouse