The Boot - Another Community Pub?

Could The Boot Inn at Shipton Bellinger, north of Andover, on the Hampshire / Wiltshire border be the next local community pub?
A campaign by local villagers has got off to a good start.

The Boot, Shipton Bellinger, (Photo by Chris Talbot)

With the formation of the SNAP (Shipton Needs a Pub) campaign and of Shipton Community Pub Ltd, a community benefit society, progress towards a purchase of The Boot Inn for the village has moved up a gear.

Background
After the pub's closure in August 2022 the owners applied to Test Valley Borough Council for a change of use to residential and additional housing.  The owners also placed the pub on the market. 
TVBC rejected the application, but the owners did not give in.

A subsequent application was made and again rejected by Test Valley Borough Council on various policy grounds including that insufficient evidence had been provided to show use as a pub was unviable.
The planners also considered that the proposals "would impact the sustainability of the village", would be "cramped" and "would not be reflective of the existing character and appearance of the area". There are a number of Listed Buildings nearby including the local parish church. 

The Boot is also registered as an ACV (Asset of Community Value),  recognising its intrinsic value to the village.

Support from villagers
Last September (2024), a well-attended meeting of over 80 villagers introduced the Shipton Community Pub Ltd along with its management committee made up wholly of local residents committed to making the re-opening of The Boot Inn a reality. SNAP set out its aims as:

"Our goal is to raise the funds to purchase and reopen The Boot Inn as a thriving, inclusive community hub where residents and visitors can enjoy good company, quality real ales, and delicious food." 

The local MP, Caroline Nokes, also gave her support calling the pub a "beating heart of a community".

Fundraising underway
There are a number of fund raising events in the pipeline, the next being a special jumble sale on 8th February 2025 and SNAP has sent out a call for volunteers who may be able to offer any services and help.

Let's hope that this small Hampshire village can succeed in retaining its valuable public house.  

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Photo credit:
Shipton Bellinger - The Boot Public House
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Talbot - geograph.org.uk/p/1108422

Contracts Exchanged for Community Pub

The end of 2024 has seen some excellent news with the exchange of contracts for the historic Bell Inn in Odiham as it now moves forward to re-opening as a community owned pub.

The Bell before closure

The Bell Inn, Odiham
The Bell Inn, licenced since 1509 is one of Hampshire's oldest pubs where brewing has reportedly taken place as far back as the Domesday Book. Tucked away in the historic area known as The Bury, opposite the church and the stocks, The Bell is an integral part of this tranquil corner of Odiham. 

An unfair system that closes pubs
As a traditional pub it was primarily a drinks 'wet-led' house and was owned by the national PubCo Admiral Taverns. It was tied for products to Admiral which meant little opportunity for tenants to build the business further, a harsh reality of what many feel is an unfair trading system that needs serious legal changes. This can often lead to a pub being made unviable, sometimes deliberately, in order to obtain a change of use, usually to residential.

Applications were rejected
During covid the pub closed when the publicans retired and, as sure as night follows day, it was subsequently sold to developers who claimed the pub was unviable and had plans for converting it into houses.
In late 2022 after local pressure, the developer's planning application to Hart District Council was refused and a subsequent Appeal to the Planning Inspector was also rejected.  

Local support for retaining the pub
As well as support from the planners the registration of The Bell as an ACV (Asset of Community Value) was a factor in the recognition of the premises as an important local amenity. 

With the social and economic benefits a public house provides to a community, CAMRA's local Pub Protection Officer, John Buckley, calls on all Parish and Town Councils to ensure their pubs are both registered as ACVs and also recognised in Local and Neighbourhood Plans. "Having ACVs and adopted planning policies in place are important tools in an armoury to fight change of use applications. many more pubs need to be registered but it needs local people and their councillors to be proactive in putting them in place. The Campaign for Real Ale can provide advice."

