The King Rufus in Eastleigh

What a lovely evening. Excellent service by staff in the King Rufus. Very good food. Becca and Genie were very good ensuring that everything was ok for us. Thank you

We had 2 family birthdays to celebrate, so went here for lunch. I brought a cake which Becca very kindly put a new candle on as the one I took had broken. Nothing was too much trouble. The food was lovely and we had a lovely time and weren't rushed. Highly recommend.

Had delicious food with a great server (Frank) who assisted us with anything we need. We had a great time out and are very thankful.

The pup was beautifully decorated and warm. The food was delicious. The staff were lovely. I accidentally left my wallet in the pub and they found it and kept it safe for me to pick up later.

Just had an amazing… AMAZING Christmas Dinner at the Rufus! After having a few disappointing Christmas Dinners ‘out’ the past few years and not the most amazing experience, we were really hoping this would not be the same. But… it was delicious. Hot, tasty and a lot of it!! And again, lovely cheerful Christmas Spirit from Genie and the team. Thankyou everyone, would definitely spend our Christmas with you again! The Griffiths-Dunn family x

Rebecca and the other staff members were very helpful. And the service was exceptional definitely will be coming back to visit again!

Although our experience was great, we unfortunately had a very rude and unprofessional server but luckily was switched to a lovely girl called Natalya! (Big well done to her!)

We didn’t have a booking which is fine had we been told from the beginning that there is no table available. Instead we walked around aimlessly only to find out there was no place for us to sit down. The staff at the door was rude and unwelcoming. Appalling!

We had a lovely evening dinner, the rib eye was fantastic.

Great Christmas meal for a group of 15. Very accommodating and generous. Geoff was warm and welcoming and one of the waiting staff particularly quick- witted when it came to the magician.

Great pub good selection of beer and food.

Great evening at the King Rufus, catching up with friends and the food, service and atmosphere were the perfect companions to that, as well as being reasonably priced.

Visited on Friday evening for a family meal. The pub was packed but the atmosphere was brilliant, staff were very attentive and friendly. Food was delicious, will be back again soon. Thank you to all at the King Rufus.

I have been going to this pub, in its various incarnations, for decades. Though only a couple of times a year more recently, when I'm in the area. I stopped with two colleagues for lunch. The staff were welcoming, pleasant and service was pretty quick. I just think the food needs looking at. One colleague had the scampi, no issues there. Another colleague had the lunch menu of salmon. I believe another review has a picture of it. It just looked a bit sad, over cooked, and with a heap of anemic looking potatoes. Presentation is everything guys. My colleague described the salmon as 'rubbery'. His dessert of ice cream 'didn't taste of anything'. I had the steak and Ruddles ale pie with 'buttery' mash. It was nice enough but the pastry a little thick and cloying, just enough crunch to keep me ploughing on. The filling was tasty but a little on the stingy side, and if buttery mash sits under a heat lamp (?) It won't be overly pleasant after a while. But then, at £12.99, it was very reasonably priced. The lunchtime crowd, busier then I've seen it in a while, all seemed happy enough, so maybe we just chose badly. I've eaten there several times and never had issue before. I want this pub to be a little better, I like it, I want to go back. A touch more effort?

Really enjoy eating at this pub. Been many times, but they frequently have either no beer or no puddings. Sadly this will be our last visit for a while, as we know the menu too well and we're fed up with shortages.

Gents toilets needing some TLC.

Always a great place to eat. Lovely atmosphere and great staff!! Would definitely recommend!

We use the King Rufus regularly and always enjoy hot delicious meals. All the staff are very friendly and attentive but special shout to Robbie, who is so customer focused and to Finn for cooking our lovely meal, the steak was cooked to perfection. See you again soon

Wonderful evening had by the whole family. Great food and great service. Would highly recommended and will absolutely be back. Thanks :)

Nice enough, had a pleasant Sunday roast. Service was friendly although a tad slow.

Lunch with the family. I had the ribs, which were expensive, although I haven't stopped thinking about how lovely they were, so definitely worth it. The others finished their meals, Pie and Chicken Fajitas which they also raved about so food was on point, well done to the chef and staff were friendly and attentive - had a lovely lunch, would definitely return.

This is my local, has always provided great food and friendly service, would recommend to anyone!

