Beers in the UK – You are being deceived

You're being misled about British Beer

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has released a hard-hitting consumer-led report on the UK beer market and the "stark state of British brewing" and setting out how customers are being deceived.

'Beer in the UK' states that most of those 'foreign' named beers on the bars such as Cruzcampo, Madri, Stella and San Miguel are in fact being brewed in industrial-sized beer factories in the UK, and are masquerading as continental products. They come from places such as Manchester, Burton on Trent, and Magor South Wales, 

It also sets out how publicans are massively constrained in which products they can sell, through restrictive ties and contracts that reduce or remove consumer choice.

One particular highlight in the report states:

"Beer consumers are routinely misled about the origins of their beers. Most big brand ‘foreign’ lagers are made in the UK, often to diluted recipes; most of the largest ‘craft’ beer brands are made by corporate producers; and many ‘local’ beers come from industrial-scale national plants, far from the locality suggested by their names."

CAMRA calls for this deception to end and that it must be made clear who owns and brews the beers on the bars. 
CAMRA also calls for an investigation into the industry by the Competition and Markets Authority and challenges the abnormally high levels of beer taxation.

The full report can be seen here:
https://camra.org.uk/beer-report

Hampshire Pub of the Year, 2026

The Flower Pots Inn, Cheriton

Affectionately called "The Pots", the Flower Pots Inn in the pretty Hampshire village of Cheriton is a friendly traditional style country inn, serving fine beers, excellent food and above all offering a welcome to everyone. 

This pub should not be missed
This is definitely not a pub to miss and has been announced as a worthy winner of the Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) Hampshire Pub of the Year for 2026. It now proceeds in the next round of the competition which leads towards being the national winner. Along with the other nominations, it was visited by a dedicated team of judges several times over the past few months using a detailed and trusted set of criteria ranging from quality of beer and community commitment to standard of service and range of facilities.

Widely recognised as a top pub
As a free house it is unrestrained by the excesses of the national pub companies, and has been a regular entry in the Good Beer Guide – in fact it has been more than regular having been in the last 52 editions, and incredible achievement.

Flower Pots Brewery
Set just off the village centre, the Pots also brews its own beer through the Flower Pots Brewery, which is found in many of the county's better pubs. A wide range of its own beers are also available at its annual beer festival on the end of August Bank Holiday which sees visitors flock from far and wide to enjoy music, food and over 100 different beers.

https://www.theflowerpots.co.uk/

Full results CAMRA Hampshire Pub of the Year – congratulations.

Overall Winner: 

FLOWER POTS INN, Cheriton 

Runner-up:                                   

ANDOVER TAP AT THE LAMB, Andover

Highly Commended Finalists:    

STAR INN, Bentley

JUNCTION TAVERN, Gosport

ALE HOUSE, Cowes IOW 

The annual beer festival with over 100 beers
28th – 30th August 2026

One Bell opens but others remain Closed

THREE BELLS

Another Hampshire pub has been saved.

There are three pubs in north Hampshire named The Bell, and until last week all were closed.
Now, in brilliant news, The Bell in Odiham on the historic Bury has reopened having been saved from being replaced as housing by the local community which raised the funds to purchase and save the pub.
Last weekend saw the official opening with many activities including Morris dancing.

This small traditional two room pub is a Grade II Listed Building and is steeped in 500 years of local history as a hostelry. 

To give a feel for the pub's character' it also has Dominoes, Shove Ha'penny and Pickled Eggs, while on the bar three cask beers are currently served – Fullers London Pride, Flowerpots Pots Bitter and Odiham Drizzle, a Flack Manor rebadged dark mild.

It is a fantastic win for the Odiham pub scene and showed the importance of being registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) and of having local community support.

The Bell is easy to reach by using the 13 Basingstoke/Alton service, getting off at Crownfields and taking the adjacent footpath to the Bury. 

Its a 'must visit' pub

The pub opens at 4.30pm each day including weekends, but is closed Mondays.

*********************
The other Bells:

Sadly the other two ‘Bells’ remain closed.

The Bell in Whitchurch, another Grade II Listed pub, closed a year ago with a hope it would reopen but despite some limited work the doors remain closed. It would be good if the Council had registered it as an ACV but as yet that hasn’t taken place. A request is to be made.
Regrettably hope for reopening has been lost for The Bell at Weyhill which has been given planning permission to become a childrens nursery. It currently deteriorates behind hoardings as substantial work has yet to commence.

The Bell, Weyhill – CLOSED 👎

The Bell, Whitchurch – CLOSED 👎

The Bell, Odiham – SAVED and OPEN 👍

SUPPORT OUR PUBS

"When you have lost your inns, drown your empty selves, for you will have lost the last of England"

•

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.

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

Handpump Hijack

While supporting ALL good beer there are many people who especially enjoy a good pint of traditional beer served from a handpump that has been conditioned in the cask in the pub's cellar.

But a twist in dispense methods had appeared. There is a new kid on the block that may mislead.