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Meanwhile a group of residents formed a team with the aim of purchasing the pub. Finance was obtained through a successful application to the government's Community Ownership Fund and a Share Offer was launched for local people.

On the last day of 2024 the team announced the fantastic news:

"We have exchanged contracts to purchase the Bell.
We will complete and collect the keys on Friday."

Brillant news
Now the hard work towards refurbishing and reopening starts in earnest.

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The Bell image by Basher Eyre
license under Creative Commons

Community funding under question

In an end of year announcement that has concerned many, the government has closed its Community Ownership Fund which had been made available to allow local people and groups to take on and save community facilities. The closure is despite there still being unallocated funds.
The funding was also available to town and parish councils.

The reason given – or excuse – is pressure on government finances caused by the previous government.

Support for community amenities removed

The scheme, which was to run until the end of 2025, was created to help local groups take on assets such as community halls, leisure facilities, shops, sports grounds, swimming pools, museums, arts centres and local pubs. 

Since its 2021 commencement, 409 projects have received over £140million.

This could have a devastating effect on those working hard to save our country's public houses as well as on groups wishing to take on other community facilities. 

Current efforts

Efforts are now underway by organisations including the Campaign for Real Ale to ensure that assistance remains in other tangible ways. 

This includes discussions with officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government over the current review of other support schemes. These include Assets of Community Value and the hoped for introduction of the Right to Buy to replace the current Right to Bid.

Shocking losses

The scale of long-term pub closures is shocking and the support for the struggling hospitality industry is abysmal. Communities are losing their centres of social interaction, economic benefits and local heritage on a daily basis. 
Here, Happy Pint urges all to lobby their Councils and MPs to support one of the most important cornerstones of our society – the British Pub.

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The Government statement (23rd December 2024)

The Community Ownership Fund is now closed. There will be no further application windows on the COF programme. We have taken this difficult decision due to the challenging inheritance left by the previous government.

Whilst we are closing the Community Ownership Fund, this government remains committed to the communities’ sector and community empowerment.

The government will deliver on its manifesto commitment to replace the community ‘Right to Bid’ with a strengthened ‘Right to Buy’ Assets of Community Value, creating a more robust pathway to community asset ownership. And we will seek to support high streets by strengthening Business Improvement Districts which have helped to improve town and city centres across the United Kingdom for 20 years, while ensuring they operate to high standards and are accountable to their communities. 

Details:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-ownership-fund-prospectus/community-ownership-fund-round-4-prospectus

 

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The Red House – A Conspiracy Theory – or is it?

What is the longer game? 

The latest planning application raises some concerning suspicions over the building's future. A 'new' application has been submitted for the Red House in Whitchurch, a Grade II Listed Building whose closure has been the subject of much controversy. 

Red House garden in its heyday.
Now built upon with three houses.

The once successful and lively pub had been allowed to deteriorate by the owners and has been closed since 2018. After promising to reinvest proceeds into the pub from building houses on the car park the owners gained further permission to convert the pub to residential. Many believe they had been hoodwinked. 

That was mistake number one, accepting the owner's word!

Broken promises
The houses were built and a further application to change the pub to residential was submitted which was granted, but only after a lengthy Appeal.

 
But, despite a time-limit on the application set by the Appeal Inspector still no work has taken place. The building has been deteriorating further with broken windows, rotten window frames, damp, falling rendering and rodent invasion.

A TWIST – WHY ANOTHER APPLICATION?
Now in a 'twist' the owner has submitted another application which is a virtual replica of the first.
The main difference is that they are now claiming to have leased part of the pub out since March 2024 to a tenant for residential use.

This claimed residential letting could mean they would not be liable for any Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a sum a developer pays which goes towards support for the local area. Yet the only tenants of the near derelict building anyone has seen have been rats, lots of them; so many that complaints were made to the Environmental Health Department.

But is this a red herring as the CIL would be a relatively small amount?

This raises those further suspicions.

WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?

Come back to the Conspiracy Theory.

