We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.

Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

CUISINES
Pub
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
View all details
meals, features
Reviews (679)
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
Filter reviews
675 results
Traveller rating
346
150
53
70
56
Traveller type
Time of year
LanguageEnglish
More languages
Traveller rating
346
150
53
70
56
Show reviews that mention
All reviews pies burger rack of ribs coleslaw sunday roast pudding chicken the barn the pub under new management home made booked a table chad landlord dorset pubs garden
Sort and selected filters
Sort FilterEnglish
Updating list...
Reviewed 1 week ago

Thought we could have a nice sandwich here but all they have is paninis. Mine was soggy and tasteless. Staff were nice but perhaps there could be more variation.

Date of visit: March 2024
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 January 2024

Took the in - laws there for a late Sunday lunch on 14th January as we were based in Ringwood for the weekend. I / we had just about given up on dining out due to numerous overpriced disappointments but thought we'd give the Elm...Tree a try and book a table; best decision ever, seriously ! Everything was just perfect from start to finish; it was a cold January day and when we arrived we were shown to our table right next to the wood burner / fireplace. The beer was really well kept, the service was very friendly and ultra efficient, especially from the lovely dark haired lady that looked after us ( bad me for not getting her name ). We chose three different roasts plus a veggie Wellington; it was impressive that all were still available so late in the afternoon despite it being busy ... in fact it was 4 roast options as lamb was also available as a special. We all agreed that it was by far the best Sunday roast we could remember having 'out' in many years if not 'ever'; fantastic gravy and homemade Yorkshires were the icing on the cake. The pudds were also superb; all at a really reasonable price we thought. To round it all off the owner took the time out to have a proper chat with us for quite some time before we left and explained his 'journey' with the pub, which was really interesting; what a great bloke ... why can't we have a landlord like him at our local in Horsham ?, maybe we'll have to move to Ringwood lol ... seriously though this place is priceless; the lovely thatched building, the barn ... everything; spotlessly clean too and above all really happy staff that seem like they love being there ... which is about as rare as rocking horse poo these days. It's everything that a pub should be in every way; I'd almost given up hope of believing that such places still exist; thank you all so much and I really hope that we can be back sometime VERY soon.More

Date of visit: January 2024
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 14 January 2024

We all went for a roast dinner as it was my daughter s birthday there were 4 meats to chose from and 3 vegetarian ones to plus 4 different meals meals if you didn't want a roast. We all had the yummy pork vegetable and...all the trimmings was great . Except the roast potatoes as they were just to hard to eat which was a real shame i hope that improves. Brownie Pudding was great my daughter was impressed. It's all served on a hot plate so the meal was amazingly hot.More

Date of visit: January 2024
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 16 December 2023

First time visiting since the change of owners, and likely to be the last. Not exactly a warm welcome from a waitress who needs a lesson or two in customer service. If you don't like your job...change it. The starters were quick and hot, which...was lucky as it went downhill from then. The smallest piece of fish I have ever seen be served then arrived. I don't expect limp frozen chips at these prices either. The Cajun burgers were 'ok' at best. We all left feeling we would have been better off at McDonald's. Unfortunately one of our party was very ill later on the evening ,he hadn't finished his pudding as the ice cream 'didn't taste right'. Being 'british' definitely got the best of us, we didn't realise until after we left that we had all wanted to complain but didn't want to embarrass the others as it was a family get togetherMore

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 3 December 2023 via mobile

Booked Sunday lunch . Packed waited an hour and then left without eating. Apparently they were waiting g to services a larger group at the expense of the other patrons.

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 November 2023

We went for dinner as a family of 7. Disappointed with the lack of kids menu. I have a fussy daughter and there wasn’t really much on the menu for her. Secondly the waitress was not the most friendly. Every time I asked her a...question it was like I was being a pain! The food was ok, however I had to wait for mine and then it was like warm and also had to wait for my veg to come out. One of our party had hairs in his fish and chips. They did replace this as soon as we told them. Would I return for food? Probably not.More

Date of visit: November 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 13 November 2023

We had friends from the north staying but could not be bothered to cook for them,so we walked down to the Elm Tree Under the new owners the Elm tree has got better and better each time we go. The food and the service was...faultless and our friends commented on how lucky we are to have such a great local on our doorstep,and bearing in mind this was only a couple of days after the pub was flooded. Well done to Paul & Deb's plus the rest of the family and staff, I hope you get the local support you deserve,we will certainly be returning on a regular basis.More

Date of visit: November 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 5 November 2023

The Elm Tree has been a family venue for us over the years. We’ve held 40th birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and wakes. Most recently, Katherine was extremely organised and helpful with accommodating dads wake. We had over 100 people. The food was excellent, the staff polite...and helpful. Can’t recommend enough. Thank you.More

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
debs risbridger, Owner at Elm Tree Inn, responded to this reviewResponded 8 November 2023

Many thanks for your review

Reviewed 27 October 2023

Please avoid this pub. Customer service, quality of food and cooking are appalling. Plenty of other eateries within the local area that offer better all round experience This has to be the worst meal we as a family have experienced in years.

