REVIEW: The Iron Duke, Stratfield Saye (From Basingstoke Gazette)

REVIEW: The Iron Duke, Stratfield Saye

2:54pm Monday 31st October 2011 in Taste and Tell By Joanne Mace

AFTER a day’s gallivanting around Wellington Country Park, we headed just a few miles to acclaimed pub The Iron Duke, located on a quiet junction in the back lanes not far from the A33.

As we were eating at a strange hour - 3pm – on a warm day, it was quiet, with just a few people scattered here and there enjoying a drink in the sun or a quick snack. We decided against letting our daughter run wild outside in the garden (which has its own ice cream van serving beer on tap in the summer months) and instead settled for a window seat in a cosy section of the very well-appointed dining area, directed by a friendly young man.

The setting was classic but the ambient music was not. I decided against Michael Winner-ish behaviour - i.e. a request to have it changed.

To start, we shared a ham hock terrine with toast, salad and onion chutney for £6.75. It was absolutely fantastic; chunky, rustic and full of flavour.

As we were eating on the edge of the Duke of Wellington’s estate, for a main I opted to sample the pork, beer and watercress sausages which I had almost purchased a few minutes earlier in the farm shop, served with gravy and mash for £10.25. The circular bowl which arrived at the table – delivered by a polite young lady who had taken over our service – was almost brimming and, I feared, overfilled, with gravy, but towards the end of eating, all of it had gone. The mash was particularly nice but the gravy was not as rich as I had hoped.

My husband was very happy with his Wellington Estate beef burger with trimmings and optional stilton for £12.50 but did say he’d have preferred chunky chips rather than the fries it came with.

To finish, we chose the delicious Iron Duke’s cheeseboard, a selection of tasty locally-sourced cheeses from the aforementioned farm shop, together with celery sticks, chutney, salted butter and crackers for £7.25.

Our filter coffees were a little cold, but we ended the meal generally very satisfied indeed, vowing to return to sip a real ale around the fire pit on a cold evening and sample the rest of the menu.

The Iron Duke, Fairoak Lane, Stratfield Saye, RG7 2EH, 01189 331341.

the-ironduke.com