A New Bar for Andover

Andover could see a new town centre bar following submission of a planning application for a Change of Use of the former NatWest Bank into a "Bar/Drinking Establishment". The building has been empty since the bank closed in 2024.

9 Bridge Street, Andover

The Bullion Bar
The proposals for 'The Bullion Bar' apply to the ground floor and for pavement tables outside. It is for a relatively small 'wet-led' bar, being drinks only and with no cooking on the premises. The building has recently been refurbished with a tasteful exterior as befits the Conservation Area. On the floors above there are flats which have their own separate entrance.

Licence
A licence application has also been submitted for the sale of alcohol from 11.00am until 11.00pm Sunday to Wednesday, to midnight on Thursdays, and until 2.00am on Fridays and Saturdays. Live and recorded music has been applied for on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Town Regeneration
Andover centre like many towns has suffered from business closures and such a new venture would help bring people into the town,  If approved it will hopefully not suffer the same as the Powder Monkey at the Guildhall which was not given enough time to become established before its owner's closed the doors. Andover needs more leisure/hospitality to draw in people to the town.

With the development of the new park by the river, and the building of the new theatre, this should be a welcome addition to support the regeneration of the town centre.

The application reference 26/01484/FULLN can be see on Test Valley Borough Council's planning site where public comment can also be submitted.

https://view-applications.testvalley.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=THY85NQC0I000&activeTab=summary

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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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

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

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.  

•

Photo credit:
Shipton Bellinger - The Boot Public House
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Talbot - geograph.org.uk/p/1108422

Contracts Exchanged for Community Pub

The end of 2024 has seen some excellent news with the exchange of contracts for the historic Bell Inn in Odiham as it now moves forward to re-opening as a community owned pub.

The Bell before closure

The Bell Inn, Odiham
The Bell Inn, licenced since 1509 is one of Hampshire's oldest pubs where brewing has reportedly taken place as far back as the Domesday Book. Tucked away in the historic area known as The Bury, opposite the church and the stocks, The Bell is an integral part of this tranquil corner of Odiham. 

An unfair system that closes pubs
As a traditional pub it was primarily a drinks 'wet-led' house and was owned by the national PubCo Admiral Taverns. It was tied for products to Admiral which meant little opportunity for tenants to build the business further, a harsh reality of what many feel is an unfair trading system that needs serious legal changes. This can often lead to a pub being made unviable, sometimes deliberately, in order to obtain a change of use, usually to residential.

Applications were rejected
During covid the pub closed when the publicans retired and, as sure as night follows day, it was subsequently sold to developers who claimed the pub was unviable and had plans for converting it into houses.
In late 2022 after local pressure, the developer's planning application to Hart District Council was refused and a subsequent Appeal to the Planning Inspector was also rejected.  

Local support for retaining the pub
As well as support from the planners the registration of The Bell as an ACV (Asset of Community Value) was a factor in the recognition of the premises as an important local amenity. 

With the social and economic benefits a public house provides to a community, CAMRA's local Pub Protection Officer, John Buckley, calls on all Parish and Town Councils to ensure their pubs are both registered as ACVs and also recognised in Local and Neighbourhood Plans. "Having ACVs and adopted planning policies in place are important tools in an armoury to fight change of use applications. many more pubs need to be registered but it needs local people and their councillors to be proactive in putting them in place. The Campaign for Real Ale can provide advice."

*********
Meanwhile a group of residents formed a team with the aim of purchasing the pub. Finance was obtained through a successful application to the government's Community Ownership Fund and a Share Offer was launched for local people.

On the last day of 2024 the team announced the fantastic news:

"We have exchanged contracts to purchase the Bell.
We will complete and collect the keys on Friday."

Brillant news
Now the hard work towards refurbishing and reopening starts in earnest.

•

The Bell image by Basher Eyre
license under Creative Commons

Community funding under question

In an end of year announcement that has concerned many, the government has closed its Community Ownership Fund which had been made available to allow local people and groups to take on and save community facilities. The closure is despite there still being unallocated funds.
The funding was also available to town and parish councils.

