The Old House at Home in Romsey

The Old House at Home stands on Love Lane, a short, narrow street just behind the Waitrose car park and a couple of minutes’ walk from Romsey’s central streets. The whitewashed, thatched building is Grade II listed and the only thatched pub in the town. Its position, slightly set back from the main shopping area, gives it a quieter character that many visitors miss on a first pass through the centre.

Inside, the rooms keep a traditional feel, with low ceilings, wooden beams, a real fire and leather Chesterfields that give the seating a settled, comfortable character. The layout is on two levels around a single L-shaped bar, with a dining area to one side. The overall atmosphere is that of a long-established local rather than a polished restaurant or modern bar.

Food is a clear part of the offer. The kitchen works with fresh, locally sourced fish, poultry, meat and game, and the menu mixes familiar pub dishes with a few more contemporary touches. Sunday roasts draw consistent praise and form a regular draw for both locals and visitors.

Outside, a pretty courtyard garden includes covered and heated seating, making it practical in cooler weather as well as on warmer days. Dogs are welcome and the pub is family-friendly.

The building has a longer history as one of Romsey’s last independent brew-pubs, with brewing continuing on the premises into the 1920s. For many years it was also known locally as The Spotted Cow after a stray cow once found its way into the bar.

Today it remains a straightforward place for a meal or a drink, close enough to the shops and other pubs to form a natural stop, yet set just far enough back to feel a little quieter than the busiest central streets. Tables can be reserved through the website when needed.