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
debs risbridger, Owner at Elm Tree Inn, responded to this reviewResponded 8 November 2023

Strange review, no specifics so difficult to respond as clearly we do not agree with your comments

Reviewed 25 October 2023

Very disappointed with no kids meal /menu available. My little one only had fries as nothing really kid friendly option. Poor value for money 10.00 for half size portion offered when whole thing only 14.00. Disappointed to to be advertising as a greeneking yet not...able to use greeneking discount.More

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
debs risbridger, Owner at Elm Tree Inn, responded to this reviewResponded 8 November 2023

Thanks for the review but we have taken a deliberate decision to offer smaller portions of our home cooked food rather than a "kids menu" and this has largely been well received. As regards the Greene King discount you will be aware that this only...More

Reviewed 17 October 2023

Katherine and her team at The Elm Tree barn provided an afternoon tea for approximately 50 people for my Father’s wake. It was beautifully set up and everything was ready on our arrival. The food was delicious, service fantastic and everything was perfect. I highly...recommend The Elm Tree and if I need a venue for another occasion I would certainly choose this facility.More

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 9 September 2023 via mobile

First of all, as an allergy sufferer I can tell you what a positive difference it makes to have a chef who makes food from scratch so knows what it contains, and a staff who treat allergies seriously and with professionalism. I have had some...bad experiences at pubs but this pub handled the situation perfectly. We came here for an early dinner and a drink in the pub garden. Husband had the tagliatelle ragu and I had the burger. Both really nice! My only minor criticism of the burger was a bit too much sauce so a bit wet but it was delicious and you could tell everything was made from scratch. Staff were lovely and we had great service.More

Date of visit: September 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 25 August 2023

Extremely disappointed with the food. The gammon was so tough and fatty it was inedible, the eggs were over cooked and the peas shrivelled from the microwave. There are other quality pubs to eat at in the forest, hence we certainly won’t return to The...Elm Tree.More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 21 August 2023

Waited 1 hour 30 mins for food. Was not warned there would be a wait. Sharing fish platter was overpriced mountain of really greasy batter with no recognisable fish or squid inside the batter. We couldn’t eat it. The pimms was undrinkable and when I...complained I was told ‘oh yes I realised after I served you the syrup on the lemonade gun had run out.’ I asked for a refund but was told I couldn’t have one. The loos were nice and clean and the waitress was friendly and well meaning.More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 13 August 2023

Met friends here for an evening meal. We hadn’t been since before the pandemic and unfortunately, the food was no better this time round as before!! We all had the burgers (by way of recommendation of the waitress) and whilst they were ok, they were...by no means up to the standard of other local pubs in the area! The food did not look appetising and didn’t taste anything special. We were put out the back of the pub where there was no atmosphere and rather bland surroundings - not at all pleasant! The only good thing we can say is that the lady waiting on us was very social and chatty! Certainly won’t be returning when there are so many great alternatives around the forest!More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
View more reviews
Best nearby
Best nearby hotelsSee all
Original White Hart by Marston's Inns
388 reviews
1.08 miles away
Burley Manor
1,186 reviews
3.13 miles away
Travelodge Ringwood
144 reviews
3.13 miles away
St. Leonards Hotel
1,199 reviews
3.18 miles away
Best nearby restaurantsSee all
The Cellar
373 reviews
.95 miles away
The London Tavern
509 reviews
.78 miles away
Curry Garden
387 reviews
.98 miles away
The New Forest Pantry
159 reviews
1.00 miles away
Best nearby attractionsSee all
Liberty's Owl Raptor and Reptile Centre
678 reviews
.55 miles away
Burley Fudge
173 reviews
3.16 miles away
Avon Heath Country Park
172 reviews
2.93 miles away
The Burley Inn
58 reviews
3.18 miles away
Questions & Answers
Ask a question
Patricia H
14 August 2018|
AnswerShow all 7 answers
Response from budd125 | Property representative |
Hi we are dog friendly in the bar area.
2
Votes
Is This Your Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Free Listing

ELM TREE INN, Ringwood - Updated 2024 Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Elm Tree Inn

Elm Tree Inn is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4