The reason given – or excuse – is pressure on government finances caused by the previous government.

Support for community amenities removed

The scheme, which was to run until the end of 2025, was created to help local groups take on assets such as community halls, leisure facilities, shops, sports grounds, swimming pools, museums, arts centres and local pubs. 

Since its 2021 commencement, 409 projects have received over £140million.

This could have a devastating effect on those working hard to save our country's public houses as well as on groups wishing to take on other community facilities. 

Current efforts

Efforts are now underway by organisations including the Campaign for Real Ale to ensure that assistance remains in other tangible ways. 

This includes discussions with officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government over the current review of other support schemes. These include Assets of Community Value and the hoped for introduction of the Right to Buy to replace the current Right to Bid.

Shocking losses

The scale of long-term pub closures is shocking and the support for the struggling hospitality industry is abysmal. Communities are losing their centres of social interaction, economic benefits and local heritage on a daily basis. 
Here, Happy Pint urges all to lobby their Councils and MPs to support one of the most important cornerstones of our society – the British Pub.

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The Government statement (23rd December 2024)

The Community Ownership Fund is now closed. There will be no further application windows on the COF programme. We have taken this difficult decision due to the challenging inheritance left by the previous government.

Whilst we are closing the Community Ownership Fund, this government remains committed to the communities’ sector and community empowerment.

The government will deliver on its manifesto commitment to replace the community ‘Right to Bid’ with a strengthened ‘Right to Buy’ Assets of Community Value, creating a more robust pathway to community asset ownership. And we will seek to support high streets by strengthening Business Improvement Districts which have helped to improve town and city centres across the United Kingdom for 20 years, while ensuring they operate to high standards and are accountable to their communities. 

Details:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-ownership-fund-prospectus/community-ownership-fund-round-4-prospectus

 

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The Red House – A Conspiracy Theory – or is it?

What is the longer game? 

The latest planning application raises some concerning suspicions over the building's future. A 'new' application has been submitted for the Red House in Whitchurch, a Grade II Listed Building whose closure has been the subject of much controversy. 

Red House garden in its heyday.
Now built upon with three houses.

The once successful and lively pub had been allowed to deteriorate by the owners and has been closed since 2018. After promising to reinvest proceeds into the pub from building houses on the car park the owners gained further permission to convert the pub to residential. Many believe they had been hoodwinked. 

That was mistake number one, accepting the owner's word!

Broken promises
The houses were built and a further application to change the pub to residential was submitted which was granted, but only after a lengthy Appeal.

 
But, despite a time-limit on the application set by the Appeal Inspector still no work has taken place. The building has been deteriorating further with broken windows, rotten window frames, damp, falling rendering and rodent invasion.

A TWIST – WHY ANOTHER APPLICATION?
Now in a 'twist' the owner has submitted another application which is a virtual replica of the first.
The main difference is that they are now claiming to have leased part of the pub out since March 2024 to a tenant for residential use.

This claimed residential letting could mean they would not be liable for any Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a sum a developer pays which goes towards support for the local area. Yet the only tenants of the near derelict building anyone has seen have been rats, lots of them; so many that complaints were made to the Environmental Health Department.

But is this a red herring as the CIL would be a relatively small amount?

This raises those further suspicions.

WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?

Come back to the Conspiracy Theory.

IS DEMOLITION NEXT?

Consider this:

• The Appeal Inspector, in allowing the Change of Use, imposed a Planning Condition that works shall begin not later than 3 years from the decision date. 
• That was over 15 months ago on 4th September 2023 and time is moving on. Meanwhile the historic building deteriorates even more.
• Anything that causes delays such as investigation into the claimed tenancy means further dilapidation and a case for demolition becomes stronger.
• THE QUESTION: Is the plan to manipulate delays that lead to further deterioration leaving the only option to demolish and thus reduce building costs rather than having to invest in keeping and renovating the historic structure and features of the Listed Building?
  
