New catering at Haslar Marina, Gosport

[Twister_Ken]

From a Haslar email...

"We are delighted to announce that Haslar Marina now have two new independent operators for the Bar & Restaurant at both The Lightship and Landers. Both new parties are enthusiastic, experienced and have direct knowledge of catering for the needs of hungry and thirsty Sailors! Please note that the sample menus attached are to provide you with a flavour of the fare on offer and are subject to change; but we can highly recommend a Breakfast at The Lightship to keep you going and we hope Hardy’s will go with their Moroccan Lamb Crew Pot!

Dave, Michelle and Sarah look forward to welcoming you to their restaurants and we hope that you will join us in welcoming them to Haslar Marina. After a few years of change at both venues, we believe these gents, ladies and their crews have the right credentials to offer you a pleasurable and relaxed experience. We would like to wish them the very best of luck with their new ventures.

The Lightship Bar & Restaurant has now re-opened under the charge of Dave Savage and Michelle, whom some of you will know already from the Crews Mess Cafe in Gosport. As a Yacht Master himself, Dave understands your needs and is serving daily big hearty food at a great price, from 7am until late. Meal times are listed below and menus are available on request. Please contact Dave and Michelle on 02392 525200 with any enquiries!

Breakfast: 7am to 11:30am (or earlier if booked)
Lunch: Served all day.
Dinner: 6pm to 10pm.
Sunday Dinner: 11am to 3pm.

Landers, excitingly soon to be re-branded as Hardy’s at Haslar Bar & Bistro, will re-open on Saturday 17th March. Sarah Drummond and Sarah’s Mum and Dad currently operate The Pump House at Royal Clarence Yard and the kitchens at Sunsail. Sailors themselves; her Dad Ian volunteers for GAFIRS and Sarah’s fiancée Ian Conchie is the Skipper for the Clipper Round the World Racing Yacht Qingdao.

Sarah will be providing a selection of home cooked Bistro style food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with a great selection of wine. Events, a boat victualling service, packed lunches and luxury day hampers will also be available. For immediate enquiries, please contact them on info@hardys-catering.co.uk. (They will be available on the phone number 02392 588810 from 17th March)."

 

[KINGFISHER 8]

Haven't been to the Lightship for about 3 years ... always a good evening out and good breakfasts as well ... worth a try again soon I think. Only problem I used to find in summer was having to get in on the visitors' pontoons early enough. Don't know how busy it gets March/April/May so will probably look in on the way back from a Saturday jolly when the weather gets slightly warmer!

 

[Seven Spades]

One of the reasons we left Haslar was that there was no food available between 2.30 and 6pm. This has to be good news for berth holders. Trying to get tied up on a Sunday before the lightship stopped serving food was a nightmare as it always took longer to to get into Portsmouth than expected.

I wish them both luck.

 

[TopDonkey]

Is there free visitors moorings for people using the restaurant ?

I need to pop down to refuel in the next week or so, and would be perfect to combine it with a nice early breakfast whilst i'm down there

 

[rwoofer]

Has anyone kept track of how many times the catering has changed at Haslar? Seems rather regular to me.

 

[MARGETTS]

Honest answer.

I have been going into Hasler for 20 years.!!

The food used to be cheap and cheerful and the visitors space rammed.

Plenty of just got in and am starving sailors meals at the right price, never mind the quality.

Obviously we are not there 7 days a week as customers, so turnover varies. Plus marina rent for restaurant gets outrageous as it is percieved as a source of revenue from wealthy people, (which for the most part it is not)

Hence numerous people ( some experienced in catering / some not ) smell an opprtunity
and move in

Result is overdescribed and overpriced basic food. ( £12 for fishcake and chips about 5 years ago. Cheapest item on the menu ).

Result is multiple business failures / early get outs, fewer visitors.

The solution is for the marina ( probably applies to all of them on the south coast ) to realise that part of the service is to supply an eatery / bar /social focal point / as part of the berthholder / visitor fee and not just another source of rent.

Run the place yourselves. Take a hit on the rents. Listen to what people want and have a succesful thriving social centre.

I will now stand back and take all the flack and probably also get barred from all marinas.

