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The Links....again!! - Sooze (13th Jun 2007 - 19:28:48) Oh dear, what has happened to The Links? Many of the staff seem to be leaving 'by the dozen' and the prices have risen alarmingly! The pub has been renovated sympathetically but the atmosphere is NOT the same. Whoever said on one of the other entries, "Debbie, come back!" was right on the ball - Debbie, if you are reading this, please take note! I am a regular business and personal customer and am now considering using The Rising Sun in Milland or The Sun in Rake more often for business meetings, etc. Great shame, as it was a great pub/restaurant. Oh well, that's progress?

Re: The Links....again!! - gen (13th Jun 2007 - 19:49:02) What did you eat? Was the music too loud? What exactly put you off?

Re: The Links....again!! - Candyfloss (13th Jun 2007 - 20:40:48) snooze Perhaps they have been reading too many of these 'upmarket' mags, and thought, lets raise the price as this must be a 'well off' area!!

Re: The Links....again!! - H... (14th Jun 2007 - 14:56:54) I must say that on the whole the refurbished links looks very nice - Being non smoking has made it so much better coming home stinking of smoke was never very nice. The new management seem very personable and the lunch I had with with my wife last week was most fine my only complaint £3.25 for a pint of lager is a bit steep !!

Re: The Links....again!! - Mike Grimes (15th Jun 2007 - 00:39:04) Amazing, the amount of praise that the Links has had for going 'non smoking.' I'd give it another 15 days and I reckon every pub in the country will have followed suit.

Re: The Links....again!! - gen (15th Jun 2007 - 07:33:56) Isn't that because they have to by 1st July? Or have I got that wrong? The golf club has certainly got a 1st july deadline. [editor - Gen, it was a little joke]

Re: The Links....again!! - gen (15th Jun 2007 - 08:02:20) Got me that time! That's the difficult thing about not seeing people's faces when they say things, women rely on expressions more than words.

Re: The Links....again!! - liz (15th Jun 2007 - 08:35:24) Not all of us!!

Re: The Links....again!! - gen (15th Jun 2007 - 09:43:39) You're right , Liz, not all of us. But there was some research done - one of those pseudo science programmes, and they did actually show that women's brains processed tiny changes of expression in faces they were viewing, and that females had a better idea of what emotion the person was feeling, just by seeing a pair of eyes. Quite interesting, actually. Don't think I'd like to see little m's eyes...

Re: The Links....again!! - z (21st Jun 2007 - 18:39:49) sorry to have to bring this subject up yet again but i just thought id mention that a friend of mine commented today that her & a friend went to links last night and found it to be very quiet (not like it use to be) and that there was someone behind the bar covered in tatoos she said that this was not what they expected of the links where had all the pleasent staff gone? (her words). now i dont want that taken out of context as i know full well there are a few good staff still left. i did however find her comments very interesting. what does anyone else think??

Re: The Links....again!! - j (22nd Jun 2007 - 07:56:52) It was like that the last time i went in it was like ghost town gone are the days when it took 10 mins to get a drink and waiting for ages to get a table. i hear the food is still good but with c**p surroundings, rude managers, expensive drinks £3.20 for a pint of beer and poorly trained staff - who wants to go there anymore its not the same bring back Debbie.

Re: The Links....again!! - Chris (22nd Jun 2007 - 09:10:31) Went to the links last weekend, very average food, very average staff above average prices and no sign of the landlord, again!!! Guess this is the price of having a big chain running it, no individual touch, agree bring back Debbie!

Re: The Links....again!! - Candyfloss (22nd Jun 2007 - 09:18:38) Is this for keeps - or is it just one of those things that happens from time to time? There have always been 'hot' and 'not so hot' trends in drinking establishments. We are always being told, things must change - move with the times etc, but by the sound of it most do not agree. Upmarket and modern doesn't always mean better (expensive yes)!!. I cant comment on the staff, as I have not been in there recently, come to that I have not been in any pub in Liphook for a while.

Re: The Links....again!! - jo (22nd Jun 2007 - 09:48:43) a friend of mine came to visit me on sunday and wondered where her and her husband could go for lunch. i recommended the Links as i told her most people on here have said it was nice. after her visit she said the food was lovely but expensive. drinks were expensive too. i have not been there myself yet but when i do i will let you all know my opinion.

Re: The Links....again!! - oscar (22nd Jun 2007 - 10:26:21) The food is still as good as it ever was, Claudia served us and she was fantastic at her job !!! BUT.. It was dead the rest of the staff looked un-happy . Think the managers came from an east end booser.... Its a great shame !!

Re: The Links....again!! - Janet (22nd Jun 2007 - 20:57:40) I went to the Links a couple of nights ago and the chips we had were awful! Soggy and somehow undercooked and overcooked at the same time, i.e. almost overdone on the outside but too firm and underdone on the inside. Also they were very greasy and tasted as if they'd been cooked in stale oil that had been used several times. We sent one lot back but the second lot weren't much better.