• So do the owners want objectors to challenge the CIL/habitation claim in order to deliberately create those delays?

And coming back to how the community was mislead over investment in the pub can there be any trust? Any at all?

A FRUSTRATING FARCE

What is certain is that the whole sorry caboodle is becoming a frustrating farce and it seems the councillors and planners don't have enough teeth to ensure the applicant/owner doesn't run rings around them. 

Meanwhile the pub users and local residents have lost a valuable amenity. 

It is not their fault, but that of a very weak planning system that places developers wishes above those of local people, a failure is being worsened by the actions of a developer who has lost any local trust.

The 'latest' Planning application documents (ref: 24/02820/FUL) can be viewed here:

https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SNVNDVCRG8N00&activeTab=summary

Microbrewery and bar approved for Overton

The plans for a new bar and microbrewery in Overton have taken a step forward as Basingstoke & Deane Development Control Committee approved the planning application this week (Wed.9th October).

Permission has now been granted for the creation a new bar, micro-brewery and kitchen at No.7 High Street, a former hair and beauty salon (Hobbs).

7 High Street, Overton

The premises consists of a two-storey building that is believed to date from the 15th/16th centuries but has undergone significant changes although much of the timber framing remains. It is registered as a Listed Grade II building.

Support was high
Councillors heard from the applicant's architect who focussed on the responses from the main consultees, including HCC Highways, Archaeology, Environmental Health, Historic Environment, Southern Water and Biodiversity. All were registering a No Objection. 

In addition he noted the high number of letters of support from local residents. 77 were in support while only 12 were opposed, with most seeing such an establishment as a welcome addition to the village high Street. Support also came from the local Campaign for Real Ale citing the wider community benefits that such an establishment can provide. 

The Parish Council 
However, Overton Parish Council had objected citing issues such as a possible increase in anti-social behaviour. In a statement that has raised some eyebrows they also stated they "wish to discourage any further opportunities to organise social drinking or beer festivals". 

The present inside

Noting that the village already has a number of pubs the Parish Council also expressed concern that:
"Creating yet another venue must run the risk of encouraging more alcohol consumption – which is not warranted in such a small village."

Concerns dealt with by owners
A few other residents expressed worries over parking and transport, potential noise and odours, all of which had been dealt with by the planners and the business owners.
During the meeting it was stressed how helpful the owners had been on considering local concerns in making adjustments to the plans, one main change being the removal of the rear outside seating area.
Planners have imposed a number of 'Conditions' which the owners must now comply with before work can commence.

Plans for the main building
The ground floor of the main building will contain comfortable seating including sofas and stools, along with the bar with 2 – 5 steel serving tanks, 5 – 7 taps, an area for preparing cocktails and space for fridge, dishwasher and sink. Upstairs is an area that can be "booked for private dining/ more intimate setting with mixture of sofas, bar stools..."

Two unisex WCs will also be upstairs and the brief included a request to the architect "To include area for makeup/hair etc." To the rear there is a long narrow stretch of land where, at the end, the micro-brewery and kitchen will be situated.

This will be a great addition to the village and we all look forward to the opening and a visit.

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

Historic Red House is falling derelict

Further deterioration is taking place at the Red House in Whitchurch as the Grade II Listed Building within the Conservation Area becomes an increasing eyesore on the street scene following the granting of an Appeal against a Change of Use.

An eyesore was predicted
This was predicted when the owner had previously promised to invest monies in the pub business from the building of housing on the car park evaporated into thin air.
Many feel they were hoodwinked as the owner subsequently applied for conversion of the pub to residential use.

While planners and Councillors objected from both Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council and Whitchurch Town Council along with many local residents to the loss of the public house, the applicant lodged an Appeal against their decision to refuse change of use.

Following a Government Inspector's site visit in July 2023 the Appeal was regrettably allowed.

The building is now becoming derelict
To date no work has yet been undertaken and the historic building continues to rot away to the town's dismay. However there is much in the Inspector's Report that refers to the importance of the historical value of the building and to its position within the Conservation Area and the Whitchurch street scene.

