THE BOSHAM INN - Main Road, Bosham

This morning I compiled a list of pubs which require our a tension, some new and some which just need to be revisited. I handed the list to my Dad and he chose The Bosham Inn. We'd been there before and were mightily impressed, hence its five star rating. But this visit would result in a review, this review.

This is a lovely pub, certainly not a traditional pub, more a restaurant pub. At first glance it ticks all the boxes. It looks nice, it's warm enough, there is just the right sort of music at just the right level. There's an open fire and a sizeable outdoor area encase the sun ventures out. It's a fairly big pub, but it still manages to feel cosy and welcoming. After collecting drinks and a menu, we sat down to make some food based decisions. After my recent grumbles about unimaginative menus, this one was a breath of fresh air. There were fish and chips and pies etc, but it looked like a lot of thought had gone in to the rest of the menu, definite signs of knowledge and flickers of inspiration. Prices averaged at about £10, which sounded pretty good for what was on offer. There was also a two courses for just over £10 deal, although the choices were very limited. 

 

I ordered chicken and leek pie, while Dad went for the "Dish of the day", steak and kidney pudding. When the food arrived, Dad started sending out alarm signals immediately. His seasonable vegetables looked a bit out of season, a touch on the brown side. Also, his mash had developed a skin all of its own. Having said that, he very much enjoyed the pudding. My pie was very nice, though I feel I'd be letting you down if I didn't mention that it wasn't a whole pie, rather a top crust pie, (just pastry on the top). It came with chips, which were fine, slightly better than your average pub chip, and peas, they seemed to be suffering from the same ailment as Dad's veggies. 

It is very rare that a pub will score full marks, ticking every box there is, and The Bosham Inn came painfully close. We felt like they fell at the final and smallest hurdle, the vegetable hurdle. Everything about the pub is just right, Goldilocks would love it there. If only some love was shown to those humble vegetables it could have been a full house. This I'm afraid means The Bosham Inn has dropped out of the five star bracket and down in to the realm of the four star pub. Perhaps one day it will return, but let's hope a lesson can be learnt. The little things make all the difference, so take care of the little things.

Atmosphere 9

Service        8

Food           7

Value          8

Verdict        4*