The Plough Inn (Longparish)

Dating back to 1721, The Plough Inn is in the beautiful village of Longparish in the picturesque Test Valley, close to the A303 and a short drive from Winchester, Basingstoke and Newbury. With the world renowned River Test on the doorstep and the Test Way passing through the car park, it provides the perfect stop for a refreshing pint of real ale and a bite from the delicious menu. Taken over in April 2012 by renowned chef James Durrant, this remains a traditional country pub with a contemporary feel serving award winning food. Having worked for 16 years in Michelin starred restaurants around the country James decided to use his experience and creativity to fulfil his dream of running his own pub/restaurant. The Plough Inn's philosophy is simple: perfect cask conditioned ale, exciting wines, locally sourced produce and friendly attentive service to create an environment where guests can sit, relax, enjoy, entertain and experience great hospitality. James is committed to sourcing local and seasonal produce but above all it is quality that counts. The aim is to offer simple yet sophisticated, fine quality food with little fuss and lots of flavour. The cosy snug and dining areas offer an informal and inviting atmosphere where everyone is made to feel comfortable and welcome. Six months after opening The Plough Inn was awarded the UK Pub of the Year Award by the Good Food Guide and other prestigious awards have been received from the Michelin and AA Guides. The food is created from fresh seasonal ingredients on a daily basis by James and his team, menus are simple, tasty and unpretentious. From the fresh baked bread at the start of your meal to the sticky sweet fudge on your departure as much as possible is produced in-house. There is an à la carte menu available for lunch and dinner on all days except Sunday and a separate bar menu available at the same times, in addition to a daily grills blackboard with a selection of quality steaks and grills. Sunday Lunch is an important part of family tradition at The Plough Inn, and is served from 12 through till 4.30 pm, offering a selection of roast meats with all the trimmings. The warm, welcoming surroundings, log burning fires and cosy snug retain the original character and charm. There is plenty of room in the attractive garden for pub-catered picnics or for dining al fresco. Children are welcome and specially catered for.