But it is true. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Seajet]

Margetts,

I think you're spot on, the evidence is plain to see.

Another example is East Cowes; used to have an excellent cafe, everything the unpretentious yottie could wish for and always seemed busy; now that and the nice lady who ran it are gone, the 'development' now offers a plastic pub serving plastic food at ridiculous prices, not many takers...

 

[Sandyman]

Honest answer.

I have been going into Hasler for 20 years.!!

The food used to be cheap and cheerful and the visitors space rammed.

Plenty of just got in and am starving sailors meals at the right price, never mind the quality.

Obviously we are not there 7 days a week as customers, so turnover varies. Plus marina rent for restaurant gets outrageous as it is percieved as a source of revenue from wealthy people, (which for the most part it is not)

Hence numerous people ( some experienced in catering / some not ) smell an opprtunity
and move in

Result is overdescribed and overpriced basic food. ( £12 for fishcake and chips about 5 years ago. Cheapest item on the menu ).

Result is multiple business failures / early get outs, fewer visitors.

The solution is for the marina ( probably applies to all of them on the south coast ) to realise that part of the service is to supply an eatery / bar /social focal point / as part of the berthholder / visitor fee and not just another source of rent.

Run the place yourselves. Take a hit on the rents. Listen to what people want and have a succesful thriving social centre.

I will now stand back and take all the flack and probably also get barred from all marinas.

But it is true. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No flack from me either. Well said. You are soooooooooo right.

Just hope brekkies in the lightship isn't accompanied by the stench of stinking stale used grease as it is at the Crews Mess Cafe. Won't go in there because of it.

 

[alant]

From a Haslar email...

"We are delighted to announce that Haslar Marina now have two new independent operators for the Bar & Restaurant at both The Lightship and Landers. Both new parties are enthusiastic, experienced and have direct knowledge of catering for the needs of hungry and thirsty Sailors! Please note that the sample menus attached are to provide you with a flavour of the fare on offer and are subject to change; but we can highly recommend a Breakfast at The Lightship to keep you going and we hope Hardy’s will go with their Moroccan Lamb Crew Pot!

Dave, Michelle and Sarah look forward to welcoming you to their restaurants and we hope that you will join us in welcoming them to Haslar Marina. After a few years of change at both venues, we believe these gents, ladies and their crews have the right credentials to offer you a pleasurable and relaxed experience. We would like to wish them the very best of luck with their new ventures.

The Lightship Bar & Restaurant has now re-opened under the charge of Dave Savage and Michelle, whom some of you will know already from the Crews Mess Cafe in Gosport. As a Yacht Master himself, Dave understands your needs and is serving daily big hearty food at a great price, from 7am until late. Meal times are listed below and menus are available on request. Please contact Dave and Michelle on 02392 525200 with any enquiries!

Breakfast: 7am to 11:30am (or earlier if booked)
Lunch: Served all day.
Dinner: 6pm to 10pm.
Sunday Dinner: 11am to 3pm.

Landers, excitingly soon to be re-branded as Hardy’s at Haslar Bar & Bistro, will re-open on Saturday 17th March. Sarah Drummond and Sarah’s Mum and Dad currently operate The Pump House at Royal Clarence Yard and the kitchens at Sunsail. Sailors themselves; her Dad Ian volunteers for GAFIRS and Sarah’s fiancée Ian Conchie is the Skipper for the Clipper Round the World Racing Yacht Qingdao.

Sarah will be providing a selection of home cooked Bistro style food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with a great selection of wine. Events, a boat victualling service, packed lunches and luxury day hampers will also be available. For immediate enquiries, please contact them on info@hardys-catering.co.uk. (They will be available on the phone number 02392 588810 from 17th March)."

The Pump House organisation & grub, is particularly good. Not spectacular, but good basic catering.

 

[l'escargot]

...Another example is East Cowes...now offers a plastic pub serving plastic food at ridiculous prices, not many takers...

Have you been there lately? When the Lifeboat first opened, and it was part of the same chain as the Medina Quay in Newport, that was the case but not recently in my experience and we eat there several times a month.

