THE MONKEY HOUSE - 167 Southampton Rd, Lymington

I first came across this pub when in The New Forest with my dear wife and our small hairy friend, Wookie. I was looking for a good pub to have lunch in, which was friendly in the way of dogs. The Monkey House was one of the first which popped up, and it came highly recommended by several reviews I found. That sounded very much like a job for gastrohub.

The Monkey House stems from the wooden branch of the pub species. By that I mean there is plenty of wood. Floors, tables, bar etc. It felt instantly welcoming, which was only sharpened by the lovely greeting we received from the staff. It very quickly became clear that dogs are not just allowed here, they are loved and cherished, which makes the whole experience much more relaxing for dog owners.

Rachel had recently turned vegetarian, so it was good to see several interesting non meat options on the menu. She chose the sweet potato and coconut curry. I went all manly with a spicy chicken burger. The pub is a free house, run by a family, and throughout our visit, we met several of them. They were all extremely friendly, some even giving treats do Wookie, who quickly decided this was her favourite pub. The food didn't take too long to arrive, and when it did, we were soon glad we had come. Rachel's curry was delicious, and my burger was a proper burger. A good sized piece of real chicken, not a bought in breaded midget chicken breast. The chips were good, the rice was good, everything was good. By the time we had ploughed our way to the end of our meals, we were both satisfied and delighted to have found such a wonderful new pub for our trips to The New Forest.

Never have I experienced more friendly people working in a pub, and for that, The Monkey House must be congratulated and applauded. It's often not until you have experienced such warmth and enthusiasm that you realise how much difference it can make to your time in a pub, whether you are eating or drinking. There is a good menu on offer, and a good chef putting the food together. There is everything to like about this pub, and we will certainly be back for more.

Atmosphere          8

Service                 10

Food                    8.5

Value                   8

Verdict                 5*