Sir John Barleycorn Inn

The Sir John Barleycorn Inn is a traditional thatched pub and restaurant located on Southampton Road in Cadnam, on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, England. It is reputed to be the oldest inn in the forest, with origins said to date back to the 12th century, when the building is believed to have been three separate cottages. These cottages were later converted into a pub and restaurant and were once the home of the Purkiss family, an ancestor of whom is said to have found the body of King William Rufus after he was killed while hunting nearby; the charcoal burner Purkiss reportedly carried the king's remains to Winchester Cathedral and was rewarded with land around the pub. The building today is a low, thatched structure standing close to the M27 motorway, in a cul-de-sac that was formerly the main road. Inside there is a small lounge and bar, with a restaurant at one end and a large lounge-cum-dining room at the other. The rooms are slate-floored and furnished in modern wood and leather, and to the side of the pub is a large beer garden with benches. Paultons Park is nearby. The pub's menu combines traditional British pub classics with an Indian menu, alongside a drink menu featuring wine and traditional cask ale. Signature dishes mentioned on the official website include Prawn-Tempura, Murgh Tikka, Seafood Linguine and Matter-Paneer. The inn also hosts events and offers a pub garden for outdoor dining and drinks. It is open daily, from 12:00 pm to 22:30 pm on Mondays and Sundays and from 12:00 pm to 23:00 pm on other days. Bookings can be made by phone at 02382517004 or by email at bookings@sirjohnbarleycorn.com. As a hospitality venue, the Sir John Barleycorn Inn operates as a single-site pub and restaurant rather than a multi-outlet chain. Its identity is closely tied to its historic setting and its dual offering of British and Indian food, which has drawn positive customer reviews, including praise from diners from Mumbai for the authenticity of its curries.

The Sir John Barleycorn Inn is reputed to be the oldest inn in the New Forest, with a history that may stretch back to the 12th century. According to the pub's own account, the building was originally three cottages that were later converted into a traditional thatched pub and restaurant. These cottages were once the home of the Purkiss family. An ancestor of that family, a poor charcoal burner, is said to have found the body of King William Rufus after the king was mysteriously killed while hunting nearby. Purkiss trundled the king's remains in his cart to Winchester Cathedral, where the monks quickly buried the body. For his efforts, Purkiss was given an acre or two of land around the pub. The building stands close to the M27 motorway, in a cul-de-sac that was formerly the main road, and is possibly the oldest pub in the Forest. Inside are a small lounge and bar, with a restaurant at one end and a large lounge-cum-dining room at the other. The rooms are slate-floored and furnished in modern wood and leather. To the side of the pub is a large beer garden with benches. Paultons Park is nearby. In the present day, the Sir John Barleycorn Inn operates as a pub and restaurant serving both traditional British pub classics and Indian cuisine, along with wine and cask ale. The official website highlights seasonal flavours and a menu that includes dishes such as Prawn-Tempura, Murgh Tikka, Seafood Linguine and Matter-Paneer. The pub also hosts special events and offers a pub garden. It is open daily, with slightly shorter hours on Mondays and Sundays. The inn continues to trade as a hospitality venue in Cadnam, Hampshire.

• Reputedly founded as three cottages in the 12th century, later converted into a pub.

• Purkiss family ancestor finds the body of King William Rufus and is rewarded with land around the pub.

• Building operates as a traditional thatched pub and restaurant, possibly the oldest in the New Forest.

A historic country pub and restaurant offering a blend of traditional British pub fare and authentic Indian cuisine in a picturesque New Forest setting.

• Pub Classic Menu

  Traditional British pub dishes.

• Indian Menu

  Authentic Indian curries and dishes.

• Drink Menu

  Wine and traditional cask ale.

• Prawn-Tempura

  A specialty dish.

• Murgh Tikka

  An Indian chicken tikka dish.

• Seafood Linguine

  A seafood pasta dish.

• Matter-Paneer

  An Indian paneer and pea curry.

1. 1Sir John Barleycorn official websitesirjohnbarleycorn.com
2. 2Historic Interest pagesirjohnbarleycorn.com
3. 3Wikidata entrywikidata.org