2026 Good Beer Guide published

The latest edition of the Good Beer Guide has been published this week and a number of local venues have been included. These entries would not have reached this status without the hard work and commitment they give to their customers.

The book, now in its 53rd edition, is completely independent and compiled by local members of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale using an ongoing quality Beer Scoring system, where members report on the beer quality throughout the year. 

Pubs in the north western area of the Test valley that are listed in the 2026 Good Beer Guide are:

Town Mills, Andover:

Andover Tap at the Lamb, Andover:

The Eagle, Abbotts Ann:

The Welcome Stranger, Kimpton:

The Kings Arms, Whitchurch:

The Prince Regent, Whitchurch:

The Three Cups, Stockbridge:

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. 

Meanwhile the 'CAMRA WhatPub' website lists all pubs in the area (and UK) which can be accessed here:
https://whatpub.com/

To purchase the Good Beer Guide
The 2026 Good Beer Guide can be purchased online here:
https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product/good-beer-guide-2026/ 

Andover's Exciting New Pub

Andover has a New Pub.

The Powder Monkey at the Guildhall opened officially yesterday – and what a great addition to the town it is.

The expanding brewery/pub operator, Powder Monkey,  has transformed the ground floor of the historic Grade II* Listed Guildhall into a modern fresh bar that will add some much needed vibrancy to the town centre.

With six of the Gosport brewer's beers on keg and a number of their cans and bottles there is a good choice, while a comprehensive menu is available. The six tasty keg beers include a very tasty Pilsner, along with modern pale ales and a stout.

A feature is that everything comes from small independent producers, of which the friendly manager Luke was proud.

Powder Monkey is based at Priddy's Hard, a historic naval site now also housing the exciting Explosion! Museum.
The forward-looking company was formed in 2019 and was set up in a historic naval gunpowder store with the first beers being brewed in 2021.
They have expanded rapidly, taking over Goddards Brewery on the Isle of Wight, whose beers are now available at the Guildhall in bottles. In July they also acquired two Sydney-based Australian brewers – the Wayward Brewing Company and Akasha Brewing Company. 

The addition of the new pub to Andover will be a welcome addition to the town.

Woolly Jumpers raise thousands

WOOLLY JUMPERS and THE ANDOVER TAP at the LAMB

What a day – The Woolly Jumpers – 18 brave souls from the Andover Tap at the Lamb, threw themselves out of a flimsy plane above Old Sarum. 

But at least there was a brewery at the bottom to aim for, which had a beer named 'Woolly Jumpers'. 😉

From the now traditional bacon rolls at The Tap, to a full coach of 50+ jumpers and their raucous singing supporters, it was just one of many charity events the great community at The Tap have arranged.
This year's efforts are all going to the outstanding Naomi House and Jacksplace hospices, who care for seriously ill children, young adults and their families.

The award-winning Good Beer Guide pub chooses a different charity to support each year and holds numerous events ranging from hairstyling and beard shaving through to cycle rides and themed food evenings. Last year it raised funds for the Alzheimer's Society.

This weekend's jump was its largest fundraising event to date. 

 

Amazing Fundraising
Funds are still coming in, and at time of writing this event has reached an amazing £9,735 + 2k+ in Gift Aid.

With further events still to be held it is certain the overall year's total will be impressive.

If anyone would like to donate the link is here:

https://www.justgiving.com/team/andover-tap-woolly-jumper

As Expected – Red House Decision – but why?

As expected the latest Planning Application for the Red House in Whitchurch was approved by Basingstoke & Deane. 

The application was an odd one as the applicant already had permission for the Change of Use to Residential following an Appeal.
In fact one of the Councillors at the Development Committee questioned this very point.

So why was this application submitted? You might well ask.

The Planning Inspector at Appeal had imposed a Condition saying:

The development hereby permitted shall begin not later than 3 years from the date of this decision (4th September 2023)

But now Basingstoke and Deane's new Condition states:

The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of 3 years from the date of this planning permission. (13th June 2025)

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
With the passing of each day the building is becoming more and more derelict with the costs of any renovation work to the historic structure and fabric rising.

It means there could now be a FURTHER DELAY of nearly two years before work has to commence – from 4th September 2026 to 13th June 2028.
It means more delapidation of the building and less likely the historic fabric can be kept.

So why would such a delay be beneficial?
The owner already has a history of not keeping to promises particularly over the broken pledge that funds from the houses built on the pub's car park would go into supporting the Red House as a pub. It is a well-known fact that it is cheaper to demolish a historic building and build new rather to renovate/convert.
Is that the aim?
Is this a case of 'Running Rings' around the weaknesses of the planning system and the Councils?

