Pub in Winchester

“We visited Lucky Lychee in Winchester on two consecutive weekends, travelling all the way from London—and it was absolutely worth it each time. The satay beef and chicken were true standouts. Juicy, tender, and marinated to perfection, each bite delivered layers of flavour that were both rich and deeply satisfying. The meat was cooked just right, striking a balance between succulence and char-grilled depth. The grilled aubergine, courgette & fresh broad bean Malay yellow curry was another highlight—comforting, aromatic, and full of warm, layered spices. The vegetables were beautifully grilled, adding a smoky depth that balanced the gentle heat and creaminess of the curry. It paired perfectly with rice and had that cozy, soul-satisfying quality that makes you want to go back for more. The watermelon & cucumber salad with crispy pork cracking was a refreshing counterpoint—light, crunchy, and perfectly balanced. The watermelon was incredibly sweet and juicy, cutting through the richness of the pork crackling with a clean, fresh burst of flavor. We also really enjoyed the char siu pork—beautifully roasted, with a sweet, savoury glaze and just the right amount of caramelisation. The texture was spot-on: tender, juicy, and packed with that classic smoky flavour. The beef rendang with red pickle was another standout dish. The rendang was rich and deeply spiced, with melt-in-the-mouth beef, and the accompanying red pickle added a bright, tangy contrast that cut through the richness perfectly. One dish that truly surprised us was the sesame prawn toast. Unlike the standard versions you find elsewhere, Lucky Lychee’s featured lemongrass, adding a zesty, refreshing twist. Light and crisp without a trace of oiliness, it was a clever, modern take on a classic starter. Even the desserts were a delight. We tried the banana spring rolls, which were golden and crispy on the outside, with warm, sweet banana on the inside—simple, comforting, and very well executed. The cheesecake with pandan was especially memorable: fragrant, creamy, and subtly tropical. It’s a rare find in the UK and a must-try if you're looking for something a bit different to end your meal. Lucky Lychee serves up food that’s fresh, thoughtful, and full of heart. Every dish feels crafted with care and intention. No wonder we made the trip two weekends in a row—it’s that good. Whether you're local or coming from London, this spot is well worth the journey. Highly recommended.”

“Had an amazing time at Turtle Bay for bottomless brunch for my friend’s hen do! From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was buzzing and the drinks started flowing quickly. A special shoutout to Eloise, who made the whole experience even better. She was incredibly efficient, always making sure our glasses were topped up without us needing to ask. She was also friendly and genuinely warm, checking in with us regularly and making sure everything was spot-on. The food was delicious and the cocktails were fresh and strong — you definitely get good value for money. Would absolutely come back again. Thanks again to Eloise and the Turtle Bay team for a brilliant brunch!”

“Fantastic service. We loved baby club and after attending toddler club we will definitely be coming back regularly. The atmosphere is so relaxed and supportive.”

“A lovely venue, traditional, beautifully kept, intimate for productions/ music etc. Great service Highly recommended for theatre going”

“Had a really lovely bottomless brunch at the weekend. Sam our server was great and made it fun. Great pizzas and starters so it was a really good deal. Also - the building has lovely high ceilings so and the tables are nicely spaced. So a lovely venue, great food and great servers like Sam!”

“Exceptional attentive but not over the top service from Arati at Winchester. Really busy fully booked restaurant on the Friday before christmas. Lots of large tables but as a table 3 we did not feel left out. Drinks came out quickly, really good quality and well priced food. Very loud atmosphere so 4 stars here. Will be back again for sure.”

“Lovely setting for lunch. We sat outside and watched the world go by. The waitress was lovely and really helpful. They had a separate vegan and vegetarian menu with plenty of choice. The food was delicious, so were the cocktails.”

“Recently stayed here on a weekend in Winchester and would definitely recommend staying at the Wykeham Arms. All the staff were excellent and very happy to accomodate us when we asked to check in slightly early to make things easier for us. There is parking at the back of the pub, but it's best probably to get there when you can as despite our early check in we had the last spot available. The room was excellent and very comfortable to stay in with great amenities. A small complaint here, the TV in the bedroom of our stay did not support any streaming from apps or devices and did not seem to receive great signal. We'd hoped to unwind after a long day by streaming something but we had to settle for using a personal device instead. But this was only a small inconvenience and didn't disrupt our stay at all. The free guest wifi was also very welcome. Breakfast was very good with excellent options on the menu. The portion size of the full english did seem smaller than expected but nevertheless tasted very good. The best aspect of staying here was the location, a very short walk past the Cathedral into the city centre, we had plans there all day so this made it very easy to access where we wanted to be. Would certainly stay here again and recommend it to anyone else.”

“Some of the best food I've eaten at a Restaurant. Give this place a Michelin star already! Incredibly tasty Scallops, Seafood curry and a 'Winchester Pudding' which was a lovely local touch and paired perfectly with the accompanying clotted cream. Yes, it's expensive but it's worth every penny. Special mention goes out to Ali Ali, our excellent waiter.”

“It’s been 10 years since my last visit. Lovely food and atmosphere, staff were welcoming , kind and respectful. We had a great time !”