The Report states:

"The overall form and main façade of the appeal building is a key building within the CA (Conservation Area), and contributes to the character and appearance of the CA."

There are also strong references that the proposed works would "secure the building's repair and renovation" and that the new use would "constitute a significant public benefit".

Effect on nearby properties – and rats
And while the owner was wishing to make more monies the effect has probably had a negative effect of the values of nearby properties. There have even been reports of rats seen in the vicinity which cannot be good for health or value.

So when will those works commence?

Duty of Councils
Whilst the pub's use may be lost through the granting of the Appeal our Councils still have a duty towards the historic building. Local planning authorities have powers they can use, including compulsory purchase to remedy deliberate neglect or damage. Will they use them?

As the applicant has not commenced any work and the site is now virtually derelict, the question to our Councillors must now be how will retention of the historic building be accomplished?
What actions will be taken on the lack of progress and to prevent more of the structure falling into the street below and the town's character and heritage further lost?

Details of what can be actioned are here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-upkeep-and-repair-of-historic-building

 

 

What action will now be taken?

Support required to help Ecchinswell pub

A country village pub has applied to extend its premises to help it survive.
It makes a pleasant change to the more usual applications that call for changes of use and even demolition. 

The Royal Oak in Ecchinswell, a traditional village pub to the west of Kingsclere, has submitted plans to Basingstoke Borough Council.

Work required
The applicant says the pub was deteriorating and that the previous tenant went into liquidation in early 2023, resulting in closure of the pub.
Work is now required to bring the pub up to standard to ensure its survival, and to provide further dining capacity, kitchen space and staff accommodation. There are also plans to provide some guest accommodation and improved WC facilities which are all required to provide a viable long-term business.

Royal Oak is the village's only pub
Ecchinswell is a small village with few other facilities. The Royal Oak dates from the 17th century and is recognised as a 'notable building' within the village Conservation Area.
It is the only public house in the village, with the next nearest being in Kingsclere.

Communities lose out
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) figures show that last year 1,293 businesses closed and were lost to their communities while the Institute for Policy Research reports that pubs inject an average of £80,000 into their local communities.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Support for this application is sought
The Parish Council currently supports the application and at the time of writing this there are 9 Objections and 27 in Support.

However more comments to support a local business that could disappear would help.
Public houses maintain vitality in villages, provide social interaction, supply employment and economic benefits, combat loneliness and enhance well-being in a community, support rural tourism and provide a focal point for both local people and visitors.
Our pubs need all the help they can get.


The application can be seen here:
(To comment you will need to register)
https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S6C3GECRJY900&activeTab=summary

Famous Pub and Mural could be destroyed – Weyhill Fair

A pub that has a long history in the local pub and beer scene is at risk of being demolished and an amazing artwork mural lost if an application being placed before Test Valley Borough Council is approved.

The Weyhill Fair just outside Andover has been closed since January last year after a series of licensees ran the business following its sale to Fullers Smith & Turner, a brewery now owned by global brewing company Asahi of Japan. Fullers are also closing other pubs, including the Fox at Newfound.

Pub losses
The closure had left Weyhill without a pub with the nearby Star having closed some years ago and converted into a restaurant while the next nearest, The Bell, is also long term closed.  

The success of the Weyhill Fair
When a Free House under the ownership of Dave and Jan Rayner, the Weyhill Fair had been developed into one of the most successful real ale and good food pubs in the area.
Dave and Jan had become famous for being leaders in supporting independent breweries and had introduced also a very successful annual Beer and Music Festival that continued after they retired. 
Another casualty of this application may be the loss of use of the field to the Andover Whippet Club, a long time user of the land.

Award winning, but then Fullers came along
The pub had previously been awarded the coveted Wessex Campaign for Real Ale Pub of the Year as well as winning many local accolades. It became one of the longest running entries in the national Good Beer Guide, known by many as the "Beer Drinkers Bible" and was a regular venue for CAMRA meetings.
However under Fuller's ownership it has been far less successful as is often the case under companies with less local community commitment and who may wish to cash in on residential land values at the expense of community facilities.

