The Baker's Arms was brought to my attention when it received a fabulous review from Carol Godsmark, The News Food Critic. It sounded too good to be true so with very little mention of vegetarian or vegan options would it be able to accommodate a vegan birthday meal?
When I phoned to book our table I asked if a vegan option was available and was told the chef could specially create a starter, main and pudding, and was asked if there was anything I didn't like eating. Friendliness and willingness to accommodate promised good things for the meal ahead!
On arrival at this delightfully modernised village pub we were welcomed and shown to our table. As designated driver they had an interesting & varied selection of non alcoholic beverages e.g. Organic ginger beer, elderflower, and my husband enjoyed the locally produced real ales.
The vegan menu that the chef had created for me consisted of

Item1
Mixed leaf salad with roasted Hampshire tomatoes and beetroot salsa
Item2
Grilled field mushroom with marinated fennel, leek, red onion & butter nut squash with a pine nut dressing
Item3
Caramelised banana with cinnamon poached mango & pineapple with flaked almonds.

All the dishes were freshly cooked, absolutely delicious and the starter came served with their own delicious seeded bread. The service was warm, friendly and attentive without being overbearing. All courses were served & cleared promptly, drinks were offered and checks were made to ensure everything was to our liking.
My husband had a vegetarian starter - Goats cheese and onion tart with pickled beetroot and salad, which he said was fantastic! The other two vegetarian starters Butter nut squash soup or English rarebit with watercress and soft poached egg , sounded equally delicious. His main course was Grilled Hampshire sirloin steak, home made chips & B