CAMRA’S NATIONAL OF THE YEAR

SOUTH BRANCH OF THE

ISSUE 86 SPRING 2019

HOP PRESS

CONTENTS:

Editorial 4 - 6 Branch Contacts 6 Pub News 8 - 15 ' of the Year,' from branch to nation 16-17 ACVs - A Force for Good? 18 Destruction goes on ... 20-21 What can I do for WhatPub? 21 Competition Crossword 24-25 Vibrant Forest Brewery 25 Join CAMRA 26

Editor: Pat O’Neill 1 Surbiton Road Eastleigh Hants, SO50 4HY Tel: 023 8064 2246 Email: [email protected] Branch web site: www.shantscamra.org.uk

© CAMRA Limited 2018, 2019

SPRING 2019 3 Editorial his issue’s cover shows, unusually, a Chequers, at Little Grandeson in pub from outside of our branch area. and the Volunteer Arms TThe Wonston Arms, north of over the border at Musselburgh in . Winchester in the hamlet of Wonston, is perhaps just a mile into the territory of our Meanwhile, the cycle continues, and the neighbours, the northern Hampshire branch. branch has just selected its champion for But it certainly commands and deserves its 2019; as revealed further on in this edition. front-page status having just been awarded CAMRA’s top pub accolade as ‘National The unexpected announcement, earlier in Pub of the Year’ for 2018. the year, of Japanese multinational mega- brewer, Asahi, acquiring the production arm The Campaign has selected an individual of one of our oldest established real ale Pub of the Year annually for more than three brewers, Fullers, has naturally raised alarm; decades, but this is the first ever to be from but it also seems very puzzling. the county of Hampshire, so our heartiest congratulations to landlord Matt Todd (also Fuller’s Griffin Brewery, in Chiswick, is featured in our cover picture). crammed onto a crowded, riverside site in early 19th century buildings, with dreadful Only four years ago, the Wonston Arms was road access, which the family brewers closed, empty and derelict; all looked bleak themselves claim they only stuck with for for beer drinkers in the village, but Matt ‘sentimental reasons.’ This seems a curious took up the gauntlet, bought the premises starting point for Asahi’s boss, Hector and reopened, with this success as the result. Gorosabel, to choose to: ‘unlock the Matt’s small pub, which he runs pretty much potential of Fuller’s cask brands as a one-man band, is a hive of local internationally.’ community activity. Jazz and folk groups, a photography club, quizzers, darts players – In a sense Fullers themselves had only just all have their part. Local charities have become complete, with their recent already benefited by more than £25,000 acquisition of the Dark Star operation in from many events centred around the pub . The Fullers core range, together and like a beacon it has attracted a loyal with the Gales beers (taken over in 2005 and following of local food vendors providing in the opinion of many, improved) are very fish and chip, pizza and curry nights. much traditional English style ales and the Dark Star beers have added exactly the One word of caution for readers intending to modern, hop predominant flavours needed visit, as Matt runs the pub very much on his to complete a well-balanced portfolio. own it presently has shorter hours than some: currently just evenings on weekdays (5-8 Mondays, 5-10 Tuesdays-Fridays) and In 2002 Gordon Brown, chancellor in Tony from noon-10 at weekends. Blair’s new government, introduced a little noticed, technical, measure – small brewery Runners-up to the Wonston Arms were the relief (SBR). Under SBR, brewers of less Cricketers in St Helens on , the than 5000 hectolitres per year only pay 50%

