The Foresters

I was surprised to read the NOT glowing reviews.
We regularly eat at The Foresters and have never had a bad meal. My husband particularly likes the rib eye steak, while I tend to go with the chicken Caesar salad, which is fab.
The roast beef Sunday dinner is delicious and defiantly the best we’ve had in the area.
The puddings are always very tasty although can often be in short supply by the time we arrive on a Sunday evening, which is a little bit annoying but not so bad for the waist line!
We’ve always been made to feel welcome and on the odd occasion there has been a problem with either our order or the service it has been very quickly rectified.

Beautiful pub and gardens, excellent menu and friendly staff, can’t wait to go back

The staff are friendly, and the food is really yummy, albeit a little expensive and pretentious! The pub/​restaurant is located in semi rural setting, but on a fairly busy main road. I’d have given this place 4 stars for it’s cosy atmosphere, friendly staff and lovely food. However, listening to the waiter chatting away in his native south east twang, and then putting on an ‘Eastern European’ accent — whilst dealing with me — was quite laughable really. Maybe he was under the impression that my ears do not work beyond a 1 meter exclusion zone, or that I was clinically brain dead?!
All in all though the food was fantastic, and if you can see through the pretense and the snobbery then fill yer boots and have a wonderful meal.

⁰⁵⁄₂₀₁₀: We came again after a really great meal in March (review below). It was disappointing by comparison so either the the chef was off or having an ‘off day”. Obviously the quality is variable and you can be lucky. or not.
⁰³⁄₂₀₁₀: We came back after a 3yr absence (see my original review below) and I ordered a rare 8oz 28-​day aged fillet steak, £18.95, and it was fantastic! Perfectly cooked, seared on a charcoal grill and with a perfectly cooked medley of veg and giant chips included. My partner had the 10oz rib-​eye, £15.95, medium rare and reported it to be excellent. All washed down a glass of prosecco and a ½ pint of cider for a few pence under £40. A bit on the pricey side but quick and courteous service. We’ll be going again soon.
2007 (2 * rating): This was the best gastropub in the area until it changed hands. A rapid decline to the mediocre whilst retaining the premium prices which used to ensure locally sourced high quality produce. Basically now an overpriced low end pub restaurant.

Been twice in December 09. First time was a weekday lunchtime. Place was quiet and I had the sausages and mash which were tasty although only just about enough. They had run out of first choice of steak pie following a run on them over the weekend. Colleague had a small plate which she reported was good. Service very pleasant and I liked the atmosphere and smell of woodsmoke.
Went today with some family and they seemed to have a problem with the heating (the radiators were cold) and they had electric heaters scattered around. These weren’t doing the job. The restaurant was also dark apart from occasionally when the lights flicked on for a few minutes before going off again. We huddled near the log fire but were still frozen (I would have left had I been on my own). Service was a little slow (they agreed that the bottleneck seemed to be the kitchen), but not disastrously so. Service still pleasant.
Steak and ale pie was good. Veg and mash both a bit dried out and veg on the stingey side (I never understand why places skimp on cheaper elements of the dish like this). A knob of butter probably would have rescued them. Mushroom stuffed chicken quite tasty (especially the gravy), but a little dry and mushroom filling not particularly flavourful.
Tiled floor was sticky (indicating a lack of cleaning?) which always puts me off.
Sticky toffee pudding with jug of custard was very good. Cappuccino (on both occasions) was one of the worst I have ever had (thin layer of foam on top of tasteless watery milky coffee).
This place has many things right and just needs a little attention to a few details. Sadly, because they decided not to tell us about their heating issues when we booked today we won’t be returning as I feel it shows a distinct lack of regard for customers.

Adding to clownspicy’s comments — the right hand side of the building is dog friendly and you can take your trusty friend for a great walk on the surrounding military training areas.
I agree that the menu is a bit limited — we have been going there once a month since the Spring and the menu hasn’t changed. The Kobe Beefburger is back on the menu and is delicious — but then at 14 pounds for a burger, chunky chips and a bit of salad you would expect it to be so! The salmon fish cakes are a delight and their deserts are very pleasant
We have had no issues with service — the front of house staff are exceptionally polite and friendly and we have never had to wait excessively. Its a little pricey but the food is very well presented and its a lovely atmosphere there so

Really good food not over complicated Great amtosphere and a very nice pub. Will be going back for more

The Foresters looked a promising place when we moved to Fleet in 2002 and sure enough our first couple of experiences were good.
It’s situated in the middle of the woods surrounded by Army land between Church Crookham and Farnborough.
It looks really nice inside with plenty of wood and a ‘foresters’ theme.
The food is good, albeit with a menu that doesn’t seem to vary much with the seasons e.g. you can get fish pie all year round.
One year they did an excellent Kobe beef beefburger.
However, we’ve stopped going now because the menu isn’t exciting enough and because the service the last 4 times we went was excessively slow.
I think the front-​of-​house staff do their best, but I’m pretty sure the bottleneck is in the kitchen, so until we see signs that the kitchen has a new head chef or there’s some other hope of getting the right food at the right time, we’re staying away.