The Sunday Telegraph Sunday 26 May 2019 *** 5

GREAT BRITISH GETAWAYS simply Divine The Church of St Peter & St Paul in Hambledon

HAMBLEDON Bowled over by the village where was born

DOESN’T HAMBLEDON SO WHAT’S THE CLUB HAVE SOMETHING TO LIKE TODAY? DO WITH CRICKET? The club is now based at Ridge Meadow, just down the road from Ah yes, you must know your duck Broadhalfpenny Down. You’ll still from your rabbit and will likely be spot men in cricket whites and excitedly anticipating the England v hear cries of “owzat” and the patter of South Africa game that will launch polite applause on a summer’s day, us into the Cricket World Cup but the team are nowhere near as on Thursday. Indeed, the formidable as they once were. unassuming village of If you want to find out all Hambledon is considered Hambledon the details of the history, KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

the birthplace of the Cricket Club was then head to the PHOTOS FLICKR/DENMEAD GETTY; ALAMY; noble sport as we founded nearby Bat & Ball Inn, a distinctly know it (please do not in 1750 which is where the rules 2 miles BRitish sense WHERE DO I SOP stove. For a small extra cost Alex will offend aficionados by for the game were drawn of fun shuttle you to train claiming that it’s where the up (bats the width of the The Hambledon UP THE FIZZ? station, to save on your carbon sport originated, rather it’s wicket were outlawed!) and Hilly is one of the The aforementioned Bat & Ball has an footprint, and provide you with maps where the rules of the provides refreshments for toughest 10k appealing menu of classic English of the best walking routes in the modern game were players to this day. It’s UNITED races in the dishes, such as slow-braised lamb area. A breakfast basket of organic drawn up). now a Fuller’s pub KINGDOM South of shoulder shepherd’s pie alongside local produce is delivered to your At some point in the (batandballclanfield. England. Every more exotic items like curried hut in the morning for you to cook late 18th the co.uk), but cricket September monkfish with tarka dahl or falafel up on your campfire outside (or on planets aligned to create a memorabilia lines the walls lots of eager with tabbouleh and chilli jam (mains the stove if it’s raining). phenomenal cricket team and you can still sink a pint in London competitors from £8.50). Alternatively head into from the farmers and shepherds the original part of the pub Reading list clamour to the village itself (Broadhalfpenny Winchester GLAMPING REALLY that inhabited this tiny pocket of where the legendary Richard The poet Edward take part in this Down is a little on a limb) and try Hambledon . In fact, so exceptional Nyren, who captained the Thomas (above) uphill struggle, the Vine pub for a traditional ISN’T FOR ME were their batting and bowling skills championing team, was once lived in nearby which ends with Sunday roast with all the If you can’t cope with the that in the period between 1772 and landlord. Steep and his a knees-up. trimmings and a helping of idea of no electricity and 1796 the team played 39 matches walks in the Entry is open sticky toffee pudding would rather a against the all-England team and I’M AFRAID CRICKET Hampshire South for this year’s (mains from £10.95; conventional hotel won 23 of them, making their as that in the Côtes de Blanc. Now Downs inspired event (September thevinehambledon.co.uk). then head to Langrish unremarkable green on ALWAYS LEAVES ME Hambledon Vineyard owns 200 acres much of the 21; hambledon House Hotel (telegraph. Broadhalfpenny Down the Lords of STUMPED of vines in the surrounding area and nature poetry in hilly.com). AND WHERE DO I co.uk/tt-langrish-house- its day. creates Champagne-quality English his Collected The hotel), a picturesque Well in that case you’ll probably sparkling wine. It’s delicious stuff Poems. John SLEEP IT ALL OFF? vineyard 20-minute drive away. Not HAMPSHIRE? I enjoy Hambledon’s other claim to and in a blind tasting it stands up Major is a big fan By far the most is the oldest only will you find hot fame. It’s home to the oldest against the best of the French (in and explores the convenient place to stay commercial running water and THOUGHT HAMBLEDON commercial vineyard in the UK 2015 the Classic Cuvée came out first history of his to enjoy the village, the vineyard in plug sockets here, but WAS IN SURREY? (hambledonvineyard.co.uk). The in a blind tasting by Noble Rot favourite game, Bat and Ball pub and the the UK you’ll be treated to some first 10 acres of vines were planted magazine, ahead of Pol Roger, including the vineyard is a glamping site exceptional food in the Don’t make the mistake that a 1908 here in 1952, but it wasn’t until Ian Taittinger and Veuve Clicquot). You legends around called Wriggly Tin Shepherd’s restaurant and an enthusiastic cricket team did and head Kellett took over in 1999 that the can rock up here at any time and buy the Hambledon Huts (wrigglytinhuts.co.uk). This welcome from the Talbot- erroneously to the identically named focus turned to the champagne grape a case or two of fizz, but to discover Club in More is by no means slumming it as there Ponsonbys who have had this scattered village in Surrey varieties of meunière, pinot noir and more about the method traditionale than a Game: the is exceptional attention to detail from characterful house in their family (apparently they got into a right chardonnay. And they thrived – the that’s employed it’s worth taking a Story of Cricket’s the jovial owner Alex Evans. The huts since Victorian times. pickle trying to turn their turn-of- pure chalk soil here is 65 million two-hour tour, which rounds off with Early Years. themselves are full of vintage chic and the-century vehicles around). years old and is the same grade of soil a tasting. are cosy thanks to a wood-burning Antonia Windsor