Enjoy Milford on Sea: The Gun Inn Reopens

The Gun Inn in Keyhaven has reopened after a number of refurbishments have been made to the kitchen. There is also a new menu of meals and small plates to compliment the kitchen, as well as an extension to the garden bar and a revamp of the garden itself.

The pub are now serving their constantly changing seasonal food menu and grill specialities, as well as light bite bar snacks. Sunday Roast Dinners start again on Sunday 23rd April. Bookings are now being taken for the restaurant.

Added to this, the Open Mic Night is back on Every Thursday evening from 7.30pm, simply go along to play, sing or listen.

There is also a Quiz Night on Monday 1st May from 7pm with teams of up to 6 people (£2 entry fee per person).During the winter months

The Gun is open from Wednesday to Sunday from Midday. Longer opening hours will be coming later this year.

To see the latest information, please click here.

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History of The Gun Inn

We think there has been a dwelling on the site of the Gun Inn since the 1600’s, but the earliest tangible reference is from the Churchwardens accounts of 1783 when it is referred to as ‘The House at the sign of the Gun’. By 1790 it is simply named ‘The Gun’. Various other sources mention ‘The Pot House’ or ‘Ale House’, so we have assumed that rate payers at this property were in fact ‘Landlords’.

We have found reference to 27 landlords since 1783. Two were drowned at Keyhaven, five were named George, two were women and most served for two to three years. The longest serving was Arthur Payne (pictured below) from 1871 until his death in 1909, some 38 years. The most recent tenants, Paul and Jacquie Hill, come in a close second at 33 years service.

Due to his fame in the world of Wild Fowling, it has often been said that ‘The Gun’ was named for Colonel Peter Hawker’s punt gun, but Hawker didn’t make his first visit to Keyhaven until 1814, some 24 years after the first records appear naming the building as ‘The Gun’. We think it is more likely that the sign post for Hurst Castle simply had a gun on it, and that sign stood in front of the building which now carries its name.

To read the History of The Gun Inn; please click here.

The Gun Inn