“Excellent excellent excellent, no fault at all, the staff from the beginning to the end were all helpful and happy to help. We booked the hotel ( 4 adult and a child ) for 2 night. We had a faulty safety lock inside our room made a phone call it was fixed immediately. The lady behind the breakfast food counter was very friendly and willing to help, "she kept on asking do I want anything which was nice", in short all the staff were nice and friendly. The hotel it self was very clean and neat, nice gym and spa, there wifi excellent. My highlight of those 2 night for me was the bed, it was clean, smooth and soft, I think my soul left my body dancing sleeping on that bed, best feeling ever. Definitely recommending and will be going back soon”

“Had a very comfortable two day stay at this small and centrally located hotel. Rooms are clean, beds comfy, and bathrooms well appointed. A good selection for breakfast with a semi buffet and a la carte dishes included. Lovely large courtyard at the back to sit outside during the summer months. Service was very friendly and accommodating. Elsa in particular at the front desk was very welcoming and helpful.”

“I recently came in for a festive meal with my work colleagues. It was a perfect experience from start to finish. Greeted on our way with a huge smile from Erin was a great welcoming. The food was superb, the staff were superb and the whole thing was so welcoming and pleasant. Thank you to Erin and Anna for making us feel so welcome. Will definitely be back next year!”

“Stayed September 2025 . Best hotel for service we have ever encountered. Every member of staff were friendly, helpful, smartly turned out and polite. No request was too much trouble and all performed with a smile . They had even left balloons, birthday card ,including free drinks voucher, for my friend in our room, which was a lovely surprise for her to walk into ( thank you team) The hotel itself & rooms were very homely, yet felt quite opulent and extremely clean throughout. The bar was absolutely lovely with a wonderfully relaxed feel & led out onto the large , well maintained garden and patio area. We will definitely return to Winchester and not hesitate to book a room at this wonderful hotel again. A well deserved , all round 10/10 .”

“Had a very enjoyable meal for Mothers Day. My Mum's seafood platter looked incredible. The waitress was very helpful and informative, especially in regard to my Mother-in-Law's gluten allergy. We had a very cozy table tucked away from the main restaurant. A very nice night all round.”

“Delicious food lovelly staff and a home cooked cakes, possibly the cleanes food anniversary ever seen worth the visit .”

“Nice pub with a good selection of ales and cidar. Quirky decorating gives it an unique atmosphere. Fair warning, there are quite a few stuffed animals around.”

“Great local pub in Winchester. We were 4 adults and 1 child, and we had 2 burgers and 2 Sunday Roast. I had the burger and it was DELICIOUS!!! Friendly and polite staff as well, the atmosphere was cosy, the decor is really lovely. Well done St James Tavern!”

“I want expecting much having been disappointed on a previous visit (beer past it's best). Was happily surprised to see the pub buzzing - 4 ales on, the 3 I tried all in excellent condition, great Thai food (a regular feature) & live music downstairs. Good mix of locals, tourists & music lovers.”

“We were looking for a carvery and was recommended The Forge by a friend. First time here and they did not disappoint! The meats and veg were lovely, generous portions and cooked well. The puddings were astounding, I had the brownie and ice cream, it was unreal! Just look at that presentation, it made me say "wow" when the waitress brought it over. We had 2 drinks 2 meals and 2 puddings all for £37, I think that's an insanely good price! The atmosphere was really nice as well, we had a great night, thanks! 5/5* would 100% recommend!”

“Lovely cosy pub. Been here a few times for Sunday lunch and the food is amazing. Very good service. Parking is limited though”

“The best burgers me and my mum have ever had. We had half each of the shredded chicken and beef brisket, they were both absolutely devine. I could not recommend eating here more. Even the chips were beautiful. 100% will return. These really just aren't any burgers !!!”

“Very tasty tacos in centre of Winchester. Really nice vibe. Dog friendly. Key thing is all home made. The tacos were so soft and fluffy and the fillings had real flavour and depth. Nice bar space inside with wide choice of beers. Would definitely go back.”

“Came for lunch on a week day, wasn't expecting too much but given the car park was nearly full and the pub was quite busy I had better expectations and I wasn't wrong, the team were friendly and helpful. They have a good range of beers and drinks, the wine was of a good standard too. The show stopper was the food, I had venison, my wife the chicken, both dishes were delicious, frankly I could have eaten anything listed on the specials board, we left very happy!”

“Lovely garden & smoking area. Inside is a traditional pub & looked like the locals use. Had a good choice of cask ales & the granddaughters loved the hot chocolate. We'll definitely visit again & try the Sunday Roast.”

“Family of 4 went for a Sunday roast after doing one of the Ambling Path walks around the area. Was really lovely, huge roast dinners and my son had macaroni cheese from the kids menu. Out kids are 11 and 8 and the kids meals were plenty big enough and really good value. Staff were friendly and the garden and play area outside are stunning. Good value for money too, we will definitely be back ❤️”

“We decided to pop out for an unscheduled dinner out… Our server was Hannah H and she was superb! Very friendly, helpful and efficient! Our food was lovely and arrived promptly. All in all a fantastic experience, thank you!”

“Wonderful pub. Lovely and very friendly staff. Food is superb. Steak pie the best I have ever had.Will go back again.”

“We only ever have drinks (and perhaps crisps occasionally). But it always good and friendly and welcoming. You also meet new people there which again is welcoming. Highly recommended”

“Incredible food and hospitality. I am a student at Winchester so go in regularly and the food is incredible and drinks are lovely and well priced. I would also like to shout out Jack for his hospitality and brilliant sense of humor”