East Hampshire

Campaign for Real Ale

Campaign for Real Ale

Pub Clips

Pub Clips are the most recent submitted (around 6-9 month's worth) - any comments older than that are probably out of date anyway!

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2023

The Royal Oak, Lower Farringdon (16 March - TD)

After a mercifully short hiatus the Golden Pheasant on the A32 in Lower Farringdon reopened under its original name of the Royal Oak on 15 March 2024 having been bought by local resident Barry Pethers.
Very little has changed in the real ale provision with five handpumps in use dispensing three permanent beers, Bowman Swift One, Crafty LBB and Sharp's Doom Bar. There are two changing guests, one of which is always from Triple fff, the other likely to be from local microbreweries such as Dancing Man of Southampton. Today I had LBB and Triple fff Sundown, both in good order. There is live music in the function room on Friday nights and food provision is planned from around mid-April.

Selborne (10 and 15 February - TD)

In my 23 January report on the Selborne Arms I mentioned that the sparse 38 bus service between Alton, Selborne and Petersfield would be augmented by diversion of the hourly no. 13 bus as a result of the rolling B3004 closure. This will be for a period starting on 4 February to probably around October. This service also runs on Saturdays.
On 10th February the 11.26 am no. 13 bus from Alton High Street Stand B (outside Waterstones) got me to the the Selborne Arms in just 15 minutes, handy as the pub opens at 11.am. Once again started off with one of their beer bats of three thirds at the price of a pint (£4.80). The first two were from Loddon, Hoppit, 3.5% and Hullabaloo 4.2, completing the trio with the strongest beer available, Ringwood 49er, 4.9%. All were again on good form as was the Crafty Hop Tipple (4.2%), tried later. Five ales were on but I left the Bowman Swift One, like the 49er regularly available, for another day.
Very satisfactory food offerings as ever and local CAMRA members will be pleased to know that we are taking advantage of the fleeting improved bus availability to hold the East Hants branch AGM here on Saturday 13th April: full details will shortly be on the diary page of the branch website.
I had intended to visit the Jubilee Tap Room, the Gilbert White's Brewery outlet in the old Queen's Hotel just down the road, but discovered on arrival that they had put Saturday opening back from 12 noon to 5.30 pm for the winter months, so made a visit there on Thursday 15th February getting a 13 bus at 5.30 from Alton High Street. Even with the heavy evening traffic I was down in Selborne by 5.50. The last bus back to Alton was at 7.45 (and bang on time) so made the most of my time working through the four Gilbert White cask offerings which tend to be on the strong side. Started off with Garden Kalendar 4.2%, brewed with green hops from the Museum garden it is dependent on their availability so is a seasonal brew and coming to the end of its current tenure on the bar: still on good form however, mildly fruity it is a pleasant session beer. Next up was Bostal 4.3% described as a Sussex style bitter with a traditional hoppy finish and this was also perfectly acceptable. With an eye on the clock halves of the last two were had. Gilbert's 1765, based on an original recipe from the renowned naturalist was something of a one off. The ABV is meant to be 4.6% but due to glitches in the brewing process this one came in at 5.5% still with the expected subtle smokiness. Finished with the potent Zig-Zag at 6.2% with its roasted malts and caramel notes. So a very satisfying session and anyone getting a bus back, particularly in the dark, is advised to make their presence well known as it approaches: not all the drivers appear fully conversant with where the stops are.

Hammer Vale and Alton (27 January - TD)

The Prince of Wales at Hammer Vale can always be relied on for top form Fuller's beers and the London Pride 4.1%, £5.20 and Gale's HSB 4.8%, £5.30 were very tasty, the latter leaving one of my companions particularly enthused. Dark Star Hophead was also available.
After being dropped off in Alton I went into Cassidy's for a quick half of Hand Brew Bird 4.2%, £4.90 a classic English bitter with a vegan twist. This Worthing brewery also owns what is claimed to be the only tower brewery in a pub at the Hand in Hand in Brighton. Also available today were two Electric Bear (Bath) offerings, both quirkily named which with my illegible scrawl remain obscure.

