Pub of the Year presentation

Top awards have been achieved by the Andover Tap at the Lamb, as the local Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) announced its Pub of the Year Awards for 2026.
The community-focused pub was voted to be the best pub in the North Hampshire area for both beers and ciders. The awards also recognise aspects such as community support, facilities, service and social inclusivity.

Presentation
A presentation was held at the pub where publican Tim Abram and team were handed certificates for:

• North Hampshire (West area) Pub of the Year 2026
• North Hampshire Overall Pub of the Year 2026
• North Hampshire Cider Pub of the Year 2026
  
  

  

  Publican Tim Abram with his Pub of the Year Awards

Over 200 pubs eligible
Over 200 pubs are eligible for the awards in an area that stretches across the northern reaches of Hampshire including the main centres of Andover and Basingstoke. Hartley Wintney and Odiham are included to the east; Whitchurch, Sutton Scotney and Stockbridge are towards the west; and Tadley and Kingsclere are to the north.

Pride in its service
Tim and his committed team have created a unique community-style pub that prides itself on quality ales, craft beers and ciders. The pub also has a small in house occasional brewery and produces some excellent tasty ales. 

A real social centre
Regular activities are held ranging from the fortnightly themed food nights to brewery visits, silent discos, tasting sessions and charity fund-raising. Last year around £20,000 was raised for the local hospice Naomi House & Jack's Place. This year several thousand has already been raised for the Andover Young Carers charity. Beer festivals are also arranged along with meets for folk evenings and games nights, while the pub is a lively venue for the Andover Rocks charity music event.

The Andover Tap at the Lamb

Onwards and upwards
The pub now progresses in CAMRA's County competition with the final possible accolade being the top pub in the country!

MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS

Picture of Tim Abram courtesy Ben Tuffin

The Bell Whitchurch – some thoughts

What is happening at The Bell? 
Let's recognise it's importance to Whitchurch

The historic timber-framed Bell Inn in Whitchurch is one of few small traditional style local public houses that remain in the area, a place where people meet, converse, make friends, and socialise.

 
When open this 15th-century Listed Building was a fabulous, friendly, sociable place to meet under the wonderful long-standing publicans Jan McGarvey and her late husband Paul.
Yet sadly, it has now been closed over a year.

Whitchurch is a small Hampshire town that was once known for its public houses, a core feature in the deep community spirit that existed. 

That spirit has been stretched with the loss of other social venues, the Harvest Home, the Red House, the Old Brewery, the Railway, the Yeoman, all within relatively recent memories.

There is a famous quote:

Over one hundred years ago the Star newspaper reported:

“Whitchurch is in Hampshire. People who live in it call it a town. People who live out of it call it a village. It is about as big as a good-sized pocket handkerchief. It has three shops and 19 public houses.”

Although the town has since grown considerably and is in line for much greater expansion, Whitchurch has already lost the vast majority of those pubs and today only three remain open.

Although some refurbishment has been taking place at the Bell, let us hope it can also be officially recognised for the value it deserves and the wonderful legacy that Jan and Paul left the community.

A call is going out to have it registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).
The Kings Arms has already been given this status after work by local residents along with members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). 

The Bell should follow, particularly as ACVs are recognised within the local Neighbourhood Plan.

What is an Asset of Community Value (ACV):

• it is a material planning consideration, which gives the Council additional reasons to reject any proposal involving loss of the pub;
• it gives the community the opportunity to bid for the property if it is sold or leased for 25 years or more;
• 
  it gives Councils powers of compulsory purchase if the community use of the asset is in danger of being lost.

Meanwhile CAMRA is also currently discussing planning matters with government ministers over proposals that ALL pubs that have a recognised 'heritage value' should automatically have ACV registration. There are encouraging signs this may happen.
However, until then individual applications need to be submitted.

The Bell Inn should be given this recognition.

Our Councils are being asked to support this aim given its importance to the people of Whitchurch and area, and to have the Bell Inn duly registered.

The Bell Inn, a centre of the social scene.