Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience We’re heading to Hampshire for the latest in our series of brilliantly affordable restaurants The Bib Gourmand award is our way of recognising restaurants that offer good food at a great price While all Bib Gourmands are unique in style and approach they share the same spirit of generosity and a commitment to quality cooking we’re highlighting the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors' Bib of the Month These restaurants are the bedrock of our selection providing an affordable dining option that doesn’t skimp on precision Our Bib of the Month for November 2024 is the lively tapas bar Pulpo Negro Located in the pretty market town of New Alresford its Spanish dishes and fun atmosphere have gained it a loyal following Here’s why one of our MICHELIN Guide Inspectors is such a big fan: “You need only hear the contented buzz of its diners to know that this terrific tapas bar has struck upon a winning formula but you could swear you’re in Barcelona when tucking into the authentic dishes while gregarious chatter fills the room Go with the team’s recommendation and begin with a few nibbles and an aperitif – perhaps fino or sangria if you want to stick to the Spanish theme the world is your oyster such is the consistent deliciousness of the dishes – the boquerones It’s no wonder the place is packed with locals.” To get a deep understanding of what’s made Pulpo Negro such a success How would you describe your approach to food and cooking The idea behind Pulpo Negro was to create a buzzing neighbourhood restaurant that was completely different from the existing local culinary offer serving tapas and small plates with big flavours We wanted the service to be professional but relaxed a place where a customer could come in for a quick bite or have a more leisurely dining experience Our approach to our food is sourcing the best possible ingredients from Spain and the UK: Ibérico meats from Extremadura tomatoes from Andalucia and the Isle of Wight stunning fish from Cornwall – all prepared with care and cooked simply We usually have 3-5 ingredients on the plate to make a dish This simple approach is not to smother the ingredient you’re trying to champion What price range can customers expect and how are you able to keep your prices affordable These last two years have probably been the most challenging since we opened 10 years ago regarding ingredient price hikes But I’ve learnt as a chef and restaurateur that we will always be thrown challenging times and we have to keep going and become more resourceful without compromising quality We keep the menu fluid and can change dishes if the prices rise too much ensuring we get the most out of what we buy We can butcher whole animals and breaking them down is a fantastic way of keeping prices reasonable We also use residual heat from our fire pit to slow cook overnight Many non-food savings can be made in the kitchen and restaurant contributing to the overall cost of dishes We also have a blackboard if you want to push the boat out with ex-dairy Spanish and British biodynamic beef Our average spend with drinks is around £40 The dish to order at Pulpo Negro is the ‘Gambas al ajillo’ a simple dish made with peeled prawns leaving their heads on The heads gently release a wonderful flavour We suggest having the amazing bread we get delivered daily to mop up the juices How big a role do you think atmosphere and décor play in the success of a restaurant like yours we create laid-back vibes with a gentler pace playing house music – it’s loud and lively Think Soho but in a market town in Hampshire What do you think the communal aspect of tapas brings to a dining experience They give people the chance to try something new without committing to a main course Hero Image: © Pulpo Negro/Richard Booth Find your new favourite restaurant with all of the Inspectors' recent additions to The MICHELIN Guide Discover some of the Inspectors' most creative memorable and downright delicious dishes of the month from their latest culinary travels throughout Great Britain & Ireland One of the most beloved and exciting restaurants in York Skosh is an energetic and wonderfully enjoyable destination – hear from Chef-Owner Neil Bentinck and a MICHELIN Inspector on what makes it special The city of Wrocław within the Dolnośląskie Region is the fifth Polish destination to be featured in the Guide The full restaurant selection for The MICHELIN Guide Poland will be announced on Tuesday 10th June 2025 From listening bars to neighbourhood restaurants explore all the top recommendations from Chishuru’s Adejoké Bakare One of the most prominent chefs serving Indian cuisine talks India and his New York From Texas Barbecue to Mexico City's cutting-edge dining these new MICHELIN Guide hot spots promise unforgettable vacations and world-class cuisine These are the best lake vacations for a summer break from Lake Tahoe in the US to Lake Como in Switzerland and the MICHELIN-recommended restaurants and bolt holes to bed down in when you visit where do fashion’s biggest names retreat for a bite and a bed