Similar menu to the Anchor in Cowes, the Mayflower in Lymington and up until recentlythe Wheatsheaf in Yarmouth. I would describe it as reasonably priced, good quality pub food served up quickly and consistently - generally well thought of by the locals as well as the marina users throughout the year.

 

[Jenaline IV]

Margetts,

I think you're spot on, the evidence is plain to see.

Another example is East Cowes; used to have an excellent cafe, everything the unpretentious yottie could wish for and always seemed busy; now that and the nice lady who ran it are gone, the 'development' now offers a plastic pub serving plastic food at ridiculous prices, not many takers...

Plus it closes for food pretty early*, not good when there is a delicious chippy about 15 min walk in to town ;-)

*by that I mean early for a yottie who likes making the most of a day and tipping up after dark. Plenty of pubs I know serve food up to 10pm.

 

[Pete7]

Sadly Lightship closed on New Years Eve. Can't help but think having to be a member stops folk walking in on spec.

Dave and Michelle reduced the prices for their last night and we had a great evening after ringing round and dragging some friends down.

Believe a new business is planning to take over in due course.

Pete

 

[l'escargot]

Sadly Lightship closed on New Years Eve. Can't help but think having to be a member stops folk walking in on spec.

Dave and Michelle reduced the prices for their last night and we had a great evening after ringing round and dragging some friends down.

Believe a new business is planning to take over in due course.

Pete

Haslar Marina tweeted this on 12th December:

"Haslar Marina would like to take this opportunity to welcome Maria Hodgkins onboard at The Lightship. Our newest tenant is a very experienced restaurateur and well liked bertholder at Haslar. With her wealth of experience she will revamp the Lightship to a high standard. We are excited to announce that Maria will be looking to open in February..... watch this space for further details..."

 

[capnsensible]

Wow, memory lane.

Anyone else remember it first opening as the Royal Naval and Royal Albert Yacht Club bar? How about the earlier portakabin bar near the bridge?

Was very involved in the early days of the marina, spooky how long ago that is now.....

Actually watched them removing the old pile moorings before dredging from a vantage point across the creek!

 

[Tidewaiter2]

+1 on the Lifeboat, certainly 2012, last visit.
If Landers/Hardys serves as good basic grub as it's same team I/c at Pump Room, RCM did 2012/3 winter/Spring visits, should be an uplift of facilities. If Lt ship keeps its feet on ground too, it'll be worth using Haslar regularly again, ferry wash or not.

If they slide into just catering for the braying ' dry deckies, white chinos, Lycra and sling back heels' clientele who packed them out before, then they'll last the 3 summer months ok, but we'll find them filled up then with human seat covers all night or closed early the other 9 months of the year.
Here's hoping both venues can strike the right balance and keep the max no of covers served per sitting AND ensure tables are freed up regularly thru the night.
Come to that, I'll settle for reasonably priced beer&chips n something inna bun standing up so long as the beers cold and the grub hot, but served after 21.00- The 'Diver' at Braye's Guvnor was always good at that- might have been only stew and bread, but it was there. Just like the Cafe Zeefart, West Terschelling used to do 24/7 meatballs& pasta-but they closed down(?condemned?)the kitchen when the Old Man retired:sorrow::sorrow:

 

[st599]

Have they got rid of the "singer" in the Lightship?

 

[l'escargot]

+1 on the Lifeboat, certainly 2012, last visit.
If Landers/Hardys serves as good basic grub as it's same team I/c at Pump Room, RCM did 2012/3 winter/Spring visits, should be an uplift of facilities. If Lt ship keeps its feet on ground too, it'll be worth using Haslar regularly again...

We used Hardy's a few times last year and enjoyed it, they have just emailed out their new menu:

"With a new year comes a new menu !

We are still running our popular happy hour promotion between 5 and 7 Monday to Thursday where you can enjoy 2 for 1 on selected drinks.