Unfortunately some 'brewery conditioned' beer is being served through handpumps that may mislead some customers. Unlike cask ale, where the beer continues to brew in the cask due to the presence of yeast, brewery conditioned fresh ale has the yeast removed. The conditioning is finalised in the brewery in the same way as keg beer.

Currently Wainwright Gold, Wainwright Amber and Hobgoblin IPA are sold in this way and the only way to tell them apart from traditionally conditioned cask ales is a small sign on the bottom of the pump clip.

So, if in doubt ask "is it cask?"

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/

 

Whitchurch Pub Race – Will it return?

The question has been asked: 

Will the famous Whitchurch Pub Race return in 2024?

The 'Beer Race', 'latterly the 'Pub Race', is part of Whitchurch folklore, having first been arranged – um – long before anyone can remember. Historically, teams of around six, attired in fancy dress and linked together with a rope, would race from pub to pub enjoying a beer at each.

Crowds came out to support those running – or staggering – and filled the buckets, raising funds for local good causes. The fun was massive and continued into the evenings with music in the local pubs. 

In more recent years it has been organised more intermittently and as more than half the original pubs have closed different strategies and routes have had to be developed, often using pop-up drinking stops. Covid also put the event on hold but is it now to make a return? 

Posting on a local Facebook page, a local Whitchurch resident, asked

"...who wants the Pub Race next year?"

The strength of support for the event was soon apparent with several offers of help, and early ideas of provisional teams started to appear. 

So ... is it time to start planning those costumes? 

For now its a case of watch this space, but with the question asked there is a growing hope for a 2024 return.

Wouldn't it be amazing to have this event back on the calendar.

A new Brewery for Andover

After many months of growing excitement, the first beer from Andover's newest brewery has reached the customers' glasses.

Tim Abram, owner of the Andover Tap at The Lamb has installed a small brewery at the rear  on which he has produced the first beer – a traditional amber ale named Ewe Brew Muttons Gold. Before starting the Andover Tap, Tim was previously brewer at The Test Brewery in Broughton producing award-winning beers.

The first pints are poured

Last Sunday (10th September) as soon as the news was out, the grapevine went to work and the pub became a magnet for those excited to try the long-awaited beer. With top bar supremo Matt Mutton pulling the pints, the afternoon saw the first cask rapidly emptied, a testament to its quality.

Matt Mutton (L) and Tim Abram (R) launch the new brew

A tasty beer
Muttons Gold is brewed to a very sessionable strength of 3.8%. It has a a good rounded balance of malt, with underlying fruitiness of dark berries and a touch of spiciness due to the mix of hops used.
The beer joins the range of traditional cask beers on the bar mainly from small local breweries, as well as a fine selection of craft beers, lagers, ciders and other drinks.

An amazing success
The development of The Lamb since its re-opening just two years ago (November 2021) is an amazing success story, especially as it now houses both a brewery and the Wessex Spirit's Gin Palace distillery. Earlier this year it was awarded local Cider Pub of the Year and has also gained a place in the Good Beer Guide. 

The Gin Palace, produces a range of artisanal gins as well as holding tastings and special events, with rooms available for private parties and business meetings. Bespoke gins are also produced by owner Kate. Recently it has also produced its own vodka, soon to be made available.

The Andover Tap at the Lamb and the Gin Palace

So much takes place
The small traditional style pub is a true community venture providing a wide range of attractions ranging from fortnightly themed food evenings to coach trips to breweries, charity events, cycle rides and the holding of the Lamb Folk Sessions. 
Events on the near horizon include a cheese and beer tasting session, a Trafalgar Dinner and a Victorian Kitchen evening.

Above all it is known for its friendliness and welcome; its helpful bar staff; the wide range of beer and ciders; and the convivial atmosphere. Without the distraction of TVs or fruit machines it is conversation that rules.

The Andover Tap at The Lamb

The Andover Tap at the Lamb and the Gin Palace are in Winchester Street opposite the police station.

See:
ANDOVER TAP AT THE LAMB

THE GIN PALACE

Andover's new brewery

Muttons Gold

Wychwood Brewery to close

After announcing the proposed sale of Ringwood Brewery, CMBC (Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company) has said it is planning to close Wychwood Brewery, best known for producing the beer Hobgoblin. 

The closure is expected to be in November with Hobgoblin likely to then be brewed in Burton on Trent.

It is reported that the closure is timed with a break clause in the lease of the premises, along with the continuing difficult economic climate.

Wychwood Brewery in Witney, Oxfordshire, was formed in 1989 at the Two Rivers Brewery, formerly Glenny Brewery. It took over brewing some of the Brakspear beers when they closed in 2002.
In 2008 Wychwood was bought by Marstons.

Hobgoblin is its best known beer and brewed at a variety of strengths dependant on whether for cask, bottle or can and is said to be the second best-selling bottled beer in the UK. 

Hobgoblin, Wychwoods most famous beer

UNITY RELAUNCH PARTY

Unity, the Southampton brewery that sadly went into administration earlier this year and which is now under a new ownership, has announced their re-opening with a 'Relaunch Party' on Saturday 24th June from noon 'til late.

