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.