Aptly named for its location in Hampshire's village of Oakhanger, The Hanger is a pub with dining and a history that traces back as far as 1550. Although, when you step inside, you'll notice it's had a serious facelift since then. The pub is dog friendly, so if you're drinking or dining in the bar or outside, you can bring them along, knowing that treats and water bowls are always on offer. Families are catered for, too, with a special menu for the little ones. While the pub’s interiors are cosy and inviting, a sunny day calls for a trip to The Hanger’s secluded beer garden.
As for the food, bar snacks include crab rarebit on sourdough, curried chickpea and cauliflower fritters with shallot and mint yoghurt, and prosciutto crudo with pickled cucumber. The roast potato dauphinoise with cheese sauce, mozzarella and pulled pork sounds like a big hit to us, as does the chipolata ring with sage mayo, bacon and crispy onions. To start your main meal, try the wagyu fat poached scallops with pearl barley, roasted onion puree and caviar, or seeded loaf with whipped Marmite, truffle and smoked mushroom parfait. The pub's classic mains are included in a deal on Thursdays, with a meal and drink for a set price. Choose from the venison sausages with mash, seasonal greens, gravy and black pudding crumb, a pie of the day with hand-cut chips or buttered mash, and Korean fried chicken thigh with BBQ pulled chicken in a burger.
There are plenty of puds to make your mouth water, including a traditional sticky toffee pudding with spiced toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream and a creamy set vanilla custard with poached rhubarb, pickled rhubarb puree and almond puree. If you want something sweet but can’t manage a full-sized dessert, try the small ricotta tiramisu with Pedro Ximenez or the frangipane with blackberry, almond crumble and crème diplomat.