It is exciting times.

Unity Brewing Company say:
 

"We are pleased to announce we are relaunching on Saturday 24th with a lil' party at the Taproom. Expect the return of old favourites (yes, yes, of course we have Conflux), brand new beer and returning faves, plus plenty of guest beer and other drinks on tap and in the fridges."

This is excellent news and should be great day at the Princes Street Brewery in Southampton with specials on tap, guest beers, street food, and now even sofas!

There will be plenty of space for walk-ins but if you'd like to secure a table, drop Connie a line at connie@unitybrewingco.com with numbers and preferred time.

PLANS TO SELL RINGWOOD BREWERY

On the day we hear of a new small Hampshire nano-brewery joining the commercial world we also hear of plans to sell of Hampshire's largest brewery – Ringwood, on the edge of the New Forest. 

Early successes

Ringwood Brewery was founded in the earliest days of the real ale resurgence in1978 by real ale pioneer Peter Austin who also built around 140 new breweries in the UK and overseas.
Ringwood's success led to its move in 1986 from Minty's Yard to the present site on the edge of Ringwood, previously that of Tunks Brewery.
Two years later further success came when Old Thumper took the much coveted Champion Beer of Britain award. Old Thumper has become a worldwide name with the beer being brewed in the US by Shipyard.

Further expansion took place and it was eventually sold to Marstons in 2007. It is currently owned by the Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) and, while brewing has continued in Ringwood, much beer was also brewed in Burton upon Trent.

For sale
Today (7th June) CMBC has announced proposals that it intends to close its logistics operations in Ringwood and to sell the brewery and its brands, which include such famous beers as Old Thumper, Fortyniner and Razorback. This could have a serious effect on the staff employed as logistics is planned to move to other locations such as Cardiff, Tiverton and Farnborough.

There is also considerable concern over the site which has been the centre of speculation for residential development on several occasions.

Last autumn CMBC sold off the historic Jennings Brewery in Cockermouth with production also moving to Burton. One reason given was the fall in demand for cask ales during and following the pandemic.

The big questions?
Will the site at Ringwood be purchased to remain as a brewery?
Happy Pint has fond memories of supping Ringwood's 4X Porter while enjoying Mince pies with the brewer one wintry Christmas.
Let us hope that will still be possible.

A NEW HAMPSHIRE BREWERY

Even in these difficult times little can deter genuine innovation and that is endemic throughout the craft beer world.

This week's exciting news is that a new Hampshire brewery has announced the launch of its first public releases, an imperial baltic porter named 'Living in Darkness'  and a double chocolate stout named 'Melody Madness'. 

Whilst the owners Mike and Holly have been brewing and developing their recipes over a number of years, these are their first commercially available beers for the public to enjoy.

Breakbeat Brewery is a nano-brewery based in Southampton, which is becoming a hotbed of interesting brewing. Being small they are specialising in "all things imperial" and that they say "We brew what we love, with no sensible options involved and we go against the crowd".

Here at Happy Pint, this is a philosophy that excites us! Definitely 😄

Breakbeat also say
"We love big strong beers and try to brew some of the strongest beers in the UK ranging from 10% imperial stouts to 25% freeze distilled madness."

Their strongest brew to date is an incredible 25.2% freeze distilled strawberry ice cream imperial pastry stout.
Just from the description beer lovers will understand what this brewery is all about – craft beer at its best.

We cannot wait to try their beers.

BREAKBEAT BREWING

NEW GREENE KING BEERS

Cask beers have been declining in popularity and sales falling as the 'craft' keg style of beer becomes more established. 
So it is encouraging that Greene King has announced its next three limited edition cask beers and hopefully they will be available in local pubs. They make up part of the 'Fresh Cask Release' series of 18 beers available at various times throughout the year.

PAVE THE WAY is a beer brewed in collaboration with Big Hug Brewery. At 4.6% it is described as being a beer with malty caramel flavours with stone fruits, watermelon and peach. 

The beer supports the 'Only a Pavement Away' charity. 50% of Big Hug's profit will be given to the good cause. The charity was founded by members of the hospitality industry to help deal with homelessness, prison leavers and veterans who are struggling to get into work.

HOPPING SPECIAL is a new 4.2% brew created from five malts with addition of Citra and Galaxy hops to add a fruitiness to the amber beer. The name comes from the train services that were run for families mainly from London who went hop-picking in the 19th and 20th centuries before modern technology was employed. Many of these families will have travelled to hop fields in Hampshire.

St EDMUNDS is a hoppy golden ale at 4.2% brewed with cascade hops and makes a welcome return to the portfolio of cask beers.

The beers also support the Cask Project initiative as a means to try and reverse the fall in cask beer sales. Cask beer is perceived to be a drink for the older generations of drinker and needs an image makeover. It is a product we should all be proud of and enjoy.

Greene King has said:
"Our vision is to reignite the passion for cask within the industry" 

There are several Greene King pubs in the Happy Pint area so why not ask the publican to get one of these beers in.