Home-cooked & Local

One of the few outdoor markets I have been to, with a bit of character, is the Hampshire Farmers Market in Emsworth.

Held in the Village Square the stalls are interesting and imaginative.

Offering the best scotch eggs on the South Coast

Hand cut homemade pork pies

And artisan bread. Just some of the stalls to be browsed on a lazy Saturday morning.

As usual, I started ordering my Rock Shandy by explaining painstakingly how it all goes together.

Only to have the barkeep suggest that the next time I simply try ordering a Rock Shandy. This as he gave it a final swirl with the swizzle stick.

The building dates back to the 12th Century and was first licenced in the early 1400’s which might or might not make it one of the oldest pubs in the UK. A claim made by many a public house. But it matters not. This is where I go for a pub lunch whenever I am in Southampton.

A simple menu that includes traditional home cooked pub meals.

Well prepared, decent portions and reasonably priced.

And a dessert menu to round off a good meal

I had an hour to kill in Midhurst. So I settled myself into a tearoom run by Neil and Theresa Cannings.

Tilly’s of Midhurst fronts onto Rumbolds Hill so you can’t miss it. But it is far enough away from everything else to make it a little different. They serve breakfast, light lunches and traditional afternoon teas.

I was tempted by the home cooked Gammon Platter but settled for a bowl of soup with a thick slice of bread as it was still a bit early for lunch.