Unless you have a habit of wearing your chest waders to lunch, you really can’t get much closer to the river! The Mayfly’s gorgeous beer garden extends right up to the water’s edge where the ducks can paddle right beneath your feet and the kingfishers often perch in the trees above your head. In the high season this fantastic little gastropub is a hive of activity for fly fishers from across the region, and there is a constant buzz of fly fishing conversation. Little snippets of chit chat jump out at you as fellow fishers on a nearby table compare their trial’s and tribulations of a morning beside the river, and the chances are they didn’t travel far! There are some tremendous fly fishing beats within a short walk from the pub, others a 5 minute drive away and with the fly fishing capital of Stockbridge just a 10 minute commute down the valley, the Mayfly earns our highest accolade for its proximity to great fishing, and its inalienable kinship with the fly fishing community. Top marks!

Oh where the bright waters meet! The Mayfly lies beside the main river Test at Fullerton, 10 minutes upstream of  Stockbridge and only 5 minutes south of the A303, the main road that runs east to west joining Hampshire with Wiltshire, Dorset and Devon so if you are travelling down from London, this is a great place for a pit stop.  There are riverside walks in both directions and no matter which way you turn there is highly prized fly fishing around every corner. This location is one of the best of any fly fishing pub around, with front row views over the main river test and an adjacent carrier stream as it riffles off into the distance. The only caveat is the busy road bridge, though it is all but a distant hum from the beer garden and quickly drowned out by the tumbling weir pool. This truly is a unique spot!

As fly fishing pubs go the Mayfly has character by the bucket. Indoors, weathered oak beams lead up to a rustic bar, so if you are tall like me remember to watch your head on the low ceiling when walking out with drinks. The atmosphere is always warm and friendly and ambient conversation often revolves around fishing and other countryside pursuits.  There are several restaurant areas and rooms for private groups and functions, each tastefully furnished and some decorated with local fly fishing memorabilia. One has a lovely log burner built into a redbrick fireplace, which really leans into the rustic industrial décor. As soon as you walk into the beer garden you are met with a panoramic view of the river Test, where you can watch big brown trout eat mayfly, whilst you eat at the Mayfly, during the mayfly!

There are no rooms at the Mayfly, so this is a pub for afternoon and evening only. The bar staff are always very friendly and eager to please, and the table service is quick and efficient even when busy.

The Mayfly menus are defined by fresh locally sourced ingredients, seasonal dishes, and all our favorite pub lunch classics. Nibbles are grilled breads and garlic olives which you can graze whilst you pour over the menu. Our pick for starters is the mojito salmon gravlax, served with pickled kohlrabi, caperberries, and dill, or the ham hock terrine complete with pickled veg and fresh sourdough toast. There is also a burrata with marinated tomatoes and sough dough bruschetta or beetroot carpaccio with orange and toasted walnuts. If the weather is cool and blustery, there is a carrot and coriander soup to warm the cockles.

Mains are too many to choose, but featured dishes are courgette and crab linguine, and the brown butter chalkstream trout fillet, and the Sunday menu includes a drool-worthy selection of hearty roasts. Also popular are the pan roasted gnocci, roast lamb rump or an 8oz sirloin with panzanella salad and triple cooked chips. Stand out sides are roasted herby new potatoes or chilli broccoli and sea salt, and if you just want something quick and easy, they do a fine haddock and chips or a first class burger. For the sweet tooths, you can round it all off with Eton Mess and summer fruits, or raspberry bread and butter pudding.

At the bar, drinks are an array of locally brewed ales on draft, and the full selection of wines including some of Hampshire’s own vineyards. If you need to get back to the river with at least one good casting arm, there is also a good range of ginger beer, juices and other soft drinks.

We think the food is great value and comfortably falls into the category of gastropub cuisine, aka. ‘good pub grub.’ Just what you need after a long day on the river. Mains start at approx. £17.50.