No 3. The Hamble

I really like the Hamble. Having spent many happy years at Port Hamble before progressing to a river mooring, I like the jostle of the place and the fact that it has some very loyal residents that wouldn't live anywhere else. Nope, not for all the rice in China - as the grainy bit in Hamble-le-Rice actually means small hill, not the epicentre for pudding or risotto.

So here we are, on a gloriously hot day, so have bought more ice from the marina to keep the cold box solid, before heading up the cobbled high street for the best coffee in town.

Bonne Bouche Deli has been here for many years, but just 8 weeks ago Georgie took over, and extended the place so you can eat, drink coffee, read the papers, inside as well as out. She serves Monmouth coffee for those who care about such things and the cheerful team will prepare fresh sandwiches to eat in or take on a picnic

Tasting Notes

+ Monmouth coffee and sitting out on the terrace, in the shade, watching the World go by

Tel 023 8045 5771

Bonne Bouche Delicatessen & Coffee House

Interior of Bonne Bouche

Opposite Bonne Bouche is The Victory. Now the Hamble has it's fair share of pubs per square footage and when I asked an old mate who has lived here all his life, what his top choices would be for eating out he said 'River Rat poshest, Dolce Vita best atmosphere and the Bugle best pub food'.But I know a team who do the Hamble River series who always go to the Victory - simply for its home-made pie. It's always on the menu, but on Wednesdays you get a choice of pie, mash, peas and gravy for just £7.50, and I think the steak & ale is probably my favourite.

The Victory

Now it's getting hotter and I want to catch the ferry to get over to Warsash before I turn into a puddle. The pink ferry runs every day of the year except Christmas Day. It costs £1 each way for adults, £1.75 if you take your bike and 75 p for kids.

The Pink Ferry

So walking past the Royal Southern YC you follow the signs for the ferry and in a jiffy you are crossing the quarter mile distance that saves you a 5 mile round river walk - that we're going to do. It's shady on the other side!

The path along the river bank on the eastern shore of the Hamble is less built up than the Western side and as you make your way up towards Bursledon the views of of busy river and wildlife are joyful. As I approach Universal Marina though I see an interesting silver boathouse amid the trees and realise that I’m fast approaching the place that everyone is talking about. Come on in and let’s see what Bistro 8 is all about.

Entrance to Bistro 8

Amazing. Urban silver grey exterier, with a woven jacket on the land entrance, but boat shed grey from the river path entrance. A leafy terrace, space for the kids, kennels for the dogs, very cool. It is a tad unexpected to see a suited, professional greet you at the door, but the staff are all very pleasant, and if the drinks weren’t arriving quite as quickly as the heat of the day asked, they were just getting to grips with a brand new menu.

Leafy Terrace

The menu is simple, the wine list good, packed with all your favourites. Quite a few people were just drinking coffee, reading the papers, meeting friends. The gas fired pizza oven has been built for speed but I’m told the pizzas taste great, and top dish of the day was the clams, chorizo, samphir, herbs & wine, cooked in the clay oven.

Refreshing glass of Rose 

Char-grilled peaches with amaretto sweet lime marscapone

The lightly dusted squid with homemade tartare was light as popcorn and perfect for lunch, if you wanted to try out the char-grilled peaches with amaretto sweet lime marscapone – perfect!
I had a glass of the Rimauresq Cote de Provence as it was 28 degrees and rosé weather and the three items set me back £21, so you won’t be coming here every day for lunch, but what a perfect oasis of calm amongst the heat and bustle of the Hamble on a busy work day. A great place for an early evening cocktail – I spied both my best rum and favourite gin behind the bar – will have to come back with Paul Antrobus for a tasting! PS Do visit the loos. 

Tasting Notes

 + location, style, food and the loosiles, approx 40 mins

 Walk – from the ferry in Warsash just under 2 miles, approx 40 mins

Tel: 01489 854259

Now, back to the path, if you carry on up and cross Bursledon Bridge you come back over the river on the side of the Jolly Sailor, 1.4 miles, 28 mins. After refreshments here you carry on back towards Hamble, following the footpath signs, about 3.2 miles and just over an hours walking.

You will have earnt a good cup of tea and slice of cake by now, then time to relax on the boat before considering whether to cook, or visit Dolce Vita or the River Rat tonight?


Useful Information:

Dolce Vita – an established Hamble favourite, reliable, fun Italian – 023 8045 4567
River Rat – wine shop by day, restaurant by night, lunch just Frid & Sats – 023 8045 7801
(have yet to eat here so will report back – let me know what you think penny@thephysicalpr.co.uk)
Banana Wharf – I know it’s a chain, but has a great position and is open from 8.30 at weekends for breakfast. If you can park it’s a great place to meet friends for a drink. 023 8045 6622
The Bugle – best pub food in Hamble according to locals. Nice position 023 8045 3000
The Victory – best pie in town, steak & ale or chicken & leak the favourites 023 8045 3105 
Hamble/Warsash Ferry 023 8045 4512

www.hamble.net/WP/general/home-page