Selborne (23 January - TD)

After getting off the the 10 am no. 38 bus out of Alton and purchasing some bottle-conditioned GIlbert White beers from the Museum shop I walked round to the Selborne Arms for 11 am opening to start off with one of their beer bats of three thirds. These were Bowman Swift One, 3.8%, Crafty Brewing's Shepherd's Delight 4.5% and Ringwood 49er, 4.9%. All were on good form , Shepherd's Delight, a smooth red ale, particularly so. The pint of Hog's Back TEA, 4.2% did not disappoint either but unfortunately their Surrey Nirvana went off before I could get round to it and Loddon's Hullabaloo, an old favourite, only came on too late for me to out sample with the last bus of the day at 2.30 pm imminent. All ales are £4.40 a pint.
Those frustrated by the paucity of the 38 bus service between Alton, Selborne and Petersfield, which severely constrains visits to the Selborne Arms and rules out the Gilbert White Jubilee Tap Room entirely if using public transport, will be pleased to know that for a period starting on 4 February to probably around October the no. 13 bus from Alton to Whitehill and Bordon will be diverted through Selborne as a result of the rolling B3004 closure. With a last bus around 8pm Monday to Saturday the Jubilee Tap Room in particular will become much more accessible. Not good news for those wanting to get to East Worldham or Kingsley of course

Royal Oak, Lower Farringdon (20 November - TD)

Prompted by news on the pub's Facebook page that it was re-opening until 3 December I paid a visit (a strenuous walk out along the old railway line and back via Chawton Park) to find out what was going on. I found long standing staff member Flo behind the bar and three cask beers, all I think at £4.30 a pint, Bowman Swift One, Dark Star Hophead (both 3.8%, tried and in good order) and Sharp's Doom Bar.
I was told that subject to finalising the legal niceties the Golden Pheasant has been sold to someone who wants to keep it going as a pub with David and Melanie as live-in managers and Flo staying on behind the bar. This, if it all goes through is really good news as it represents continuity in a pub that has long been a mainstay for real ale in East Hants, being a Good Beer Guide regular and a frequent local Pub of the Year or runner-up.

Chawton and Alton (15 October - td)

Looked into the Greyfriar in Jane Austen's village of Chawton which reopened earlier this month under direct Fuller's management instead of a tenancy. Simon will be a hard act to follow but I am pleased to say that the beer remains on good form with the three regular ales, Fuller's London Pride, Dark Star Hophead and Gales HSB retained. I had the Pride, 4.1%, £4.90 and the rotating guest, a Dark Star seasonal offering, Orbiter,4%, £5 which were both on good form. The licensee/manager is now Elinor Jepp, aslso in charge of the kitchen and who oversaw a recent very succesful game menu evening so the pub's reputation for a good dining experience should remain undimished.
Walking back home called into Cassidy's on Alton High Street where three quirky cask ales continue to be offered. I had the Gun Chummy Bluster, 4.4%, £4.60 described as a best bitter but with an undeniable twist being concocted from no less than seven malts and three hop varieties, fruity but well balanced. Also available were a Siren Stout and a Pale Ale whose provenance remains obscure because of the illegibility of my notes.

Market Square, Alton (24 October - TD)

There are three pubs on Alton's Market Square and they provided very varying experiences this afternoon.
The Market Hotel is recently shut having been sold but I have been told the buyers, who bought the freehold from Stonegate, wish to retain it as a hotel. The interior certainly needs some work done so watch this space.
The Wheatsheaf continues to serve one cask beer, Sharp's Doom Bar, 4%, £4.80, which was on reasonably good form.
Star of the show in the Square is the Ten Tun Tap House which today featured all four handpumps in use with a selection of ales from the likes of Windsor & Eton, Southbourne Ales of Bournemouth, Vocation of Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire and Hop Kettle of Cirencester. Tried halves of all of them, all were in good order and the pick of the bunch for me was Southborne Headlander 4.2%, £4.80, a traditional Fuggle hopped bitter. The Ten Tun Brewhouse next door has been in production for some weeks and the first fruits of the craft keg could be available by the weekend: for details of what is brewing go to https://www.tentuntaphouse.beer/brewery.