Party of 6. Pub was mostly empty maybe 3/4 other tables in use when we arrived at 3:15pm so not a busy lunch time or tea time! No drink order was taken until all of the party arrived which is unusual for pubs. Drinks order was taken and then meals, there was a long wait for food even though pub was empty but was told there is only one chef. Food has gone down hill massively since we last visited. The waitress we had couldn't even hold the plates and place them on to the table instead handed to us or literally dropped down. The steaks were not cooked to how they were asked and were very fatty. Glasses for drinks were not clean this was changed but even when we went to pay other customers were handed glasses that were filthy and this was questioned. When paying we said about the wait and service being poor and that the tables were also sliding everywhere and very wonky, causing a drink to be spilt (lucky it wasn't hot). Was told it's something they are working on and thanks for letting them know and that £30 had been taken off the bill. Silly me didn't think to check, no money had been removed off the bill and the 2 orders from the lunch menu that's on a deal till 5pm was not even accounted for and we was instead charged full price for them individually. A phone call has been left and i will be returning in the morning if no call back for the money owed. If i wasn't 40+ weeks pregnant and lived closer i'd have gone back tonight.

Always a great place to go and grab food. Family friendly and the staff are always very welcoming. Great portion sizes. Food tastes great and is reasonably priced. Children's menu here is fantastic - giving them a much wider range of options than most pubs

We have just got home after a great meal at the King Rufus, the food was fantastic and the service, was good, we were served by quite a few of the staff who were on duty and they were all very professional. Looking forward to our next visit for either Breakfast or Dinner. Louisa

Once again, superb service, delicious food and lovely atmosphere. Thank you for accommodating our dogs too! Great family pub and dining and extensive menu for a wide range of tastes. Well done King Rufus team.

Disappointed that we have to walk through the smokers congregating around the entrance and no outside no smoking area.

Was seated by Genie, who was very efficient, in this very amenable pub. Good food, good Menu, with a wide variety of drinks and good atmosphere.

Always a great place to pop in for a beer or food.....friendly staff and very welcoming and child friendly. Always great service with a smile

We went as a group of 16 for a Halloween treat. Staff were friendly and food was good. Alexia our waitress was really helpful

Everytime you visit, despite putting your reg into the machine you get a parking fine and debt recovery letter. 3 now I’ve had - it’s a rural pub, who’s idea this was has no geographic knowledge - why else would I park their!!!

Visited the king rufus yesterday for just drinks in the bar area, was served by Kirsten who was very friendly and efficient. Will definitely be returning soon.

Chosen because it is near J14 of M3. Very slow service which meant we only had time for a main course which was ok. I doubt if we would go again.

Excellent food friendly service all at a very reasonable price. We were in 29th when my mother inlaw was taken ill. The staff we compassionate and helpful and should be commended for there actions throughout

I was about to leave a bad review for this place due to a rude blonde waitress I encounter every time I visit. However, I was then assisted by a really sweet girl named Lily, who went above and beyond with her service and completely turned my experience around. Because of her, I’m now leaving a 5-star review! Thanks lily 😊

My family and I attended the Macmillan Family Fun Day on Saturday 17th August and we had the best afternoon! Lots of things to do for the children, the staff were very friendly and helpful, they were wearing Macmillan t shirts which was great to see. Would definitely recommend the King Rufus as a family friendly pub, always a great time!

Food was good but a very rude girl served us more shouting at us who having the grill who having the grill no would you like anything else or is you meal okay just slammed plate down and walk off try to get a drink at bar had to waite as the person behind the bar was busy make about 5 coffees then was told couldn't have

Really friendly staff with good service. The food was nice too.

Long wait for order to be taken and both courses slow to arrive.Chips cold, Chicken tough,crumbles x 3 cold in the middle.Poorly attentive staff. Shame as been coming here for a long time.

Came here for lunch today service was brilliant from sian food was good will be back soon

Good Greene King pub. Very good menu and selection of beers all reasonably priced. Plenty of parking and outside seating. Dog friendly in the bar. Nice log burner in the bar for those cold winter evenings Controlled car park so enter your car registration number inside.

I come to this pub regularly and it’s always great service. I’ll be returning again soon for sure! Thanks King Rufus

Love this place. We go weekly. Food is always amazing. Our regular waitress Sian is wonderful. Friendly and very attentive.

Had breakfast on Sunday morning - food lovely and staff very welcoming and friendly. Very quiet on the morning we went but the pub has a lovely feel even with just a few customers. Will definitely be back.

Sian was really friendly and helpful

Fantastic meal and service, friendly staff .

Our party of 6 had a very enjoyable evening at the King Rufus and were very well attended by Anna our assigned server for the evening. We took advantage of the great 2 mains and 2 drinks deal for £20. The food was freshly cooked, delicious and the portions generous....even the vegan option!. Large carpark which is free if you enter your car reg at reception

Great place to eat as food is sooo good and the service we received from " Genie" who was our waitress was fantastic and professional

Our lunch was lovely, my friend is not one to moan but her lunch was not hot but only warm, it was lovely but could have done with being nice and hot. Our service was fantastic and thank you to Becca who was very polite and professional and a credit to your company.

Always so well looked after at The King Rufus. Rebecca and her team really make you feel welcome. The food is great and the service too. Would recommend it!