Might there be a call for the Red House be DEMOLISHED as the historic building works required would be claimed to be unviable because of deterioration caused by the delays?

Previous article on the 'Conspiracy Theory':
https://thehappypint.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-red-house-conspiracy-theory-or-is-it.html

Where are beers really brewed?

Where are the beers you see on the bars actually brewed?
Should there be clear labelling on the fonts?
Should we be told?

How many people think Madri is Spanish? Yet it is a product brand created by a UK marketing company and is brewed in that well-known Spanish town in Yorkshire – Tadcaster.

Madri – brewed in Tadcaster – a Yorkshire beer!

And what about these:

AMSTEL (Dutch)
    brewed in Manchester by Heineken International

BECKS (German)
    brewed in Magor South Wales by Budweiser, a subsidiary of AB InBev

BIRRA MORETTI (Italian)
    brewed in Manchester by Heineken International

BUDWEISER (USA) 
    brewed in Magor South Wales by Budweiser, a subsidiary of AB InBev

CARLING BLACK LABEL now plain 'Carling' (Canadian) 
    brewed in Burton on Trent by Molson Coors

CARLSBERG LAGER (Danish)
    brewed in Northampton by the Carlsberg Marston Brewing Group

COBRA LAGER (Indian)
    brewed in Burton on Trent by Molson Coors

COORS (USA)
    brewed in Tadcaster by Molson Coors

CORONA (Mexican)
    brewed in Magor South Wales by AB InBev

CRUZCAMPO (Spanish, Sevilla)
    brewed in Manchester by Heineken

ESTRELLA DAMM (Spanish, Barcelona)
    brewed in Bedford by the Carlsberg Marston Brewing Group

FOSTERS LAGER (Australian)
    brewed in Manchester by Heineken

MADRI EXCEPTIONAL (Spanish, Madrid): 
    brewed in Tadcaster by Molson Coors

SAN MIGUEL (Philippines)
    brewed in Northampton by Budweiser, a subsidiary of AB InBev

STELLA ARTOIS (Belgium) 
    brewed in Magor South Wales by AB InBev

Cruzcampo – A beer from the sunshine of Costa del Manchester

The current labelling of beer is both misleading and unacceptable.
The Government should introduce legislation to require clear labelling to ensure consumers are not misled.

E & OE

Transport on Demand – Access to Country Pubs

An exciting new Connect Transport-on-Demand bus service has been launched centred on the Andover (Northern Test Valley area), providing flexible bus journeys in areas that have no public transport.

Importantly the service is available to anyone, including those who enjoy visiting country pubs.

As well as linking local communities and helping many by who have suffered from the cuts by local bus companies, notably by Stagecoach, this could prove to be a lifeline to many village public houses.

Modern minibuses

The pre-bookable service which uses modern well-equipped minibuses (USB, etc), operates where there are no other bus services. The minibuses do not follow a fixed routes or timetables but they do serve around 350 bus stops.

The only requirements are to register in advance, book the journey (by app, online or phone) and to pay the fare which varies from £2 to £5.50.

The service currently runs from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday with journeys on a first come first served basis which can be booked up to three days in advance.

Local Campaign for Real Ale members are giving full support to this service and 'test' trips are being held.
North Hampshire CAMRA Pub Protection Officer John Buckley has been trying out some of the possibilities saying 

"Many pubs have been cut off from customers through the loss of local bus services. This can give these pubs much needed custom."
He has also has compiled a list of public houses that had lost bus services and now have a Transport-on-Demand stop within around a 5-minute walk (see below).

PUB LIST
Public houses with Transport-on-Demand Bus Stops (within approx 5-min walk):
* = current status of pub uncertain
Always check opening times.

Andover Town Centre is served by stops at the
Bus Station, Railway Station and Memorial Hospital.

plus on town edge:

Anton Arms Andover

Andover Tap Andover

Southampton Arms Andover

Station Hotel Andover

Clatford Arms Goodworth Clatford

Royal Oak  Goodworth Clatford

Crook & Shears Upper Clatford

Poplar Farm Inn Little Ann

Eagle Abbotts Ann

George Inn Vernham Dean

George & Dragon * Hurstbourne Tarrant

White Hart Stoke

George Inn St Mary Bourne

Mayfly Fullerton

Abbots Mitre Chilbolton

White Lion * Wherwell

Plough Longparish

Cricketers Longparish

Swan Barton Stacey

Oak Smannell

Bell & Crown Hatherden

Lion Clanville

Walnut Tree Appleshaw

Welcome Stranger Kimpton

White Hart Penton Mewsey

White Horse * Thruxton

Hawk Inn Amport

Plough Inn Grateley

White Hart Over Wallop

George Inn Middle Wallop

Peat Spade Longstock

Greyhound Stockbridge

Three Cups Stockbridge

Grosvenor Stockbridge

White Hart Stockbridge

There may be some pubs that we have accidentally missed.

