Dear mummy, on the first day of a New Year we left our comfy sofa in search for adventure. One of our resolutions for 2017 was to get a bit more exercise and not let rain ruin play. It’s a miserable grey day but it hasn’t stopped us from donning our waterproofs and heading outside into the fresh January air.

We have a quest today….to find the Water Witch. She’s a witch that lives in Odiham by Basingstoke Canal in Hampshire. My folks promised to find her…little did I know they were referring to a pub!! Well, you need to stock up on some provisions first!! A nice lunch was the perfect magic potion to cure NYE hangovers and welcome in the first day of the year. We needed the food to heat up our tummies before our soggy walk!

The Waterwitch in Odiham is a lovely British country pub and retains many of its 17th century features such as exposed beams and open fires. They still had Christmas decorations up in the pub and it looked lovely and homely.

Situated on the banks of the Basingstoke Canal with extensive gardens stretching right to the water’s edge, it’s the ideal stop off point if you’re out enjoying walk, bike ride or boat trip around Odiham. Even in winter this place is charming and was fully booked when we arrived. The staff were accommodating and our large table was next to a beautiful window with period features and iron fixtures. It had such a lovely atmosphere and catered for families really well. Being a Chef & Brewer we wouldn’t expect any less.

We were a large party of 10 and all ages enjoyed the food. They had a wide range of cask ales and a tasty selection of traditional pub food, seasonal dishes and blackboard specials. The servings were ample and the food and plates hot. They had a great 2-course kids menu and I loved my fish & chips and chocolate flowerpot mousse. Some of the adults ate off the festive menu and the rest enjoyed large roasts and fish dishes. The food was fantastic and great value for money!

We sat at the table for a couple of hours and had plenty of space in a little snug area with a sofa to sit on too. Even though the pub was fully booked it didn’t seem packed and the staff were attentive and speedy. My daddy indulged in the Chocolate Fudge Cake which looked and tasted delicious and my daddy is a bit of a dessert connoisseur.

Afterwards and feeling full we ventured out into the drizzly rain to take a brisk walk along the canal. My mummy told me of a real Witch that lived on a barge called Hazel Witch. We discovered her finger on the footpath covered in moss and an old shoe hanging on the rails to lead us to her hiding place. We picked up stick wands ready to cast our spells on her.

By this time the rain was beating down hard and bouncing off the canal water so we decided we couldn’t brave the winter weather any longer. Well at least we started to keep our 2017 resolution! However we did spot a barge named Hazel…maybe after my Hazel the Witch.

So did we find the real Witch of Odiham? Well kinda…we found the Waterwitch, her local pub.

Love Bella x

Waterwitch, Colt Hill, Odiham, Hook, Hampshire, RG29 1AL