Local News

  • The Bakers Arms closed again. Wednesday 13 March 2019

    The Bakers Arms in Alton High Street has closed again because the leaseholder ceased trading on 25 February 2019 - the future is uncertain.

  • Queen's Hotel, Selborne - decision notice. Monday 18 February 2019

    (From "our correspondent")
    On 13th February the EHDC Planning Committee almost unanimously threw out the application to redevelop the Queen's Hotel for housing. Councillors pretty well eviscerated the Officer's report and and asserted the primacy of Local and National Park Plan policies, particularly with regard to local amenity and tourist accommodation, and gave very short shrift to the idea that what the owner had paid and should expect as a return was any sort of material consideration. The "marketing exercise" came in for a lot of scorn as well.
    The Decision Notice can be found here: Queens Hotel, Selborne decision notice

  • The George will possibly reinstate the "loyalty card" card system. Thursday 7 February 2019

    The George, Alton intends to reinstate the "loyalty card" sometime in the future, which will give you a free pint after you have bought a certain number of pints (number to be decided) - BUT it will be restricted to 1 stamp per person per purchase - so users will be prevented from getting (say) 6 stamps if they buy 6 beers (for friends, say) at any one time.
    (IE: It will be a card for "personal" use only.)

  • Mr. Phil Troubridge returns to the Eight Bells Sunday 16 December 2018

    (Created December 2018)
    Branch member Tony Davis was at the Eight Bells for the last day of Nigel's tenancy on Sunday 16th December and first day of owner Phil 'The Trout' Troubridge taking back the reins on Monday. A good crowd was there on both occasions.
    A couple of guys, both called Jeremy were handing out T-shirts celebrating Phil's return...

    The picture shows the two Jeremies with Phil, staff member Julia and Tony Davis, East Hants CAMRA Pubs officer.

  • ** East Hampshire pubs featured in the 2019 Good Beer Guide ** Monday 1 October 2018

    We are pleased to announce that the following pubs in our area are included in the 2019 GBG...(in no particular order!)
    Alton: Eight Bells; George; King's Head; Railway Arms
    Holybourne: Queen's Head
    Lower Farringdon: Golden Pheasant
    Selborne: Selborne Arms
    Hammer Vale: Prince of Wales
    Congratulations to all of them from the CAMRA East Hampshire committee.
    [Others came close, but unfortunately we are only allowed 8 pubs for our area.]

  • The Market Hotel, Alton reopens Monday 3 September 2018

    The Market Hotel, Alton re-opened on 30 August with new manager Andy Fairburn and partner Jackie in charge. Very much a work in progress at the moment with one real ale, Sharp's Doom Bar, decently served but at least up to three are promised plus a full food service within a month or so. Accommodation will be available. The range of pub games promised will include darts, dominoes and crib as well as darts and pool. The venue is dog and child friendly and East Hampshire CAMRA branch wish it well for the future.

  • Triple fff brewery - onsite bar Thursday 19 July 2018

    The Triple fff brewery is now able to open their shop (Offf the Rails) for drinking on the premises.
    The opening hours for the Brewery pub are...
    Wed/Thurs 5-10 / Fri 5-11 / Sat 12-11 / Sun 12-6
    Their shop is open...
    Mon/Tue 9-5 / Wed/Thu/Fri 9-7 / Sat 10-5 / Sun 12-5

  • The George reinstates CAMRA discount Wednesday 11 July 2018

    The George, Alton has reinstated the discount to CAMRA members - you now can get 20p/pint discount.

  • Please support the petition to save The Star at Bentworth Friday 9 March 2018

    The Star Inn at Bentworth is in danger of being re-developed.
    The pub was voluntarily closed by the owner after many years of neglect and under-investment, and has declined offers from purchasers seeking to keep it as a pub, and now wishes to redevelop it for residential purposes.
    If you believe that the Star should not be redeveloped, please support this by signing the petition here...
    https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-our-star

  • FlowerPots bank holiday beer festivals cancelled Friday 1 July 2016

    The Flowerpots beer festival (at Cheriton, near Alresford) that is normally held every August Bank Holiday weekend has been CANCELLED for this year, and it looks as if it will not run again either - after querying it with the proprietors, we we received the following from the pub:
    Yes, after 25 years we have decided, for a variety of reasons, to discontinue the annual beer festival. The Flower Pots will still be open (standard hours) for plenty of great beer.
    Yours sincerely
    Jo Bartlett
    Joint Proprietor
    Flowerpots website : http://www.flowerpots.f2s.com/