REVIEW: Bransgore's award winning pub The Three Tuns Inn

These are all quite bold claims. But having dined there myself this week, I can confirm the pub has full bragging rights – and can see why it has attracted the likes of Liam Neeson, Michael Caine and Tyson Fury.

Found in Ringwood Road, The Three Tuns is a historic inn which has been thriving under the stewardship of the same family landlords for 20 years.

The venue itself boasts a unique charm and warm atmosphere, with roaring log fires, low ceilings and wooden beams creating a cosy feel.

Our table at The Three Tuns (Image: NQ) It regularly becomes host to quiz nights, themed dining evenings and even weddings, with its annual beer festival, held in partnership with the Rotary Club, being a community highlight.

But how good is the food? The pub boasts a creative menu, with everything from Dorset snails, pan fried pigeon breast and crab cappelletti, to beer battered cod and chips, gammon steak and a ‘Three Tuns Burger’.

It also offers seasonal specials, and currently has pan-fried duck, loin of venison and chicken ballotine among other bold flavours on the menu.

When I visited on Wednesday evening, I made sure I went hungry enough to sample all three courses.

For starter, I had a twice baked cheese souffle served with warm bread. As a savoury souffle should be, it was light and delicate with a subtle egg flavour, and enough cheese to be punchy but not overpowering.

Starter: Twice baked cheese souffle with warm bread (Image: NQ) For my main, I had the ‘sausages of the week’, which were locally sourced pork and chorizo sausages served with parsley mash, caramelised onions and red wine jus. The mash was deliciously creamy and smooth, the sausages were succulent and expertly seasoned, and the onions and jus added a ton of extra flavour - it was the perfect winter dish.

Main: Pork and chorizo sausages served with parsley mash, caramelised onions and red wine jus (Image: NQ) My partner had lamp rump from the specials menu, which was served with fondant potato, purple sprouting broccoli, a ‘bean bundle’ wrapped in bacon, and a red wine sauce. In his words, “this is the best lamb I’ve ever had” and “it’s just falling apart”. He was a happy man.

Main: Lamb rump served with fondant potato, purple sprouting broccoli, a ‘bean bundle’ wrapped in bacon, and a red wine sauce (Image: NQ) Picking a dessert was very difficult as there were so many options: poached pear, tiramisu, panna cotta, sorbet and a cheese board were among the offerings. I went for a lemon tart, while my partner chose the chocolate fondant, served with vanilla ice cream and a chocolate brandy snap.

Despite us both feeling very full from the mains, the desserts were just too delicious to leave behind. They were the perfect sweet treat to end the evening.

Dessert: Lemon tart and chocolate fondant (Image: NQ) After scraping the plates clean, we were joined by Three Tuns owner Nigel Glenister and head chef Steve Wiltshire.

While Nigel had taken over the pub back in 2005, Steve had joined more recently, but with 35 years’ experience in the industry behind him, including training chefs across the UK.

Steve told us about the menu’s locally sourced produce, the pub's latest AA Rosette award, and shared with my partner the secrets behind 'the best lamb he’d ever had'.

Nigel then spoke with us about the highs and lows of owning a pub during covid, the unique weddings hosted there, wealthy diners arriving by helicopter and how he had welcomed celebrity guests over the years including Liam Neeson (on Mother's Day!), Michael Caine and Tyson Fury.

But besides all the flash stories, it was evident that the focus for Nigel and Steve was keeping punters happy – particularly the regulars and Bransgore locals.

The Three Tuns in the snow earlier this week (Image: The Three Tuns) They were determined to keep The Three Tuns a community pub, and they had done exactly that. From spending only a couple of hours there I got the feel of a ‘Three Tuns family’, with villagers in friendly conversation with staff, and Nigel catching up with regulars who had been visiting for years.

I left feeling very impressed with The Three Tuns, and if you ask me, it is nailing the recipe for a successful traditional English pub.

Delightful food and drinks, a friendly atmosphere, a busy events schedule, and a great reputation maintained over the years - I can only sing its praises. 

To book a table at The Three Tuns Inn visit the pub's website or call 01425 672232.