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The Red Shoot Inn, Linwood - pub details

Red Shoot Inn

Address: Toms Lane, Linwood, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 3QT [map] [gmap]

Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 2406) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras

Brewery: Wadworth

Pub facilities/features:
Cask Marque accreditation

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> Current user rating: 6.9/10 (rated by 37 users)
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other pubs nearby:

High Corner Inn, Linwood (0.9 miles), Alice Lisle, Rockford (1.8 miles)

user reviews of the Red Shoot Inn, Linwood

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

5 most recent reviews of 39 shown - see all reviews

I've been here at least three times, and I thought I had left a review at least once., but it appears I haven't.

My first visit was in 2004 during a holiday in the New Forest with Chrissie. We were both charmed by the place which seems to appear magically out of nowhere, surrounded by trees and moorland. Inside it was lively and buzzing with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. I had two of the pub's home brewed beers then, Tom's Tipple and Forest Gold. I recall that the pub had just recently been bought by Wadworth, and there was some speculation that the Red Shoot beers were being brewed at the Wadworth plant in Wiltshire. I checked, and the pub's brewery was still in place, and still brewing. I described the beers as "sweaty", "damp", and "oaky", yet found them quite delightful.

In 2015 my sister's family were planning a birthday party, and I suggested this pub, because our memories of it were so positive. My suggestion was turned down because of recent reviews in Trip Advisor. Chrissie and I, and one of my daughters, came back to check it out. Most of the charm had gone from the place. It looked worn out, uncared for, and disorganised. It appeared to have been refurbished in a rather ubiquitous "family pub" style, and gave the feel of a cheap holiday camp pub. The pub were aware of the issues, and said they were addressing them.

Yesterday after a delightful walk deer spotting in Bolderwood, we thought we'd check it out again to see if the management had sorted out their problems. Well, it's not as scruffy and disorganised as it was in 2015, but there's still no charm or character here. The walls have been painted magnolia, which simply gives an empty, characterless feel to the place. The food is in the style of a Green King Hungry Horse, lots of stodge, with no finesse. We weren't looking for much, just a warm me up veggie snack after the walk. We selected the pizza, onion rings, and cheesy chips. None of it was tasty as such, merely edible. It was served on wooden platters with no plates. On asking for plates we given three cold side plates. Not a big issue, but reflective of the lack of care, attention, and knowledge of the staff. I don't serve hot food onto cold plates at home, so I don't expect it when paying professionals to serve me food. On this visit and in 2015 I found the beers to be "musty", "crude", and "unattractive". I suspect the beers have been pretty much the same on each visit, but my enjoyment of them was a reflection of my enjoyment of the pub experience in general.

The building was originally a farm, and at various times has been a village shop, a post office, a private club, and a petrol station, before becoming a pub around 1964. Brewing in the pub started in 1998 by the then owner Paul Adams. Wadworth had acquired the pub by 2004, and brewing was being done by the neighbouring campsite owner John Sherwood by 2009.

It's an interesting pub with great potential, but with so many great pubs in the New Forest I'm not in a rush to try this one again until reviews start to become consistently more positive.
SilkTork - 15 Jan 2017 09:39
Last week there was a beer festival here. Lots of good beers.

A week later and the same beers are all still on the pumps - all vinegar to a greater or lesser extent

Now drinking bottles.

#NotImpressed
k0536006 - 7 Oct 2016 21:52
Okay sort of pub, with the Red Shoot Brewery on site ( visible from inside the pub ) . My wife said I should try the beer they had made especially for me, so I did, and the Forest Grump was very decent.
philanders - 11 Nov 2013 16:01
Visited lunchtime in early September just as it was starting to get busy.Friendly and efficient service,decent pub grub at a reasonable price and a nice pint of Tom's Tipple make this a good place to stop if you're out for a walk in the New Forest.
jdb1 - 11 Sep 2012 12:59
At the Red Shoot at the weekend and the place was HEAVING. Despite that, service was fast and pleasent. The staff were efficient when it was busy and chatty when it got quiet after lunch. Food was excellant in both quantity and quality. The beer - unfortunatly I was driving so only had a half of the 'Corvus' stout - Om nom nom. Definately would recommend.
Penguinsanity - 14 May 2012 15:48

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