IS DEMOLITION NEXT?

Consider this:

• The Appeal Inspector, in allowing the Change of Use, imposed a Planning Condition that works shall begin not later than 3 years from the decision date. 
• That was over 15 months ago on 4th September 2023 and time is moving on. Meanwhile the historic building deteriorates even more.
• Anything that causes delays such as investigation into the claimed tenancy means further dilapidation and a case for demolition becomes stronger.
• THE QUESTION: Is the plan to manipulate delays that lead to further deterioration leaving the only option to demolish and thus reduce building costs rather than having to invest in keeping and renovating the historic structure and features of the Listed Building?
  
• So do the owners want objectors to challenge the CIL/habitation claim in order to deliberately create those delays?

And coming back to how the community was mislead over investment in the pub can there be any trust? Any at all?

A FRUSTRATING FARCE

What is certain is that the whole sorry caboodle is becoming a frustrating farce and it seems the councillors and planners don't have enough teeth to ensure the applicant/owner doesn't run rings around them. 

Meanwhile the pub users and local residents have lost a valuable amenity. 

It is not their fault, but that of a very weak planning system that places developers wishes above those of local people, a failure is being worsened by the actions of a developer who has lost any local trust.

The 'latest' Planning application documents (ref: 24/02820/FUL) can be viewed here:

https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SNVNDVCRG8N00&activeTab=summary

Pubs and Charities

The public house provides a local community many benefits but there is one that is often overlooked when they are threatened by closure – their support for local charities.

£100 million raised annually
It is reported by Pub Aid that pubs raise more than £100million each year for charity which goes back into supporting a plethora of good causes.

Whether its a quiz evening, a swear box, or a red nose fancy dress, local pubs are a major fundraising source. From meat draws to auctions and haircuts the list of opportunities for a pub is almost endless. 
There are few pubs without the charity pot on the bar where even the odd pennies of change dropped in the slot will soon add up and help a good cause. 

Attracting customers
Fundraising goes further too, as it can attract customers. In an independent survey commissioned for CAMRA and PubAid, research showed that more people would use their local pub if more charity events were held. This was especially the case for younger adults.

Many pubs raise funds for specific causes.
One favourite local pub in Andover has chooses a charity for the year and runs a number of events. The last year has seen the Andover Tap at the Lamb raise over £2300 for the Alzheimers Society, through a raft of events ranging from a hairdressing event to a cycle ride. It has now just started to raise funds for its next chosen charity, Naomi House which provides hospice care for children and young adults.

£2370 raised by The Andover Tap at the Lamb

From Coffee mornings to Quizzes
Another popular fundraising event is running coffee mornings and several local pubs excel, including the popular Anton Arms and others in Andover that raise funds for cancer support.

Pub Quizzes are also of the most popular events that raise funds for charities.

A local town and its Quizzes
The north Hampshire town of Whitchurch also excels with regular quizzes in many pub venues. 

A popular theme is to raise funds in order to run a to run a community swimming pool, while another is to provide support to Whitchurch in Bloom whose volunteers add colourful planting to the town's streets.

Bish's lockdown quizzes
are now held in the Kings Arms

Onwards from Covid
One of the town's most regular quizzes is held started online during lockdown and has now continued in the Kings Arms where 'Bish' runs numerous fundraising evenings.
Also watch out for the landlord Steve Howard's infamous Tin Foil Challenge. That really is fun!

Value to Communities – JOIN IN
The value of the Pub to charities and is all too often ignored when a pub is under threat of development.

All we can say is JOIN IN – visit your local pub and not only enjoy the hospitality of good refreshments and entertainment but also know that you can be supporting your local community.

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"Time to save our Pub" – Half Moon & Spread Eagle

In June 2023 we reported that an entry on 'Micheldever Village' social media stated:

"I am thrilled to be able to announce that the Half Moon and Spread Eagle is back in business! It will re-open in early July".

