Calleva Arms

Someone from this business manages this listing.

#1 of 1 Restaurant in SilchesterBar, British, $$ - $$$

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Calleva Arms

Review

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About

The Calleva Arms is one of Hampshire's best pubs serving excellent homecooked food. On Sunday, treat yourself to one of the best roast dinners around, or pop by in the summer months to enjoy the fantastic garden!

Features

CUISINES

Bar, British, Pub

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Free Wifi

Full Bar

Highchairs Available

Outdoor Seating

Parking Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

Little London Road The Common, Silchester RG7 2PH England

Parking Available

Does this restaurant have parking?

Yes

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Closed now

• Opens at 12:00 PM

Sunday

12:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Monday

12:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Tuesday

12:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Wednesday

12:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Thursday

12:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Friday

12:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Saturday

12:00 PM - 11:00 PM

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4.0

(334)

Excellent

158

Good

Average

Poor

Terrible

Leon M

Ringwood20 contributions

Definitely worth a visit.

Jan 2025 • couples

We visited The Cavella Arms for lunch today, and we were very impressed. The service was friendly, the food was delicious, and the restaurant was comfortable and welcoming. We had fish and chips, scampi and chips, followed by a couple of coffees and sweet treats. Prices were reasonable, but I m not a huge fan of the automatic 10% service charge, but we were happy to cover that, of course. Definitely recommend a visit.

Written January 25, 2025

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Calleva Arms

Thanks for you kind words! We are really glad that you had a lovely time when you visited us and we really hope to see you again soon! All the very best!

Written February 1, 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

John O

Silchester12 contributions

The perfect pub!

Feb 2025 • friends

If you’re looking for the perfect village pub, look no further! This charming spot has it all. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted with a warm and friendly atmosphere that feels like home. Ashlie and her team are absolutely wonderful – attentive, welcoming, and always ready with a smile. The food is top-notch, with a great selection of hearty, delicious dishes that never disappoint. Whether you’re here for a quick pint or a long, leisurely meal, the beer selection is fantastic, offering something for every taste. Plus, the cozy, village vibe makes it the ideal place to unwind and enjoy the company of locals. Highly recommend this gem of a pub – it’s truly a standout!

Written February 9, 2025

Calleva Arms

Thank you so much for the kind words. We put a lot of effort into creating the best possible pub atmosphere and we are happy that you enjoy coming here. We're looking forward to seeing you again soon.

Written February 23, 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Blonde S

United Kingdom21 contributions

Perfect Sunday Roast

Mar 2023 • couples

My Partner and I have been doing the rounds over the last 4 months to find the best Sunday roast dinner within a 20 minute drive from home and have been to a different pub every Sunday. I am happy to say that after visiting the Calleva today, we have found THE best Sunday roast! The staff were very friendly and attentive without being intrusive, and the pub is spotless with a lot of character. I have had the roast beef and my Partner has had the roast pork at every pub to judge fairly. Today’s roast was absolutely in a class of it’s own - totally sublime. The beef was cooked to perfection and had absolutely no waste. The vegetables were roasted with thyme, whilst the roast potatoes were crispy and brown on the outside, while fluffy inside. No need to pay extra for pig in blanket, cauliflower cheese and stuffing inclines the price, plus broccoli cooked to perfection and a homemade Yorkshire pud. All served with your own pot of gravy! The food was hot, flavoursome and there was plenty enough. The pork was perfectly cooked with crispy crackling. This will certainly be our Sunday roast venue in future. No need to look any further.

Written March 12, 2023

Gta m

6 contributions

Works Christmas Lunch

Nov 2024 • business

We had our works lunch at the Calleva Arms. Everyone agreed that it was excellent; great communication arranging the meal from Ashleigh and Chris. Nothing was too much trouble - they even offered us turkey and the trimmings although their Christmas menu wasn't yet available. The meals were all fresh, tasty and the portions were generous. We liked the great food, the friendly service and the cosy surroundings. We would all highly recommend it.

Written November 20, 2024

Calleva Arms

Hello! We're super glad that you had a lovely lunch. It was an absolute pleasure to have you! We hope you have a lovely Christmas. All the best Ashlie

Written December 6, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

DJF710

Reading341 contributions

Very disappointing

Apr 2024 • friends

We had Sunday lunch with a group of friends. The ambiance was nice and the staff friendly. However, the roasts were disappointing; the Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes appeared to be from a frozen catering pack. One slice of carrot and one of parsnip was mean, even allowing for the dish of cabbage, broccoli and frozen peas. The service was poor. Yes, they were busy, but we waited a long time for the food, especially the puddings; we were asked if we’d like any sauces, so asked for apple and horseradish. We had to catch the eye of the waitress after ten minutes to ask again. The coffee was served with much of it slopped into the saucer. Not the best experience.