Table of 4 yesterday lunch time . Excellent service . Good value for money . Fish and chips excellent. Couldn’t fault anything. Well done all!

Went there for a surprise birthday party in the function room. Well organised and staff were excellent. Would definitely recommend.

Brilliant pub. Amazing breakfasts at the weekend!

I recently visited this pub and had an exceptional experience! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, setting the perfect tone for the afternoon with friends. The service was truly outstanding, with Rebecca going above and beyond to ensure everything was just right. She was attentive, friendly, and made the entire experience feel special. Overall, this pub offers a perfect blend of great service, excellent food, and a cozy atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Best Hot Chocolate I’ve had in a while, followed by a quality vegetarian roast dinner, thank you Rebecca for the best service. Dog Friendly 🐶🐾🖤🤎

Nice evening with my boy. Great food, good service.

Great fresh food at good price. Cant fault it . All staff make u very welcome

We went to the Mcmillan charity event it was well organised, and staff were so helpful. Highly recommended.

We visited without a booking for 5 adults and 2 children, and they were more than accommodating, even moving us when our 3 year old fell asleep so he could be laid down. Genie, who was serving us, was pleasant and attentive and made the afternoons visit very enjoyable. Food and drink were lovely and a fantastic time was has by all!

I've visited this restaurant several times, and my experience has significantly improved since my last visit. A few months ago, I gave it a 2-star rating due to the extremely slow service, likely because of a staff shortage. However, during my today visit with my family, I was pleasantly surprised by the positive changes. The new staff were very attentive, friendly, and provided timely service throughout our meal. The food arrived promptly, and the overall dining experience was much smoother compared to before. The food itself was decent, not exceptional but certainly enjoyable. The only reason I'm not giving a full 5 stars is that the steaks were cooked a little too well for my taste. Otherwise, it's clear that the restaurant has made great strides in improving its service, and I'll be happy to return in the future.

Popped in for a quick drink, lovely place with really welcoming and friendly staff.

Very lovely pub with very welcoming staff :)

Garden kids equipment needs updating however the food and service can not be faulted!!

We were served by Jo and had a really good meal. Excellent service, reasonable prices and the grilled hunters chicken was delicious.

Best Greene King I have ever been to. Great for young kids too 👏

We’ve been here a few times & it’s usually ok, particularly if you have kids. Kids are all over the place in & out of garden so works if you’re relaxed about that. Visited yesterday evening & we’re very disappointed, mainly on the service or lack of. The table we asked to sit at wasn’t clean (hadn’t yet been prepared I guess) but when I asked a member of staff to clean it she didn’t seem happy, sprayed the spray everywhere & even the cloth hit me as she wiped the table in a aggressive way. The food took ages to come, I’d say 45 minutes could have been more & the place wasn’t that full. Food was pretty good, best part or I would have asked for refund/money off after the rest of the negative experience. Basically there seemed a lack of staff, not much service. Constantly having to get up & chase something. Food served, no cutlery etc plates weren’t collected, until a new member of staff brought out the kids pudding (which again took ages for a scoop of ice cream & brownie) & the pub which literally empty. Felt like the place wasn’t being managed, although a new staff member came in shift & seemed much more customer service based. Lastly we were then given the wrong bill. Mistakes happen, places get busy & people can be having a bad day, but everything put together & as a family of 4 spending £70 ish for a nice treat experience, i definitely won’t return. I will be contacting the manager today. Last visit I was accidentally given a meat burger instead of veggie.

I will NOT go there again after getting a £100 fine for parking

Really great Greene King pub. Lovely food and great service. Parking was a annoyance as so popular and hard to find a space

This was a wonderful spot. Affordable pricing and a garden with kids play area. I've been twice now, once for breakfast and once for lunch. The food has been really good both times. The outside needs a bit of cleaning up

Food was delicious 😋 excellent service delivered by Genie she was absolutely lovely very charming friendly 😊 lovely clean pub great atmosphere .

Lovely service from start to finish - Genie was efficient and attentive, even joined in on the jokes we were cracking about 'dry' apple pie. Food was delicious. Will definitely come again for family meals out.

We had a lovely midweek meal. We were served by Jo, who was super friendly. We will be back again!

Everything about this place is nice except the food is terrible, but when you have come out for a meal with friends you really need the food to be decent enough to eat. The staff are friendly enough. The pub is really dog friendly even having a dog station, always a winner in our eyes. The pub itself is light, clean and airy - don’t understand the Nando’s music. The food was terrible, really terrible. Two of us ordered the roast beef which the menu said will be served pink, well that couldn’t be further from the truth because we couldn’t get a knife through it - in fact you could have laid a patio with the two slices we got served up. The rest of the roast was dry and clearly been left sitting around the hours under heat. Another one of us ordered a medium to well done steak and what came out was a steak that probably could have walked off the plate with the pulse still in it. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a restaurant that the food was actually that bad. It just felt like we got served up food that was cooked 6 hours earlier. Will not be returning.

