We Will Be Opening on 4th July 2022!

June 9th, 2022

We Will Be Opening on 4th July 2022!

We have some news!

After an extensive refurbishment, we are delighted to announce that The Duke on the Test, formerly known as The Dukes Head, will be opening on Monday 4th July 2022!

This gorgeous building, which dates back to 1583, is Romsey’s newest premium venue for food, drinks, and overnight stays.

Mark Pinn has been appointed general manager, having worked in some of the most prestigious local hotels including The Concorde Club, and The Bell Inn in the New Forest. Ventsi Cundev, who previously worked at the Rockingham Arms in Wellow, is the new Head Chef.

The beautifully restored historic and traditional pub has now been extensively refurbished and also extended to include 12 en-suite bedrooms and an inviting sunroom blending the highest standards with a countryside and riverside location.

Customers will now be able to enjoy an extended bar and dining area for over 90 covers, as well as outside patio space. Other features include a double aspect log burner, as well as a snug and library area. Many of the original features have remained including oak beams and an Inglenook fireplace.

Mark Pinn, General Manager at The Duke, said: “We are all looking forward to the reopening and are recommending customers looking to experience the new Duke restaurant book to avoid disappointment.

“The exciting reality is we are now very close to bringing this much-loved, historic country inn back to life, which we are confident local people and visitors to the area looking for quality accommodation will support. We are creating something very special and look forward to welcoming back old regulars and new customers to The Duke.

“The Duke on the Test will be a wonderful place to meet, eat, drink and sleep in the heart of the Test Valley. We are a stone’s throw from the River Test which makes for a stunning location for customers. We are very dog-friendly in the bar with a stunning river walk just a few hundred yards from the bar. We will be serving delicious home-cooked gastropub dishes alongside local real ales and a fabulous selection of wines and spirits.”

As members of Hampshire Fare, the emphasis will be to embrace all things from the Test Valley region – fresh produce, locally sourced. For example, we are hoping to use Chalk Stream Trout and the local Vineyards Black Chalk and Danebury for our wine list. We will also be exploring River Test Gin, whose gin won Best English London Dry in 2020.”

We are so excited to welcome you all to The Duke on the 4th July and beyond.

For more information about job opportunities at The Duke on the Test, please contact hello@thedukeonthetest.co.uk. To book a table, please call 01794 377500 or email eat@thedukeonthetest.co.uk.

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