Details of the service are here:

https://www.cfirst.org.uk/community-transport/connect-transport/connecttod/

Andover pub wins 'Cider Pub of the Year 2025'

Congratulations are in order for the Andover Tap at the Lamb for having been voted as North Hampshire Cider Pub of the Year for 2025.

Applause rang out as the coveted award was made to publican Tim Abram on behalf of the local CAMRA group by long standing Andover CAMRA member Martin Bennett.

Anniversary
This year is the 50th Anniversary of the Campaign for Real Ale's commitment to supporting traditional cider within its campaigning activities. In 1975 real cider was first made available at CAMRA Beer Festivals and has remained a core part of the Campaign since.

Presentation to Tim Abram (R) by Martin Bennett (L)

(click picture to enlarge)

Traditional cider is rarely available in the north Hampshire area but the Andover Tap at the Lamb always has a wide selection on the bar to enjoy alongside its cask and craft beers.

Real Cider
Most ciders in pubs are poor imitations, created from essences, extracts and concentrates in large industrial factories then served up by the addition of gasses.
Real Cider should be fermented from the whole fruit of pressed apples, without the use of concentrates or chaptalised* juices. 

Real Cider is what can be found in the Tap; traditional, tasty, and extremely enjoyable.

The Andover Tap at the Lamb will now progress through further rounds of the National Cider Pub of the Year Competition.

* The word ‘chaptalised’ as used in the definition refers to a process where the alcohol level in a cider or perry is increased by the addition of sugar to an unnatural level for storage, before it is diluted with water to the desired alcohol content for sale.

Powder Monkey for Andover

Andover will soon be seeing the award-winning Powder Monkey Brewing opening a venue in the High Street. The forward-thinking company that is based at the Priddy Hard Explosion! museum complex in Gosport is taking the lease of the ground floor of the iconic Grade II Listed Guildhall.

Intentions are for a new eating and drinking establishment in a space where relaxation and socialising will be to the fore. 
Hours planned are 9.00am – 10.00pm Monday to Thursday, 9.00am – 11.00pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 9.00am – 9.00pm on Sundays. There will be a breakfast menu, an all day menu, and traditional Sunday roasts.
Drinks will feature "Powder Monkey beers, quality non-mainstream wines, artisan spirits and local coffee". Outside space will also be used when possible.

Powder Monkey
Powder Monkey commenced brewing in the old naval gunpowder store in 2021 where they also set up a visitors' centre and a tasting bar.

They have quickly become established as an exciting growing company. Last year they added the Australian brewery, Willie the Boatman, to their portfolio, while more recently they they purchased the leading independent brewery on the Isle of Wight, Goddards, a brewer more known for its range of traditional cask and bottled beers.

Award
Only last month, Powder Monkey was announced as winning the Brewery of the Year by Portsmouth & SE Hampshire Campaign for Real Ale. 
The brewery said:

"This is a credit to our team who have worked so hard and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who was enjoyed a Powder Monkey beer this past year and all the fantastic venues helping us bring the beer to you!"

Exciting for Andover
These are exciting times for the hospitality business in Andover, with this announcement quickly following that of Loungers taking on the empty ex-Barclay's Bank premises a few yards further down the High Street.
See:
https://thehappypint.blogspot.com/2025/03/a-new-bar-for-andover.html

A new bar for Andover?

Andover could soon see a major change in its High Street with a new café/bar opening in the old Barclays Bank building.

The company Loungers UK, who are behind the popular Cosy Club and Lounges bars,  have plans to convert the empty 5 High Street building into one of their all day 'neighbourhood café bars'. 

The bars are known for their friendly relaxed atmosphere, with good food, craft beers and other drinks, and their eclectic decor of paintings, photographs, mirrors and lampshades!

Licences are being applied for which include the serving of alcohol from 10am to midnight, and the provision of outdoor pavement area seating.

This could add a new dimension to the vibrancy of the town's High Street.

5 High Street, Andover
Plans to be a new café / bar