The Taverners Table

If you are looking for a classically traditional English pub, you will be looking for something like The Bull in Berkshire. A historic Tudor pub previously called the Church House, providing accommodation for pilgrims visiting the medieval chapel of St Andrews.

Hundreds of years old, it comes with wooden beams, original brickwork, cosy fires, latticed windows, awkward stairs and winding passages.

Now a family friendly Inn offering some of the best pub food available, served in the pub itself as well as the restaurant at the back. Classic favourites like sausage, mash, onion gravy and crispy leeks

Steak and triple cooked chips, lemon and thyme roast chicken or the national standard beer battered cod and chips

The food at The Bull is a cut above the usual pub fare with a hand-written page of daily specials; such as tea-and-hop-smoked leek and sweetcorn chowder, confit pig’s cheek, herb-crusted lamb loin with a red wine jus and dauphinoise potatoes or their belly of pork.

They also have a well earned reputation for their roast potatoes and laying on a hearty Sunday Roast with all the trimmings.

Belly of pork served with crispy pork crackling on mashed potato, veg and a rich gravy. One of my long time favourites.

At the Park Tavern Chichester, a traditional English pub serving rustic home-made food and platters on wooden boards.

With a pudding menu that cannot be ignored

The Park Tavern is one of the better pubs in the city with a great location overlooking Priory Park. Offering draught including Fullers London Pride, Gales Seafarer Ale as well as bottled beers such as Kronenbourg  and Fosters Lagers.

There is nothing particularly special about the Coal Exchange in Emsworth. Nothing that sets it apart from any other local pub in a quaint coastal village.

Other than their home cooked bar lunches. Reasonably priced, reasonable portions. Good wholesome comfort food.

Hot soup, crusty bread and a cozy fire on a winters day.

A large beer battered cod that is served with chips, peas and tartar sauce

Meals to be finished off with a full plate of Apple Crumble swimming in cream

Or a healthy slice of lemon meringue. Unpretentious homemade puddings that makes this one of my favourite retreats.

For character, for something different, for dusty knick-knacks and off the wall, you have the Black Boy pub in Winchester.

Then, at the time of my first visit, there was the bread & butter pudding. Although it was no longer on the menu, when I went back for more six months later.

It is an interesting and quirky pub, furnished with old tables and chairs, and decorated with an eclectic mix of art, clutter and taxidermy.

Offering real ale sourced from Hampshire as well as a small, carefully sourced wine list, the Black Boy is a traditional pub where the quality of their beer is what really matters to them.

Despite that, the kitchen serves up a good traditional pub lunch along with the usual selection of sandwiches and homemade soup

The main courses change daily and can be found on the menu written up over the fire place. Whilst the sandwiches are made with bread sourced from a local bakery.

Pevensey is a village in the Wealden district, East Sussex. Just north-east of Eastbourne.

Where you will find The Castle Inn which has a strong following among the locals and a reputation for wholesome home cooked food. Serving what is one of the best roasts in East Sussex.

With it’s low celings, oak beams and fine real Sussex ales it offers everything one expects from a traditional village pub.  Home cooked pub lunches and fresh locally caught fish.