DINNER MENU

Starters
Fresh Bread, Olives and Sun Blushed Tomatoes £3.95
Hardy’s Homemade Soup of the Day with Fresh Bread £4.95
Smoked Haddock Fishcakes with Chive Mayo £5.50
Pork and Pistachio Terrine with Apple and Cinnamon Bread £5.50
Pan Friend Goats Cheese Salad with Caramelised Red Onion £4.95
Potted Prawns with Salad and Fresh Bread £5.25
Spanish Black Pudding with Butter Bean and Herb Salad £5.50
To Share: Baked Camembert, Parma Ham, Olives and Bread £11.95


Mains
Guinea Fowl Supreme with Crushed Celeriac, Mushroom and Pancetta Gravy £14.95
Whole Baked Plaice with New Potatoes Herb Butter £14.95
Hardy’s Homemade Burger with Chips and Salad £9.95
Hardy’s Burger but No Burger bun and Extra Salad £9.95
Roasted Gammon with Pineapple and Ginger with Spring Onion Mash £11.50
Hardy’s Pie of the Day with Choice of Potatoes and Fresh Vegetables £9.95
Beef Bourguignon with Chive Mashed Potatoes £10.95
Curried Squash Tart with Bombay Potatoes and Spinach £ 9.95 With Chicken £11.50
Hardy’s Hampshire Pan Fried Steak with Twice Cooked Chips, Gorgonzola
stuffed Field Mushroom and Doombar Battered Onion Rings
Rib Eye £16.95 Fillet £19.95

DESSERT MENU

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Toffee Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream £5.25
Creme Brulee with White Chocolate Chip Cookies £4.95
Poached Chocolate Tar with Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream £5.25
Spotted Dick and Custard £4.95
Ice Cream with Tuille Biscuit: (2 Scoops)
Please ask for Today’s Flavours £3.50
Cheese Board with Homemade Chutney and Biscuits £6.95
Fresh Coffee with Homemade Petit Fours £3.35"

 

[Tidewaiter2]

We used Hardy's a few times last year and enjoyed it, they have just emailed out their new menu:

"With a new year comes a new menu !

We are still running our popular happy hour promotion between 5 and 7 Monday to Thursday where you can enjoy 2 for 1 on selected drinks.

DINNER MENU

Starters
Fresh Bread, Olives and Sun Blushed Tomatoes £3.95
Hardy’s Homemade Soup of the Day with Fresh Bread £4.95
Smoked Haddock Fishcakes with Chive Mayo £5.50
Pork and Pistachio Terrine with Apple and Cinnamon Bread £5.50
Pan Friend Goats Cheese Salad with Caramelised Red Onion £4.95
Potted Prawns with Salad and Fresh Bread £5.25
Spanish Black Pudding with Butter Bean and Herb Salad £5.50
To Share: Baked Camembert, Parma Ham, Olives and Bread £11.95


Mains
Guinea Fowl Supreme with Crushed Celeriac, Mushroom and Pancetta Gravy £14.95
Whole Baked Plaice with New Potatoes Herb Butter £14.95
Hardy’s Homemade Burger with Chips and Salad £9.95
Hardy’s Burger but No Burger bun and Extra Salad £9.95
Roasted Gammon with Pineapple and Ginger with Spring Onion Mash £11.50
Hardy’s Pie of the Day with Choice of Potatoes and Fresh Vegetables £9.95
Beef Bourguignon with Chive Mashed Potatoes £10.95
Curried Squash Tart with Bombay Potatoes and Spinach £ 9.95 With Chicken £11.50
Hardy’s Hampshire Pan Fried Steak with Twice Cooked Chips, Gorgonzola
stuffed Field Mushroom and Doombar Battered Onion Rings
Rib Eye £16.95 Fillet £19.95

DESSERT MENU

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Toffee Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream £5.25
Creme Brulee with White Chocolate Chip Cookies £4.95
Poached Chocolate Tar with Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream £5.25
Spotted Dick and Custard £4.95
Ice Cream with Tuille Biscuit: (2 Scoops)
Please ask for Today’s Flavours £3.50
Cheese Board with Homemade Chutney and Biscuits £6.95
Fresh Coffee with Homemade Petit Fours £3.35"

Looks about pub prices, and entrees under a tenner too. Veggie dish too. And if you need a fry up with beans, take the dinghy up to RCM:nonchalance::encouragement:

 

[hartcjhart]

£5 for a bowl of soup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! overpriced load of ****

 

[l'escargot]

£5 for a bowl of soup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! overpriced load of ****

You haven't eaten out in a restaurant for a while have you...