Bell Inn to re-open soon

THE BELL INN, Whitchurch

UPDATE: GREAT NEWS – Application Approved

Some wonderful work has been taking place at the historic BELL INN Whitchurch to bring it back into life as a local public amenity which will help support both the town and the surrounding area's social, leisure and economic needs. 

The Bell, a Listed Building, closed a year ago having been under the wonderful ownwnership of popular publicans Jan and the late Paul Mcgarvey and is currently being renovated.

An Application has now been submitted for its Premises Licence, ref 26/01464/PREMV

The Campaign for Real Ale is sharing its own support here and asks its members, residents and our local Councillors to do the same.

Rural towns and their surrounding areas have lost far too many of its public houses and other services and much support as possible should be given to those who wish to develop businesses.  

The letter sent to the Licensing Committee is reproduced below. Copying and using its content is acceptable for anyone who wishes to express support.

This should be sent to licensing@basingstoke.gov.uk

Click to enlarge

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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.

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.

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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"

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Vicolo v Powder Monkey – which is best?

Vicolo v Powder Monkey

These two new Andover venues, opening within weeks of each other in the High Street, have brought a much needed boost to the Hampshire market town. With these, and the building of the new theatre underway, the town centre is certainly starting to look up.

After several visits to each, comparisons are inevitable so here goes...

The newly opened VICOLO LOUNGE is one of over 260 'Lounges' throughout the country, one of the fastest growing independent chains of bar/restaurants.

Vicolo Lounge Bar

In the old Barclay Bank, it follows their heavily furnished lampshade/framed picture decor style run on an inclusive friendly community model. 

The wide menu choice caters for all with good prompt table or friendly bar service. The recommended use of the on-table QR Code has drinks served usually within minutes and food just a little longer – it works well.
The brunches are highly recommended as are the tapas boards but if tempted by the extras such as flatbreads or sides the cost may start to escalate.

For beer lovers the list is limited though there is welcome nod to the company's independent west country roots with the bottled Bristol Beer Factory Stout. Otherwise it is fairly mainstream although does include the newer version of Hofmeister pilsner, far better than the tasteless 'follow the bear' version of years gone past.

A visit is highly recommended.

So on to the POWDER MONKEY AT THE GUILDHALL. Here the feel is much more open and minimalist decor with the large high expansive ex-market hall venue refurbished to recognise the building's historic character. 

Powder Monkey at the Guildhall

Powder Monkey are a fast growing company based at their brewery in Gosport which itself only began brewing in 2021 and have since acquired a number of other small breweries in the UK and Australia.

The opening of the Andover venue is a relatively new aspect of their business and deserves to do well. You are always greeted on entry and like the Vicolo there is a strong emphasis on the welcome. Also like Vicolo there is no pressure and you can pop in for a coffee or beer as much as something to eat. Staff are very friendly, attentive and helpful and interact with customers well, perhaps better than at Vicolo. They are always asking for feedback, and experience shows it is acted upon.

Service is a mix of bar and table service with a good range of food and drinks with an emphasis on  independent suppliers. Food is exceptional with a limited changing menu. The 'Nibbles' are exceptional value and chosen together can make a full meal, while the Sunday roasts are highly recommended.

As would be expected there is a wide choice of beers with six of their tasty craft keg beers on tap including their lager, bitters, IPAs and stout, alongside a variety of cans. There is also a good selection of bottled beers from their other breweries, notably from Goddard's on the Isle of Wight. You won't find national brands here. 

So which to visit?
Both venues are a very welcome addition to the town, and are both open 7-days a week. One surprising aspect is that neither open for breakfast for workers in the town which would seem short-sighted. However, each has their own strengths and it is difficult to split them.
If we had to choose it would be a smidgeon towards Powder Monkey at the Guildhall but that would be for its beers and that service is a touch more friendly. 

Otherwise both are very highly recommended. Visit both.

9/10 each

An Amazing Charity Effort

This must rate as one of the best local pub charity efforts as customers and staff of The Andover Tap at The Lamb, raised an incredible £19,669.60p in just one year for the chosen charity Naomi House & Jack's Place.

The funds came from an amazing number of charity events ranging from raffles and beard shaves to parachute jumping. From a few pennies of change dropped in the charity pot to sponsoring a marathon walk, every penny counts. 

Located at Sutton Scotney, Naomi House & Jacks Place are hospices providing Specialist Nursing and Respite Care for life limited and life threatened Children and Young Adults. 

The charity is currently experiencing some serious funding issues and needs all the support it can get. The numbers of children and young people receiving end of life care has more than doubled over last five years. In addition the hospice's costs have increased by a third and the charity is having to use its reserves.

It relies heavily on supporters and donations.
If anyone can help see:
https://www.naomihouse.org.uk/donate

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

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