UPDATE: So what has now happened?
It is now 16 months on and there are changes underway.
 
A call has been put out "Time to save our pub?"

In 2019 Nick Warr and Phil Penton purchased the Half Moon & Spread Eagle on behalf of the community but have endured several tough challenges to keep it operating. A survey and leaflet is now being circulated that states "Now five years later, they can no longer support the pub".

Two main options are being considered, either new investors buy the pub or the community takes ownership and runs it.

A questionnaire has been launched to assess if there is enough interest for a community purchase and if a 'Community Enterprise' should be formed. If so this would lead to the creation of a community owned company with shareholders who would have the pub managed by an elected board.
As well as ascertaining support for their being shareholders, the questionnaire also aims to seek out people who could provide services such as accountancy, PR, gardening or other volunteering activities.

The questionnaire is to be returned by the 31st October, after which there is to be a community meeting at 6.00pm on Friday 15th November in Northbrook Hall.

Let us all wish the Micheldever community well and that there is enough tangible and active support to keep this pub as an important asset to the village and wider area.

The online questionnaire is here:

https://form.jotform.com/242773127754361

The leaflet being circulated:

Microbrewery and bar approved for Overton

The plans for a new bar and microbrewery in Overton have taken a step forward as Basingstoke & Deane Development Control Committee approved the planning application this week (Wed.9th October).

Permission has now been granted for the creation a new bar, micro-brewery and kitchen at No.7 High Street, a former hair and beauty salon (Hobbs).

7 High Street, Overton

The premises consists of a two-storey building that is believed to date from the 15th/16th centuries but has undergone significant changes although much of the timber framing remains. It is registered as a Listed Grade II building.

Support was high
Councillors heard from the applicant's architect who focussed on the responses from the main consultees, including HCC Highways, Archaeology, Environmental Health, Historic Environment, Southern Water and Biodiversity. All were registering a No Objection. 

In addition he noted the high number of letters of support from local residents. 77 were in support while only 12 were opposed, with most seeing such an establishment as a welcome addition to the village high Street. Support also came from the local Campaign for Real Ale citing the wider community benefits that such an establishment can provide. 

The Parish Council 
However, Overton Parish Council had objected citing issues such as a possible increase in anti-social behaviour. In a statement that has raised some eyebrows they also stated they "wish to discourage any further opportunities to organise social drinking or beer festivals". 

The present inside

Noting that the village already has a number of pubs the Parish Council also expressed concern that:
"Creating yet another venue must run the risk of encouraging more alcohol consumption – which is not warranted in such a small village."

Concerns dealt with by owners
A few other residents expressed worries over parking and transport, potential noise and odours, all of which had been dealt with by the planners and the business owners.
During the meeting it was stressed how helpful the owners had been on considering local concerns in making adjustments to the plans, one main change being the removal of the rear outside seating area.
Planners have imposed a number of 'Conditions' which the owners must now comply with before work can commence.

Plans for the main building
The ground floor of the main building will contain comfortable seating including sofas and stools, along with the bar with 2 – 5 steel serving tanks, 5 – 7 taps, an area for preparing cocktails and space for fridge, dishwasher and sink. Upstairs is an area that can be "booked for private dining/ more intimate setting with mixture of sofas, bar stools..."

Two unisex WCs will also be upstairs and the brief included a request to the architect "To include area for makeup/hair etc." To the rear there is a long narrow stretch of land where, at the end, the micro-brewery and kitchen will be situated.

This will be a great addition to the village and we all look forward to the opening and a visit.

Pubtober – supporting pubs and charities in October

Pubtober is an antidote to some of the misguided anti-alcohol promotions that can harm our country's pub and beer culture and those who rely on it for their livelihoods.

At a time when the hospitality industry is still suffering the after-effects of the covid pandemic these charity 'challenges' are akin to sticking the boot in.

