The Chilworth Arms (From This is Hampshire)

The Chilworth Arms

10:51am Friday 15th December 2006 in

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ONCE upon a time, The Clump Inn was a favourite countryside drinking and eating spot set in the heart of the village of Chilworth.

Then, in September, it closed.

Now it's back with a vengeance, sporting a £500,000 face-lift, a new name and a menu that will blow your mind, let alone your tastebuds.

The Chilworth Arms is Hampshire's newest gastro-pub'.

The first thing that strikes you as you walk through the grand double doors is how amazingly simple the place is.

But simple does not mean dull - the Chilworth Arms is anything but.

Open fires, tweed carpet and a copper-fronted bar draw you to the comprehensive choice of super chilled continental beers as well as an ample range of English cask ales waiting to be served by friendly staff.

After a beautiful beer we moved into the dining area which is equally welcoming - spacious and comfortable yet still intimate, with a log fire roaring in the background.

Our meal started the way all should - with a bottle of the best red wine.

For starters, we ordered a range of mouthwatering bites, including crab cakes with lime and mango, fresh scallops, grilled sardines and a wheel of baked Camembert.

All were wonderfully light and delicious, which got us even more excited about the mains.

I chose pork fillet with blue cheese dauphinoise potatoes and caramelised apples - an absolute winner.

A couple of carnivorous friends opted for the fillet steak with horseradish sauce - a beautifully thick lump of meat which I'm sure was still mooing but tasted divine.

Whole sea bass on a bed of sweet potatoes also went down a treat.

A few more bottles of Barolo later, it was time to find room for some desserts.

My bread and butter pudding with rum and raisin melted in my mouth and judging from the silence around the table the other treats of sticky toffee pudding, summer berry pudding and blue cheese and fig chutney with biscuits were having the same effect.

There was just time to squeeze in a quick espresso before we finally finished our eating marathon, three-and-a-half hours after arriving.

Great food, great service and a great night out - welcome back the Chilworth Arms.

The Chilworth Arms, Chilworth Road, Chilworth, Southampton, SO16 7JZ. Tel: 023 8076 6247