The Good Pub Guide (2006)

Extract from the Guide (Current menu may be different).

Wheatsheaf, Braishfield

Hampshire SO51 0QE

(Village signposted off A3090 on NW edge of Romsey, pub just S of village on Braishfield Road )

Description

A lot of thought must have gone into the rambling layout and idiosyncratic décor here: all sorts of tables from elegant little oak ovals through handsome Regency-style drum tables to sturdy more rustic ones, with a similarly wide variety of chairs, and on the stripped brick or deep pink-painted walls a profusion of things to look at, from Spy caricatures and antique prints through Staffordshire dogs and other decorative china to a leg in a fishnet stocking kicking out from the wall and a jokey 'Malteser grader' (a giant copper skimmer). It sounds a bit of a mish-mash, but in fact works well, making for an attractive and relaxed atmosphere - helped along by the way the efficient young staff clearly enjoy their work. Two of the dining areas are no smoking. Enjoyable and interesting food includes rustic breads with oils or soup (£3.95), game terrine or potted shrimps (£6.95), sweet potato and rosemary risotto (£8.95), steak and kidney pudding or mixed vegetable and dolcelatte cottage pie with pine nut mash (£9.95), garlicky roasted cod with mulled wine sauce (£11.95), roast pork in parma ham with black pudding, apple samosa and port gravy or local pheasant casseroled with orange and brandy dumplings (£10.95), daily specials such as scallops with sweet chilli sauce (£7.95) and duck breast with oyster and whisky sauce (£12.95), and puddings such as fresh fig tart with balsamic ice-cream or crème bruleé with lemon and pistachio shortbread (£4.25). They make good use of their own serious and sizeable herb garden, and you may be in luck and visit when their soft fruit cage is cropping. They also do lots of snacks such as olives and nuts, and sell chocolates and sweets. Well kept Hook Norton Old Hooky, Ringwood Best, Timothy Taylors Landlord and a couple of guests such as Caledonian Deuchars IPA and Hook Norton Best, 15 wines by the glass and good coffee; daily papers and several reference books; piped music, TV; disabled access and facilities. Unusually, the chairs, tables and picnic-sets out on the terrace are painted in greek blue. There are woodland walks nearby, and the pub is handy for the Sir Harold Hillier Arboretum.

Features

Enterprise ~ Lease Peter and Jenny Jones ~ Real ale ~ Bar food ~ Restaurant ~ (01794) 368372 ~ Children in eating area of bar and restaurant ~ Dogs allowed in bar ~ Open 11-11; 12-10.30 Sun

The Food Award 2002-2003 from Enterprise Inns

When taking over The Wheatsheaf just over a year ago, Peter & Jenny Jones made a conscious decision to move away from the mass market

family food venue. Their decision has been justified as sales continue to grow following the introduction of the new menu, aimed at the discerning diner. Although still very much a pub, the food on offer is born of a passion for cuisine and the desire to offer customers exciting new dishes, individually prepared from the finest, freshest ingredients available. This will ensure that The Wheatsheaf's competitors will have even more difficulty in keeping up with the Joneses! "Presentation of every part of the meal is of the utmost importance"

TOP FOOD AWARD FOR PUB TEAM (Romsey Advertiser 25 April 2003)

Picture courtesy of The Romsey Advertiser.

The Wheatsheaf at Braishfield, Romsey has won the "Best Pub Food" category for the South East of England, awarded by leading pub company Enterprise Inns.

Licensees Peter and Jenny Jones, who have been at The Wheatsheaf for the past 18 months, were delighted with the accreditation. Jenny said: "We have always striven to take our food away from the norm and into a fusion of different styles of cooking. "We do Cajun, lots of seafood and fish, and there is always a vegetarian option. We buy locally, using the best fresh ingredients available." Among favourite dishes with regulars are pineapple chicken, and herring roes on toasted brioche. Jenny is about to introduce a new summer menu and promises that there will be some interesting salads.

"We are proud to have a passion for the food we serve. It is always freshly prepared by a team of dedicated professional chefs," she says. As well as Jenny herself, chefs Nigel Collins and Paul Bascombe are supported by a friendly and conscientious team. Over the years Jenny and Peter have won many awards for the food that they serve including, Pub Chef of the Year. Until a couple of years ago the couple ran The Duke's Head in Romsey. They moved briefly to the New Forest but when the Wheatsheaf came on the market they decided to return to Romsey. They have completed a total refurbishment of The Wheatsheaf in the past six months. "We love the Test Valley and wanted to get back to it," they say. "We are very proud of the award - it's a testament to the dedication and hard work of the whole team." Jenny and Peter have been licensees for 25 years.

They have three children, Adrianna, 22, and Samantha, who celebrates her 21st birthday this week, both of whom are at university, and Ben, 16 who attends Romsey School.