Should we harm those who support our communities?
Our pubs, are not just places for an enjoyable drink or meal but also provide far wider benefits ranging from combatting loneliness and isolation to supporting thousands of livelihoods ranging from taxi drivers to window cleaners and from food suppliers to sports teams, as well as those working in and relying on the breweries that supply them.

A current headlining promotion calls on people to abstain from alcohol for October and raise funds by doing so. This is already in addition to Alcohol Change UK's similar promotion of Dry January that calls for the same.

Oh, the irony
Ironically these promotions that call for participants to forego an alcoholic drink for a month or more are often run by the very same charities that pubs and breweries support by fundraising events such as coffee mornings or charity quizzes.

So PUBTOBER was born:

So what could you do?

Support a charity, while still supporting pubs and breweries
Pubtober supports charities wholeheartedly.
This 'antidote' asks people to visit their local, enjoy a drink whether its alcoholic or not, and put some monies into the charity boxes. Maybe set a personal challenge to visit a number of different pubs?
Pubtober suggests donating to a cancer-related charity such as Macmillan Cancer Support.

That is a win-win all around, supporting both the livelihoods of the trade and raising funds for the good causes. 

Pubtober, created by Happy Pint

New Good Beer Guide sees local pubs included

The latest edition of the Good Beer Guide has been published this week and a number of local venues have been included.

The book, now in its 52nd edition, it is wholly independent and compiled by local members of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.

The Guide, which contains 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinker’s guide for those seeking the best pints in the nation’s hostelries. 

Book pays tribute to communities
This 2025 edition has a choice of two covers, the Rovers Return Inn from Coronation Street, and the Woolpack from Emmerdale Farm.
CAMRA Says "This edition of the Guide pays tribute to the communities that are beamed into homes, providing entertainment and companionship to those that may not have a local pub of their own."

They add that research commissioned by CAMRA found that people who have a local, rate themselves as significantly happier because of it, and have more close friends.
The pubs on television reflect this feeling. 

Local entries
The local entries are selected by the North Hampshire group of CAMRA, using an ongoing quality Beer Scoring system, where members can register beer quality throughout the year. 

This is through the 'WhatPub' website of all pubs in the area (and UK) which can be accessed here:
https://whatpub.com/

To purchase the Good Beer Guide
The 2025 Good Beer Guide can be purchased online here:
https://camra.org.uk/publications/the-good-beer-guide-2025/

 

A new Whitchurch Pub is questioned

Whitchurch will be a step nearer having have a new public house if a controversial housing scheme is approved. 

Genko, a property company based in Guernsey, has submitted a full planning application on green fields at Berehill on the northern edge of the small Hampshire town. Their proposals are for 115 houses, open space, workshops, pumping station and a public house, which they provisionally name The Bere Hill.

The rural town of Whitchurch is currently a target for speculative developers as the government sets ever higher housing numbers and there are already large housing schemes underway. Many believe this is over-development in a town known for its country setting and local heritage with campaigners' signs having appeared saying 'No to Genko'.

Unusual suggestion
A new public house within a housing area is an unusual suggestion in these particularly harsh times for the hospitality trade in which Whitchurch has experienced mixed fortunes.
Currently the town’s historic Red House is falling derelict, while several other pubs have closed in recent years. Proposals for new pubs in similar situations have also floundered at Augusta Park and Picket Twenty in Andover.

Pubs are flourishing
However some have flourished such as the Plough Inn at nearby Longparish which was bought by the local community and is going from strength to strength and the other pub in the same village, the Cricketers Inn, has recently re-opened to critical acclaim.

There is also a current application for a new bar and micro-brewery in nearby Overton but on the downside the Dove Inn at Micheldever is closing, although it is not expected to be permanent.

Suspicion
There is much suspicion that Genko have misread local needs and have included a pub to divert discussion away from the greater concerns surrounding the scale of their housing proposals. 