Written April 8, 2024

Calleva Arms

Hello, Thanks for taking time to review. I can only apologise that you were left disappointed. As you noted we were exceptionally busy on Sunday and our staff were having to work double as hard to ensure everyone was looked after. I am glad that you found our staff friendly as we are really proud that even during particularly busy times our staff remain as friendly as ever! I can assure you that our roast potatoes are freshly made every Sunday and although we would love to make our Yorkshires from scratch we simply do not currently have the space in our kitchen (though we are hoping to have the facilities very soon). We have listened the the feedback of plenty of customers who have said that our Roast our great - but often felt the portion is too large so we currently include one whole roasted carrot and one whole roasted parsnip to attempt to reduce waste - if you are still hungry for more you are more than welcome to ask and we are more than happy to provide an extra serving free of charge! As hard as we may try to reduce wait time occasionally at particularly busy periods, for example at Sunday Lunch time, short delays are inevitable and we relay this to the customer at the time. All the very best Ashlie

Written April 10, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

BethM1111

Reading3 contributions

Horrific service…

Aug 2023 • family

5 gentleman stood behind the bar, 1 lady working her butt off for everyone else! This meant the service was horrendous! We had to ask twice for plates to be removed even after one gentleman kept looking at us. Had to ask for menus, and to order deserts! Service was extremely slow, we were in there for 3 hours! We are usually regulars but will be looking at alternative venues for future dining which is a shame as the food is very good - although they have cut the menu choices A LOT!

Written August 26, 2023

Calleva Arms

Hi there, Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this review. We appreciate all feedback as this means that we can continually grow and improve the business. Any more information you could email through to info@callevaarms.com regarding this experience would be fantastic as I am struggling to pinpoint a time when this could have been- I would really love to work out who these gentlemen were so I can give them some further training and ensure this doesn't happen again. We are really passionate delivering a high level of service and apologise that you left feeling that you had not received that. We would really love if you would give us a second chance to show the level of service we are used to delivering and remain regulars. All the best!

Written August 30, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

John J

Reading58 contributions

Good enough

Aug 2022 • none

Lunch for 2 midweek. We hadn't booked but were welcomed warmly. Staff were attentive and polite at all times. A large party had arrived at the same time and we were warned there may be a delay. Our food (mains only) were served in around 20 minutes which we considered reasonable given how busy the staff were. Menu choices were mainly pub grub which suited us fine. Choice of sandwiches and paninis were also available. Prices were as expected in this climate without being excessive. We chose scampi and steak pie. Portion sizes were generous and the food piping hot when it arrived Minor gripes - mashed potato was a bit stodgy and chips were dry. A pleasant enough experience. We will return.

Written August 24, 2022

passion4hospitality

Chichester20 contributions

Britain’s Best Sausage

Mar 2023 • business

We stopped off in this little village pub for a bite to eat whilst we completed some work and my god it did not disappoint! We were greeted by Harry and Kerry who showed us to our table and offered some information about a few personal favourites from the menu. In the end we opted for the Butcher’s Best Sausage, aptly named! It came with a generous helping of mashed potatoes (though this could also be substituted for a different style), onion rings, seasonal vegetables and delicious onion gravy! We chose to have a wine alongside our meal, I chose the Pinot whilst my colleague had the Malbec. Both wines paired deliciously with the food that was served! The venue itself was quite deceiving. From the outside you would never know it held so much space! It was beautifully decorated in quirky ornaments, fairy lights and intimate colours. With a charming fireplace smack bang in the middle. Hidden away at the back of the venue was a very large garden and immediately knew we would be making another trip in the summer. It’s quite rare for me to find a venue that holds both that summer and winter appeal so perfectly but today I found what may potentially be my new favourite British pub. I will definitely be back and will certainly advise anyone travelling in the area to stop of for a visit! Thanks for having us!

Written March 10, 2023

Debra R

1 contribution

Friendly staff and tasty food

Jul 2024 • family

Chris and Pat were both very accommodating. We were a party of 5, three of which wore hearing aids and find pubs very noisy. I asked if we go could go somewhere quieter than the main area and Chris gave us a table in their lovely conservatory. He even phoned me before hand to confirm our booking. Pat served us and remembered from previous visits how my husband liked his meal cooked , right down to the crispness of his bacon. All five of us enjoyed our meals and would definitely recommend and visit again. Thank you Chris, Pat and the rest of the team.