Ivy House, Alton (12 October - TD)

The latest JD Wetherspoon Real Ale Festival kicked off here with a bang, five festival ales on by the 12th and it runs until Sunday 22 October. I was able to try all of them thanks to the three one-third pint tasting glasses for the price of a pint, a modest £2.49, together with a couple of halves. Today I had Purity Bunny Hop, 3.4%, Castle Rock Phoenix Tears 4.5%, St. Austell Average Joe 4.5%, Yazoo Dos Perros 4.8% from a Tennessee brewer guesting at Adnams and, pick of the day for me, Titanic Cherry Porter 4.9%. I believe Thornbridge Hubble 5.2% is coming on shortly and we hope to see all or most of the 30 strong festival list before it closes on Sunday 22 October. CAMRA members' 50p tokens are accepted for the three thirds but not for two halves

Four Marks Golf Club and Golden Pheasant, Lower Farringdon (10 October - TD)

A recent Well-Being Walk started and finished at the friendly open to the public Four Marks Golf Club Clubhouse and afterwards I had the one cask beer available in the bar, a well kept Crafty Brewing LBB 3.9%, £4.80. Light snacks are available and the bar is open from 10 am with closing time dependent on how busy they are but no later than 11 pm.
Down the narrow and twisty Brightstone Lane is Lower Farringdon where the Royal Oak, perennial Good Beer Guide entry and often local Pub of the Year for East Hants CAMRA is due to lose its long standing licensees, David and Melanie at the end of the month. The outlook is uncertain so enjoy the five cask beers on offer while you can. Today I had Bowman Yumi, one of the guests which was on the usual well kept form for this establishment. There will be an East Hants CAMRA Social starting around 7.30 pm on Friday 27 October to see off this well-liked couple. Come along to mark your appreciation for their years of service to the community if you possibly can.

Selborne ZigZag Festival (6 October - TD)

Selborne's ZigZag Festival takes place on a Friday and Saturday in early October and this year I attended for the first time on the Friday sampling beer and listening to music across three venues. The majority of the cask beers on offer were in the village hall where 10 casks all from Hampshire and surrounding counties breweries were on offer. I found two new ales to me, Bowman British IPA 4.5% and Crafty Brewing Eternal Summer 4% plus an old favourite Longdog Lamplight Porter 5%. Local rockers Key Lime Pi kept the joint jumping.
At the Selborne Arms there were a number of casks on stillage behind the bar in addition to the five handpumps and the usual three thirds for the price of a pint enabled a wide range of sampling from the likes of Monkey, Pitchfork and Loddon plus a half of Andwell Lyde Pale 4.6%. Not sure how many beers were on here but it was more than marked in the programme and again they were all local to Hampshire and nearby.
At the other end of the village the Jubilee Tap Room had all Gilbert White beers including two keg fonts with Hop Monster 4.5% and The Jubilee Tap a blonde ale of a central European style at 4.2%. The four handpumps had more traditional bitters and I had Six Quarters 3.9% and Bostal 4.3% with a very tasty and tender goat curry prepared on a barbecue outside. After I had finished my circuit I finished here with a half of the fearsomely strong Sullivan Black porter 7.1%.
The two pubs opened at lunchtime and on Friday (current timetable) can be reached by 38 bus from Alton and Petersfield until mid-afternoon but you would have needed a taxi to return particularly if you were staying for the Village Hall which opens at 7pm. On Saturday every venue started around midday but there is no public transport at all. A very worthwhile experience, details can be found at www.zigzagfest.co.uk. Put it in your diaries for 2024.

Royal Oak, Farringdon (21 Sep - SH)

The beers that were on was Fullers London Pride, Crafty Brewing LLB, British Ale, Bowmans Swift One, and Dark Star Hophead. The London Pride was very good and well kept. Paul had the LLB and said it was also very good. The food as always was good.

Selborne (8 Sep - TD)

On a Friday evening both pubs in Selborne were busy. At the Selborne Arms with many enjoying the dining experience I had a very drinkable Hog's Back TEA 4.2% with Ringwoood 49er also available and Triple fff Moondance just gone off. Down the road in the Jubilee Tap Room I enjoyed Gilbert White's Gilbert's 1765, one of the great naturalist's original 18th century recipes with what is described as a "slight but subtle smokiness in taste and aroma". Also on handpump were the brewery's own Bostal, Garden Kalendar and Captain Laurence Oates. The bottled Sullivan Black at a potent 6.7% I took home to lay down for Christmas.