4 SPRING 2019 HOPPRESS ISSUE 86 of normal beer duty (5000hl is still some national pub stock. thousand nine-gallon firkins each month). In 2018 there were 914 pubs lost to closure – In the years since 2002, SBR has had a admittedly about a quarter less than in 2017 dramatic effect, the number of small brewers but the total, on January 1st this year, of increasing nearly five-fold from 400 to 41,536, is still on a trajectory, in the next almost 2000. Whether the government decade, to fall to below a half of the expected this is not clear – many other EU 70,000+ total of on-licences that persisted countries have had similar rules for years throughout the 1950s and 1960s. And, of but, crucially, do not have our extremes of course, is unimaginable in comparison to beer taxation. The trade itself has seen the Victorian times when many terraced streets effects though – many small(ish) producers were practically wall-to-wall beer houses! are claiming that SBR is giving too much price advantage to the very small. The Optimists will point out that, for example, in dispute is even producing a rift within, the 1956 with a population then of only 44.5 Society of Independent Brewers, to the million there was only 620 people for every extent that a breakaway group, SBDRC – licensee (and in the male pub ethos of the Small Brewers Duty Reform Group, is now 1950s, no more than 310 or so men!) but actively campaigning to have SBR now, with over 66 million inhabitants it is reformed. Even the Fullers' deal, already well over 1900 (of all sexual mentioned, has been linked to upward price predispositions) per licence. But the competition from these micro-brewers! optimists do not follow up with reasons why the closures continue… Despite their other troubles, the government has noticed this industry agitation, and with As the pub decline goes on, by contrast over eight billion pounds coming from beer brewery numbers – perhaps as a result of the duty, are, not surprisingly, taking a keen SBR mentioned above – are still increasing: interest. A ‘consultation period’ with the 2,274 (!) at the start of the year. Such a figure industry was set up in January and ended in has not been seen for nearly a century, not March; but the autumn budget must be since the early 1920s. However, this awaited to see what changes might result. increase is also finally having the brakes applied. Whilst small brewers watch anxiously to interpret the mind of the chancellor, The appearance of so many tasty new publicans look on, equally concerned with brewers, often with specialised beer styles, policy changes that may be applied to the is attracting buyers from the bigger (often rating system. Amounting, by a quirk of the much bigger) fish in this ocean. In calculation scheme for pubs, to sometimes alone, Asahi have acquired Meantime at twice the percentage of turnover that some Greenwich (and now Dark Star), Kirin has other high street businesses endure. This is Fourpure at Bermondsey, Heineken have one burden still considered by many as a key Brixton and Tottenham’s Beavertown factor in the continuing attrition of the while ABInBev (Budweiser) has Camden.

SPRING 2019 5 Older members of the local CAMRA branch Want to contact us? and perhaps even some general Hop Press The Southern Hampshire Branch of CAMRA readers may recognise this photograph of has some seventeen hundred members and is Mike Porter. run by an elected committee. Some of their specific responsibilities are listed here (This From Eastleigh, a year’s AGM is in mid-May so some posts CAMRA member since may change/be filled but messages will be the ‘70s, he would always forwarded appropriately). Please feel free to be active around our beer contact anyone with queries or information. festivals and events. Mike Chairman: Deric Payne moved to west in 023 8089 0080 Mobile: 07821 815986 2013 and soon became very active in, and eventually chairman of, Secretary: Kevin Wooton the Pembroke branch of CAMRA. Mobile: 07708 698318 Membership Secretary: David Pritchard Now we are shocked and saddened to report 023 8061 3459 th Mike’s death. at 77, on February 4 , after a Treasurer: David Etheridge very short and sudden illness. He will be Social Secretary: Andy Burrows very greatly missed. Mobile: 07540 189807 Press & Publicity: Post vacant And finally: The prestigious scientific Hop Press Editor: Pat O'Neill journal Nature recently carried an intriguing 023 8064 2246 report of research in California that could give a whole new meaning to the phrase: Cider Representative: Post vacant “I’ll just have my usual pint pot, please.” ‘LocAle’ Coordinator: Phil Rosenthal Mobile: 07505 094544 By genetic modification researchers have Webmasters: Alex Presland & Pete Horn altered brewers’ yeast so that instead of [email protected] consuming sugar and then producing a There is also now a Facebook Group for the waste product of alcohol their new yeast can branch, open to both members and non- produce two related chemicals – THC and members. To join look on Facebook at: CBD. The first, tetrahydrocannabinol, shantscamra may be familiar to some readers as the psychoactive ‘high’ in cannabis, eagerly HOPPRESS sought by pot smokers. The second however Advertising Rates is cannabidiol a non-psychoactive If you would like to advertise in this publication please ring Neil substance that many researchers believe has Richards MBE on 01536 358670 or email: [email protected] huge medicinal potential – as a pain reliever Advertising Rates are: and particularly as a seizure suppressant Mono Full Colour 1/4 Page £70 £80 amongst other things. Could big pharma 1/2 Page £130 £145 someday soon be in the market for our Full Page £230 £260 Inside Covers £280 breweries! Outside Back £300