Re: The Links....again!! - Creature (25th Jun 2007 - 02:45:28) The problem the Links is now facing is that it has lost its heart and soul. I returned to what has always been my favorite Liphook boozer and was most upset. I have never seen such awful Bar staff (except one chap - Andy). There was no music, the lights were too bright, there were no customers and it was as if I was drinking in a ghost town saloon. - Where was the tumbleweed in the car park? I mainly live in London so I can handle the expensive drinks, people will always pay more for a pint if they like the place but I think the new Links is in grave trouble. The Anchor is and always will be an abomination (can you believe our past royal family once stayed there), the Dragon will always be full of the 10am drinkers, the railway will always be full of Gunsfarm Residents and the Liphook Irish community - but where are all the Links customers going to go now? The Black Fox.... ha ha only kidding they are not that mad! It is such a shame that an establishment can go from being No1 to just another one......

Re: The Links....again!! - Tim (25th Jun 2007 - 09:41:17) I'm going to stick up for the Links. Yes, the old owners have moved on (probably netting themselves a nice profit) and they ain't coming back so deal with it. The Fullers beers are far superior to Gales - Belgian abbaye and hoegaarden on tap, adnams on guest, honeydew and discovery if you like light ales and esb or pride if you like the darker stuff. I had an admittedly overpriced burger the other night but it was bloomin lovely. The handcut chips were greasy and my dessert was a mess but I am told the chef is on paternity leave. The pub was reasonably busy and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. I have no affiliation and the links remains the nicest boozer in town.

Re: The Links....again!! - Sooze (25th Jun 2007 - 12:01:33) Not hard to be the 'best pub in town' as there are not any other contenders in Liphook?!! I agree about the wine bar idea - this would be a great business move and an alternative venue in Liphook.

Re: The Links....again!! - T (25th Jun 2007 - 14:04:05) There's always the deers hut dont forget.. no one has mentioned it as of yet..

Re: The Links....again!! - Frank Baldry (25th Jun 2007 - 22:18:46) .....and the Prince of Wales in Hammer! A bit quiet but livens up in the summer, decent grub and draught beers direct from the barrels behind the bar.

Re: The Links....again!! - Jenny A (26th Jun 2007 - 11:32:42) Little way out but the best place has to be the Mill Tavern - excellent food, drink and service. I went to the Deers Hut on Saturday and was really impressed with how friendly they were there. Jen

Re: The Links....again!! - Jeff B (2nd Jul 2007 - 13:57:59) Went to the links this sunday for dinner had a really nice meal but was spoilt by the fact that they had ran out of my selected white wine and sparkling water and not for the first time either,have to say the food and service was very good but the bar staff was a bit slow...

Re: The Links....again!! - Johnboy (5th Jul 2007 - 13:23:23) I am an ex-liphook resident and was a once per week frequenter of the said establishment. Due to work requirements I was in the area so I had the opportunity to check out the Links last night and see what all the fuss is about. All I can say is to repeat my old motto for the place 'The Links, it never lets you down' - confirmed last night by the presence of about 20 odd girls from the equestrian centre! Other than that, much better now that it is smoke free, it used to be particulary bad there because of the low ceiling. Service behind bar - as good as I remember. Prices behind bar - Shocking ! But that doesn't seem to deter the obviously well off residents of 'posh' Liphook...... Still if it keeps out the baseball hat wearers then good enough for me. I will return. Cheers to Mark and Darren for a good night.

Re: The Links....again!! - Anubis (5th Jul 2007 - 17:49:55) Spot on John boy, until the next time

Re: The Links....again!! - Candyfloss (5th Jul 2007 - 18:11:45) John Boy Oh what lovelly words you speak. Must agree with you, and take your word for it - everyone go the the links!! Anubis I also must confirm the spots on John Boy, he perhaps needs your help to explain acne, as I am unable Love to you lovelies Candyfloss

Re: The Links....again!! - Anubis (6th Jul 2007 - 05:34:10) Candy floss Your not that 20 stone east European shot put champion that always props up the bar there are ya ?? If so Johnboy has already told you hes not interested and neither am i

Re: The Links....again!! - Candyfloss (6th Jul 2007 - 09:04:29) Who am I to disagree with you. What every anyone thinks I am now programmed to agree. Very enjoyable it is too!!

Re: The Links....again!! - Joseph (7th Jul 2007 - 01:12:20) Creature, I would be interested to know why you think The Anchor is an abomination. Just a side note. Royalty have stayed there, thus why it has the name ROYAL Anchor. If you have any questions about the history of the building, i'm sure Jez would be more than happy to fill you in over a beer.

Re: The Links....again!! - S (7th Jul 2007 - 13:04:26) It's not an abomination because of it's past Joseph, it's purely down to it's present guise and reputation.

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