We imagine the post-Gala sanctuaries of the chicest attendees From tartan fabrics and stag antler furnishings to rare Scotch whiskies and castle views you'll have no doubt which country you're in when staying at these Michelin-Key hotels Kent has the answer – with a bounty of exceptional produce and MICHELIN Guide restaurants The self-proclaimed “unofficial talent scout” shares his local favorites from the city he calls home A Green Star tour of the North York Moors National Park: from Oldstead to Goathland via the market town of Pickering explore some of its best MICHELIN Guide dining spots and uncover its hidden gems From exquisite cuisine to artisan treasures get to know the Tuscan city like a local with our handy guide for a curated taste of Florence’s finest Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By 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I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels we\u2019re highlighting the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors' Bib of the Month providing an affordable dining option that doesn\u2019t skimp on precision Our Bib of the Month for November 2024 is the lively tapas bar Pulpo Negro Here\u2019s why one of our MICHELIN Guide Inspectors is such a big fan: \u201cYou need only hear the contented buzz of its diners to know that this terrific tapas bar has struck upon a winning formula but you could swear you\u2019re in Barcelona when tucking into the authentic dishes while gregarious chatter fills the room Go with the team\u2019s recommendation and begin with a few nibbles and an aperitif \u2013 perhaps fino or sangria if you want to stick to the Spanish theme the world is your oyster such is the consistent deliciousness of the dishes \u2013 the boquerones It\u2019s no wonder the place is packed with locals.\u201d To get a deep understanding of what\u2019s made Pulpo Negro such a success Our approach to our food is sourcing the best possible ingredients from Spain and the UK: Ib\u00e9rico meats from Extremadura stunning fish from Cornwall \u2013 all prepared with care and cooked simply This simple approach is not to smother the ingredient you\u2019re trying to champion But I\u2019ve learnt as a chef and restaurateur that we will always be thrown challenging times and we have to keep going and become more resourceful without compromising quality We\u2019re cautious when sourcing ingredients Our average spend with drinks is around \u00a340 The dish to order at Pulpo Negro is the \u2018Gambas al ajillo\u2019 How big a role do you think atmosphere and d\u00e9cor play in the success of a restaurant like yours playing house music \u2013 it\u2019s loud and lively Hero Image: \u00a9 Pulpo Negro/Richard Booth An investigation has been launched following the discovery of a woman’s body at a Hampshire beauty spot. Land around Old Alresford Pond was sealed off yesterday morning (Sunday, January 19) following the tragic discovery around 9.10am. A group of boys who were out fishing reputedly found the body before raising the alarm at The Globe. Hampshire Police have confirmed that a woman in her 50s was confirmed dead at the scene despite the best efforts of emergency services. Her next of kin have been informed while an investigation tent was set up on the shoreline close to the B3046 The Soke as evidence was examined. A spokesperson said: "Enquiries remain ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the death." Comments Tel: 01252 725224[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Work on Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties’ Alresford Down housing estate in Alresford is due to start at the end of this year. The development will comprise 302 homes, with 40 per cent of the properties being classed as affordable housing. There will be two, three, four and five-bedroom houses plus one and two-bedroom flats, which the company says is “designed to provide a range of options for first-time buyers and growing families”. The first show homes are expected to be ready in the spring of 2025, giving potential buyers a chance to see what they will be getting for their money. Sales and marketing director Roz Wells said: “We are delighted to be launching our Alresford Down development and look forward to welcoming prospective homeowners at the end of this year. “The development will not only provide residents from around the area with a great selection of homes, but also a brand-new and family-focused community. “We look forward to meeting potential new customers and we’d urge anyone interested in the new homes to register their interest on our website.” The development will feature approximately 16 hectares of public open space connected to existing parkland to create green areas for the new community. Alresford Down will be built on the edge of Alresford, “a short walk” from the Co-op, cafés, the Arle Valley Trail and the heritage steam trains of the Watercress Line. For more information, or to register an interest, visit https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/new-homes/winchester/alresford-down Tel: 01252 725224[email protected]Follow us