Written July 3, 2024

Calleva Arms

Hello! Thanks so much for your kind words. I have passed this feedback onto Chris and Pat and they are so pleased that you had a lovely meal. Both are a real asset to our team and it is so lovely that their hard work is recognised! We look forward to your next visit! All the very best, Ashlie - General Manager

Written July 4, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jacqui W

1 contribution

Great Christmas Lunch

Dec 2024 • friends

Christmas lunch for a group of friends. Everyone enjoyed their lunch although a couple thought Brussels sprouts could have been cooked a bit longer. The turkey meal was very good and made a change to have the turkey rolled rather than in a slice. Bacon round outside kept meat moist. Aubergine meal for vegetarians was good and the selection of vegetables that everyone shared were delicious. The butternut squash soup was very much to our liking but some may have found it spicy. The atmosphere was very pleasant and the staff excellent-very helpful, accommodating and friendly.

Written December 13, 2024

Calleva Arms

Hi Jacqui, We are very happy to hear that you had a great time with us, I will be sure to pass this feedback on to our team as they will be very pleased to hear that you have had a lovely time! It is very kind of you to take the time to leave this feedback, especially during the busy Christmas period where everyone is working particularly hard! We very much hope to see you again soon and wish you a very Merry Christmas! All the best, Ashlie

Written December 14, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Veronica H

163 contributions

Great lunch venue!

Mar 2025 • friends

This was the lunch stop on our circular ramble from and back to Mortimer station. Pleasant interior, setting and staff. Great choice of food and delicious when it arrived - with generous portions. Bit of a wait due to a larger group just in front of us - and the staff having to arrange cover for the chef who had 'phoned in sick that morning! Not local but would gladly return if in the area again.

Written March 9, 2025

Calleva Arms

Hello Veronica, We're overjoyed that you chose us as your lunch stop on your ramble. It's great that you enjoyed the experience and we thank you for your understanding regarding the wait. Thank you for your review and the team can't wait to welcome the Ramblers back again.

Written March 21, 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Gill R

Reading54 contributions

Reasonable food let down by poor service

Jan 2023 • friends

Service was extremely slow and we had to ask to place our order after sitting waiting for over half an hour. The pub wasn't even particularly busy. The food was quite good when it arrived but there were further problems when we came to pay (one overcharge and one under!) Overall, reasonable food let down by poor service.

Written January 20, 2023

C T

2 contributions

Love lazy Sunday

Nov 2024 • couples

First time eating here. The Sunday roast was amazing for a Fuller's. The only observation was the roasties. They were really big, slightly hard and not crispy but to be honest I have never found a roast in a pub etc that has them as they should be. Staff were brilliant. The Chineham Arms, my local is a Fuller's too and I hope there's is as delicious. We will definitely return but will ask for the crispiest spuds😁

Written November 3, 2024

Calleva Arms

Hello! Thanks for the lovely review! We will be sure save all the crispiest potatoes for your next visit! Look forward to seeing you again soon!

Written November 8, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Vicki A

Brighton5 contributions

Disappointing

May 2022 • family

Last time we were here, pre-pandemic, we had a delicious lunch. We returned today when there was a village market on. The pub was surprisingly quiet at lunchtime. There were no vegetarian options on the children’s menu. The bar menu was uninspiring, I usually order vegan and was not interested in a ‘plant based’ I.e. heavily processed burger with buttery brioche bun and halloumi, and other options sounded heavy for lunch. So we all had chips, the service was remarkable slow considering. The portions were huge, which was frustrating as we left one whole portion, the chunky chips were very dry. A shame as it’s a good location for local play park. We won’t be back any time soon, which is the opposite of how we felt last time we visited!!

Written May 7, 2022

griswalds13

Reading18 contributions

Peculiar staff behaviour

Oct 2021 • friends

I like this pub, including the food and drinks choice, but I am put off going back due to the peculiar attitude of the mainly young staff. In 3 visits over 2 months I have experienced overly attentive (to the point of rudeness) staff attention when visiting to eat or just have a quick drink. I think the staff may be confusing constantly checking up on you, and commenting on food choices, as being good service. It makes for an uncomfortable atmosphere however I hope this may in time diminish if/when the staff get more experience or get better training. Very odd and not what you want when visiting a pub.

Written October 8, 2021