Christmas in the City, the Country or by the Water
Christmas is the busiest time in any pub calendar and more pubs than ever are open on Christmas Day, serving up a delicious Christmas Lunch with none of the stress – or the washing up – that you get at home. You also don’t have to deal with Great Auntie Doris querying your method of making gravy.
Fuller’s pubs are experts at Christmas, and they also have such a wide range of locations, including cities, country and coast, market towns and riverbanks, that you can choose your outlook as well as your menu. It might be that you are looking for a Christmas experience in one of the most historic English cities: Winchester. The Wykeham Arms, under the watchful eye of Head Chef Luke Emmess, would be a classic place to celebrate the festive season. Sandwiched between the Cathedral and Winchester College, with roaring fires and traditional décor, it is perfect for enjoying a delicious menu of roasted beetroot, or dashi-poached prawn cocktail followed by venison loin or Usk Vale turkey with all the trimmings.
Perhaps you would like to look out over water. There are, among the Fuller’s collection, a number of amazing waterside locations, such as The Ship at Langstone, with views across to Hayling Island, The Old Customs House on Gunwharf Quays, or The Still & West overlooking the main shipping route in and out of Portsmouth Harbour. There’s also characterful The Cams Mill on Upper Fareham Lake, The Bishop on The Bridge beside the River Itchen in Winchester, and The Cromwell Arms on the River Test or, further upstream, The Mayfly, near Stockbridge.
The Mayfly is a must for anyone who loves great food and stunning scenery. With views across and down this beautiful part of the Test, it is the perfect place to tuck into something special. On offer are Christmas treats from wild mushroom ravioli, through baked spiced cauliflower to chocolate delice and Black Cab Christmas Pudding.
For a traditional market town experience, there is 16th century The Crown Inn in Bishop’s Waltham, and The White Hart, a cosy old coaching inn in Stockbridge. If you want Christmas in the country, discover The Bat & Ball at Hambledon, a rural pub with a roaring fire in winter. There’s The King’s Head, a welcoming village pub overlooking Wickham Square. Or head to the New Forest and relax at The White Buck, a country house on the outskirts of Burley or The Fox & Hounds in Lyndhurst, a former coaching inn in the heart of the Forest. Christmas feasting includes Dressed Crab, followed by Owton’s 28 Day-Aged Beef Wellington, and family favourite Sherry Trifle. Create your Christmas memories at Fuller’s. Now you just have to choose the location.