THE APPLICATION

Plans for nine large houses
The planning application submitted for Rivendale Developments is for complete demolishment of the pub and the subsequent building of nine three and four bed dwellings.

The Sun Inn before its name change

The application shows little regard for the pub building and there has been no detail provided on whether any independent historic assessment has been carried out.
The present building seems to be at least 18th century and pictures from the turn of the century, when it was called The Sun, show at least the frontage largely unaltered from today. 

In addition the applicant's reports on marketing the pub have a bias towards future development of the site rather than it being placed for sale 'as a pub' or indeed as any other use.
The non-viability as a public house has therefore not been adequately shown.

These concerns are amongst those being made to Test Valley Borough Council.
The Council should not allow any change of use, let alone demolition without taking these critical issues into account. As such the application should be rejected.
Objections can be lodged here:
https://view-applications.testvalley.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SAECMNQCHO800&activeTab=summary

ANOTHER MAJOR CONCERN – the famous Mural

Of major concern is the potential loss of an amazing painted mural that covers a wall of the upstairs function room. Anyone using the room would have been awestruck by its content and quality.

The mural depicts the historic Weyhill Fair that was one of the country's largest sheep fairs in medieval times when over 100,000 sheep a day were traded. The Fair was also famous for trading by hops growers, and other farmstock goods. with traders travelling from all over the south of England to attend. 

The demolishing of this pub goes far further than just loss of an eating and drinking establishment.

The famous upstairs mural that covers one wall.

Thank you to Sian Coles for kind use of the above picture
©Sian Coles Photography https://www.siancolesphotography.co.uk/
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It could be saved
The proposed demolishing of the pub could see this tremendous piece of artwork lost forever.
With today's building technology that even allows whole buildings to be moved intact it is believed it could be saved and possibly become part of the nearby Weyhill Fairground Craft Centre or another community facility. 

The Mural must be Saved!
and
The Planning Application as submitted rejected

Objections can be lodged here:

https://view-applications.testvalley.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SAECMNQCHO800&activeTab=summary

New Bar and Microbrewery for Overton?

The rural village of Overton in Hampshire could see a brewery open as part of the plans for a new bar.

Plans have been submitted to Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council for a Change of Use to create a new bar with a micro-brewery and kitchen at No.7 High Street, a former hair and beauty salon (Hobbs).

The premises consists of a two-storey building that is believed to date from the 15th/16th centuries but has undergone significant changes although much of the timber framing remains. It is registered as a Listed Grade II building.
On one side is Mariners, a fish and chip shop, while on the other is a private home.

The brief from the owners to the architect was to create:

"A Microbrewery & Kitchen, marketed towards young professionals in the local and surrounding area"  and

"To be able to host beer festivals (including Oktoberfest), comedy nights, music performances, book clubs, quizzes etc."

Plans for the main building

The ground floor of the main building will contain comfortable seating including sofas and stools, along with the bar with 2 – 5 steel serving tanks, 5 – 7 taps, an area for preparing cocktails and space for fridge, dishwasher and sink.
Upstairs is an area that can be "booked for private dining/ more intimate setting with mixture of sofas, bar stools..."
Two unisex WCs will also be upstairs and the brief includes a request to the architect "To include area for makeup/hair etc."

At the rear a outdoor seating and a kitchen/brewery building
To the rear there is a long narrow stretch of land where the plans are to place an open seating area, a timber covered pathway, and a separate building at the 'bottom' housing the micro-brewery and kitchen with a pizza oven and potential for a 'shop window' for serving use.
The micro-brewery will be visible from the 'garden' area and will have facilities for tastings for up to four people.

Comments should be sent to Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council.
The application is No. 23/03104/FUL
There is also an application for Listed Building Consent, No.23/03105/LBC

https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=S5WKXQCRJQC00

The Kings Arms – and an ACV application

Whitchurch in Hampshire has a long history of supporting its public houses going back many centuries.