A lovely pub, with a welcoming atmosphere. I’ve received consistently good service and nice food every time I go there. Best of all, the Abbot Ale is always perfect, which makes it a winner ever time.

Visited today for a lovely Sunday roast, the mushroom wellington was really tasty, thank you Rebecca and the team for a really cosy afternoon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A very good small Sunday roast turkey with pig in blanket side dish, then cheesecake and latte coffee.

Excellent service fantastic food

I’m a local and a regular here, the food is always spot on and the service is amazing!!!THANKS BECCA FROM SAM …………………………..

Recently moved to the area and this was our first visit to the King Rufus, we had a lovely lunchtime meal. Fantastic polite staff (thank you Lauren), we'll definitely be back.

Early evening dining. Evening not as good as we have experienced in the past. After sitting at our table an acceptable wait before our drinks order was taken. Long delay before they arrived at the table. Food order taken, delay for one starter to arrive. After a wait of over one hour and 20 minutes, no sign of our main courses. The waitress blamed the fact that a starter had been ordered. " YOU HAVE NOT WAITED THAT LONG " she said. Then referred to the times on their ordering system. What she had not appreciated, we were not responsible for their delays in taking and serving our orders. Excuse given to the table near us, people are ordering on our app. Hence another reason for the delays. I assume the pub likes to be busy, but they could not cope, and not all tables were in use. Very disappointed

The friendly team gave us a warm welcome and efficient service. The salmon fillet was excellent. The roast beef Sunday lunch was very good, some of the vegetables were undercooked but this was not a significant issue. The cauliflower cheese was sublime.

Hate giving bad reviews but came here when pub was not even 1/3 full. Ordered chips and 2 drinks. Drinks took 30 minutes to arrive after asking where they were. Chips took 45 minutes which was a tiny portion, barely a handful for £3.29 is a rip off! I am usually quite empathetic when staff are busy and stressed but it was hardly a busy night so no excuse! Shan’t be coming here again.

Service was a tad slow when ordering drinks to the table but it was fathers day, the food was prompt and very nice 😀

Great value meal from the lunch menu. Will definitely do a return visit when in area ....

Lovely meal, as always, and great service from our waitress Jo

Absolutely stellar staff and incredible server Jo! Food was lovely, very much enjoyed and will be coming back another time

Food was excellent, our server was very good and pleasant. Love the atmosphere and the play area for the kids. Dessert cookie crumble sharers was so yummy.

Food oriented pub, can be difficult to get served at the bar by the over busy bar staff, no issue at all if you are eating. *Update June 2024*, lovely welcome for Sian, great value food delivered by Charlie, no issues getting served at the bar this visit

Have to say, this pub went really downhill for a while, but over the last year or so it has improved a million percent. Back to being a pub, which also serves nice food. Staff attentive and friendly. Back to how it used to be years ago.

Becks and Kam were fantastic at serving us for our lunchtime family meal. Becks noticed when our young children were in need of things and got them for us without us having to ask. We had a lovely meal!

Staff were very attentive, friendly and helpful

Excellent, so friendly, say no more 👏

We ate at the king refused yesterday and it was a really good time. 2 adults and children, we had mains and dessert. All.pf us ate everything. Extra thanks to server Kamica who genuinely seemed like she cared and the chef Fin obvs! 🙂

Food from main menu was good quality and portion size. 2 of party had the Sun Roast which was not as good. The stuffing was overcooked and burnt on the bottom. The pork was very fatty and the food wasn't that hot either. Will stick to main menu in future.

We came to the rufus for some food and a drink and we got served by a lovely lady called lily. Her service was excellent and anything we needed she was happy to go and get. Overall the extra was really nice and having a server like lily makes it even better.

Lovely pub, great beer garden, superb service (courtesy of Kamila) and the food was lovely too.

I came to this pub for the first time and my experience was amazing. Food was great and Kamila one of the waitresses made our experience even better, amazing staff and great food! Would definitely recommend

Best service ever done by Kamila Definitely we will come back Good service Great tasty meal Most important is that you are pet friendly

Been coming here for the past 3 years and never had a bad meal!

Saturday night, thought we’d go out for a change. I wish we had not come to the King Rufus. The Greeting At the door was not welcoming. The table was sticky the menu Limited, they did not have what I had chosen no explanation. The dinner when it Eventually arrived was dry and tasteless (chicken burger)and chips. It took an hour to arrive. When we went to pay, we were thanked for waiting patiently for the food, However, when this has happened previously in other restaurants, we were at least given a complimentary drink if not A discount off the meal. I Would not recommend this pub and will not be returning.