The Hoddington Arms is a lovely old Grade II listed pub that’s featured in the Michelin Guide and has just scored 9/10 for food in The Times’ ’24 best new hotels in the UK’, is set in a pretty village and surrounded by nature.
Aside from seriously good food, it also has modern, comfortable rooms to retire to when you’ve had your fill. After reopening this summer, it also received Four Gold Stars for accommodation in the Inns category and Two Rosettes from the AA guide.
Who for?
If you’re looking to explore this beautiful corner of North Hampshire, this is where to make your base camp. You can strike out on countryside walks, visit historic estates, explore many beautiful gardens and, as well as this lovely gastropub, there’s an exciting and growing food and drink scene to take in.
For Londoners it’s an easy escape by car, being under two hours from town. It’s very much a couple’s retreat and perfect for snug winter stays too with its ancient interiors and cosy nooks and corners just begging to be enjoyed with a pint or two.
Accommodation
Outside and just past the pretty beer garden is The Hideaway. A row of five individually designed boutique rooms that vary in size—Nest, Burrow, Den, Hive, and Coop.
The Burrow bedroom
These are all ground floor, so easy to access, and you can park your car pretty much on your own doorstep. We stayed in Burrow, a very modern and stylish room impeccably presented, but with rather confusing light switches that had us turning lights off and on like a ‘70s Disco.
The large TV is internet-enabled, so you do need to know your apps. Your Netflix account will work if, unlike us, you remember your password. Wi Fi is strong and sockets have USB charging ports. A super modern walk in shower was a pleasure to use.
Facilities
None really; this is a pub with rooms, and whilst the rooms themselves are very stylishly appointed with all you might need, the pub itself revels in simply being cosy and comfortable. Take a book or, if you must, an iPad, and settle down in one of the many corners. There is a beautiful private timber-ceilinged dining room if you want to celebrate with friends and family.
Food and Drink
The Times wasn’t wrong. The food is excellent, offering pub classics using elevated ingredients such as Gin and Beetroot Cured Chalk Stream Trout, Twice Baked Tunworth Cheese Souffle, and Stokes Marsh Farm Chateaubriand.
Twice Baked Tunworth Cheese Souffle
Rather more daring options, such as my excellent Slow Cooked Crispy Pork Fritter and my wife’s Crab and Parmesan Crusted Cornish Cod Loin, are available, and Sweet Potato and Green Pea Falafel Fritter would keep any vegans very happy.
The breakfasts are brilliant, delicious local breads and local eggs so sunny you almost need welding goggles to look at them. Superb sausages, too.
What’s nearby?
St Mary’s Church, an 11th-century building with original Norman features, is close by or take a short walk to Upton Grey Manor House with its gardens now restored to Gertrude Jekyll’s original Edwardian design. Jane Austen’s House, in the village of Chawton, was the last place she lived, and Farnham Castle is not far away. If you like proper cider, then nearby is The Hydes Cyder House Shop in Herriard where a small hobby business created during the pandemic has grown into something a little larger. Their delicious cider is made from local apples, using the natural yeasts on the apple skins, and comes in a non-alcoholic version too so you can drink and drive.
How much
Dinner, bed and breakfast stays are available from £190 per room including £30 pp dinner credit
Verdict
A delicious treat for a weekend break, or even a midweek getaway, The Hoddington Arms is the sort of country pub that usually only exists in our memories. Great food, a cosy pub full of history, luxurious modern rooms and the beauty of North Hampshire on your doorstep. This is your call to arms How much
Hoddington Arms
Bidden Rd, Upton Grey, Basingstoke, RG25 2RL