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 it has since grown considerably and is in line for much greater expansion, it has already lost the vast majority of those pubs and after recent closures only four now remain.

Request for registration
The next step in adding some 'protection' to one of the existing public houses moved forward after a request from local residents that the local Town Council submit a nomination to have The Kings Arms legally registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

Local residents did the work and paid costs!
The residents including members of the Campaign for Real Ale and the Campaign for Pubs supplied all the background information and legal documentation as completed the forms so all the Council had to do was to post off the paperwork.

 
No help with costs

Payments for the legally required plans and title details also came directly from local residents although it had been hoped the Town Council would have helped as the fees are relatively modest. They didn't; that was very disappointing, particularly as they had spent £250 on getting a certificate to say what good service they provide.

An ACV:

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

It can be a long process – but needn't be
Whitchurch Town Council had first been approached about a nomination back in June 2023. However it was not until November that the Councillors agreed to forward the details to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) who are responsible for designating ACVs.

That's a long time but it does raise the question as to whether changes to the national process are required.

Parish/Town Councils should be best placed to make nominations rather than individuals or voluntary groups as they already have wider community status as 'elected' bodies. Many have shown this to be true. However if other Councils took the time Whitchurch did it could mean pubs being unnecessarily lost.

 
Shortfalls taken to government
This latter point is currently being made to government resulting from concerns over planning at local level and has now been discussed in Parliament. 
Perhaps ALL pubs that have a recognised 'heritage value' should automatically have an ACV registration giving a community group the Right to Bid should Changes of Use be submitted or sale details be announced.
See: CHANGES TO PLANNING REGULATIONS NEEDED

But for the Kings Arms, the eventual submission of a nomination is at least a step forward in the right direction and those Councillors who do understand the value of the public house to a community are to be thanked.

We now wait on the Borough Council and it is hoped they will approve the registration. 

Update (late December 2023)

The Campaign for Real Ale Pubs Protection Officer has spoken at length with Basingstoke & Deane and it is hoped the result will be available later in January. 

It was a very positive discussion.

There is an excellent summary of ACVs here:
ACV PROTECTION

*As part of the requests residents also asked that an ACV be registered for Testbourne Swimming Pool. That too is proceeding.

Local action needed to Protect our Pubs

Can our own area follow suit in protecting our public houses?

The loss of many of our public houses such as those previously raised here is often caused by poor planning controls and a lack of understanding by local councils. Neighbourhoods, villages and communities are losing their public houses at an alarming rate. This has also been brought to the forefront of many minds following the national news coverage of the 'Crooked House' fiasco at Himley in the West Midlands.

The famous Crooked House, a historic pub, was sold and within days it was burnt down and demolished to the ground without it seems any planning permissions or input from the local community. An investigation is now underway and there have been arrests, while all that remains is a pile of bricks.

A threat that could devastate communities
The anger and realisation that our pub heritage is under a threat few had realised has pulled local people together to look at what may be at risk under their very noses. 

A West Midlands Combined Authority campaign along with CAMRA's List Your Local campaign to give greater protection to heritage pubs has received over 155 nominations in just three weeks.
The same needs to be instigated in all areas throughout the country.

List Your Local
The List Your Local campaign encourages residents to submit applications for Historic England and Asset of Community Value listing.

As well as reviewing historical sites, the review also explores how local plans can be better used to protect pubs and to ensure those that are illegally shut down or demolished are rebuilt "brick by brick".

Could this be extended?
Yes, and it is hoped so, perhaps in Test Valley and Basingstoke & Deane areas, as well as reaching out nationally.

BUT FIRST – firstly we need to identify the  pubs mostly at risk, those heritage pubs, community estate pubs, roadhouses.
Please contact us if you would like to help. Use the Contact Form.

Also previous article here:
CHANGES TO PLANNING REGULATIONS NEEDED