The Campaign for Real Ale's local Pub Protection Officer said:

"A great many might prefer that Genko went away and didn’t build anything at all, and that customer support went to the existing excellent pubs – the Kings Arms, White Hart, Bell, Prince Regent and the Sports & Social Club – and along the road the Watership Down and in nearby local villages." 

 

"A new pub is always welcome but whether this is a suitable location is extremely questionable".

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THE PLANNING APPLICATION
The planning application can be seen on Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council's planning portal, reference: 24/01949/FUL
https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SINSZICRKKT00&activeTab=summary

The Dove to close

Another local pub is closing this month as the Dove Inn shuts its doors at the end of September.

The Grade II Listed Building at Micheldever Station which recently gained planning permission for additional letting rooms is both on the market for sale and/or for a new tenant. 

Earlier this year the planners approved a new building at the rear to replace the old coach house which would provide five new letting rooms. The applicant, Lochstill Ltd, submitted the plans to complement the accommodation within the existing main building of the Inn, and to improve its commercial viability. 

Although the pub is for sale these plans are still very much 'live'. There is a lot of potential, and with a possible 3,000 house development nearby at Popham the future could change.

The Dove is currently listed for sale freehold at a guide price of £790,000 or as a premises under a lease with the agents saying:

"The business provides a tremendous opportunity for an experienced operator either looking to run a successful business themselves or alternatively, looking for a business to lease or run under management."

Let us hope a buyer comes forward or someone takes on the tenancy.

The Dove Inn closes at the end of September. 

Beer Festival in Basingstoke

A fine selection of beers along with good food and music will be available at the Basingstoke Beer Festival over the first weekend in September (Fri 6th – Sun 8th)

To be held at the Basingstoke Sports & Social Club (aka the Cricket Club) at Mays Bounty, over 30 beers will be available along with a selection of ciders.
Included are a range of styles from bitters and porters through to speciality beers.

The Festival, which is FREE to attend, opens on Friday September 6th at noon and runs through to late Sunday afternoon.

As well as the beers and ciders there is a programme live music on Saturday evening, commencing at 7.00pm, featuring RPM, Johnny Marvel's Blues Groove, Andalou and the Stoke Barehills Town Band.  

Food is being supplied by Greek Street.

It is an event not to miss.

80 pubs a month close

The number of public houses being lost through closure, change of use or demolition is sadly increasing.
A recent report based on the first quarter of 2024 has shown that 80 pubs a month are now closing, a 56% increase on the same period last year.

Gone forever 😢

PUBS AT RISK
In the north of Hampshire perhaps the town with most losses in recent years has been Whitchurch where the Town Council has been asked to take note of its own Neighbourhood Plan and to give maximum protection to its amenities as all pubs are under risk of loss. 

Other locations are also at risk with two of Kingsclere's pubs currently up for sale, one being boarded up, while in Andover several are on the market, shut behind hoardings or are on the cusp of closing.

At the minimum our Councils should be designating all their valuable assets as Assets of Community Value  – and that includes the public house.
Councils please note!

Enjoying the pub

Pubs are a Social Hub
A local pub provides more than just a place for refreshments and entertainment. It can act as the social hub of a community, providing a centre for social interaction, a haven for combatting loneliness, a provider of employment for a whole range of local tradesmen and suppliers, and a generator of economic benefits for a town or village. 

It has been estimated an average public house provides around £80,000 of benefits to a community.

Pub Culture at risk
In the north Hampshire area many have already closed or are on the verge of shutting the doors. In many cases this is due to the greed of the remote pub company which owns the building, leasing it to a hardworking tenant who tries to make a go of it, but then imposes excessive and unrealistic financial conditions. In other cases it may be that a publican wishes to retire or move to another area.

 
What is certain is that our pub culture is at serious risk from a range of different pressures – and our councils can help by recognising that the value of a pub to a community is very much more than just bricks and mortar. 

Please let us save that culture that helps bind our communities together and call upon our councils to use all the powers that they hold to do so.