6 SPRING 2019 HOPPRESS ISSUE 86

Pub News by Rob Whatley Woodgreen North Gorley An attempt by locals to purchase the Horse Nearby in North Gorley, a 250-year-old oak and Groom at Woodgreen from owners Hall tree outside the Royal Oak had to be felled as it and Woodhouse was not successful. But, the was suffering from fungus and rot. Some good news is that it will continue as a pub after sections of the trunk could, in the future, be it was taken over by Jason Schinkel, who also used for table tops in the pub. About 10 years runs the Bat and Ball in Breamore and the ago one of the acorns from the tree was planted Radnor Arms in Salisbury. He also ran Greene near to the pub and is doing well. King’s Cricketers in Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh for eight years. At the time of writing, some East Tytherley minor works were taking place in preparation The Star is currently closed for some for the reopening. refurbishment, we are not sure of the schedule so it may be open again by publication day. The pub was not open over Christmas so, to enable residents to continue enjoying a Ringwood sociable seasonal beverage, a ‘pop-up’ pub was An application to extend the licensed area of set up at the village’s St Boniface Church. The the listed Crown Tap in Ringwood was ‘Room at the Inn’ bar proved so popular that granted, as was planning permission for a the Reverend Nicky Davies decided it should reduction in the size of the rear extension, a continue, on Friday evenings and Saturday smoking shelter and fenestration alterations. lunchtimes. The church is just opposite the Horse and Groom. Avon Continuing south, the New Queen at Avon Fordingbridge closed just before Christmas. The restaurant Staying in the north-west of the Forest, the area has 140 covers. The lease of the freehouse licensee of the George in Fordingbridge made was made available by owners, the Avon headlines when she remarked upon the varying Tyrrell Estate. levels of control that parents exercise over their children while visiting the pub. Perhaps in the Hinton future family groups will stay outside and We noted in the last edition that the East Close make use of the two jumbrellas for which Hotel and Conqueror Inn were due to close in retrospective planning permission has been October. Since the closure we see that the granted. Conqueror is now offered to let. Also, in Fordingbridge, the Crown in the High New Milton Street suffered from a chimney fire in January, In New Milton we see that the name of the which took 90 minutes to contain. Rydal Arms has changed to the Walker Arms, in recognition of a previous landlady, Gladys Ibsley Walker, who ran the pub for a half-century Further south, on the A338, the at Old Beams from 1951 to 2001! The pub has been taken Ibsley closed at the beginning of the year. The over by Patrick Riley and will be run by Dave pub is owned by Greene King and had recently Kesterton and Jason Walters. By the time you been refurbished. are reading this, the pub should be open again following a three-week refurbishment.

8 SPRING 2019 HOPPRESS ISSUE 86 Pub News by Rob Whatley Milford-on-Sea Lymington, would sell healthy food, coffee and On the coast, an application to build one pair of ‘expensive wine.’ semi-detached houses and two detached houses with associated access, parking and We are used to pubs hosting music, pub quizzes landscaping on land to the rear of the White or meetings of local pressure groups but the Horse at Milford was still to be decided at the Boson’s Chair is hosting a more unusual time of writing. Owners Ei Group put the pub gathering, a singles group. It usually meets on up for sale, but it was registered as an Asset of the last Wednesday of the month Community Value. The Grade II listed pub has been closed for some time and no community Walhampton On the outskirts of Lymington, the groups expressed an interest in running the pub now offers before the 17 December deadline. Walhampton Arms accommodation in five converted stable rooms. Barton on Sea In January there was a fire that started in the The Cliff House in Barton has undergone a chimney and spread to the roof. Fortunately, it substantial refurbishment which has occurred in daytime and was brought under quadrupled the size of the bar area. control within the hour. Lymington Bowling Green We mentioned in the last edition that there were An application has been submitted to extend various changes planned by the licensees of the the boundary of the licenced area at the Mill at Borough Arms in Lymington, Debbie and Carl Gordleton. The application also asks to Millward. The pub has now reopened increase the number of private functions and following a £300,000 refurbishment. Both the outdoor live music events each year. The interior and exterior of the pub have been given application was made by Upham Pub a revamp and a new kitchen has been installed. Company Limited, who are now concentrating on their pub estate following the recent closure Moving towards the town centre, large adverts of the Upham Brewery. were placed in the Lymington Times pointing out that a licensee was required for the Black It is now more than a year since the Wheel Inn Cat. This would involve reverting to a previous at Bowling Green reopened after being taken name for the pub that most recently traded as over by the local community. During the last 12 the Fusion Inn. The advert also stated that a month the pub has undergone a complete ‘transformational refurbishment’ is planned. refurbishment, both internal and external much The pub remains shut at the time of writing. of it by local volunteers. Nearby, an application to paint the exterior of Meanwhile, in mid-April, there was a small fire the Thomas Tripp was granted. in electrical wiring at the community run A controversial licensing application was Wheel Inn. Quickly dealt with, it was found submitted by the owner a café attached to a hair that the cabling at fault was for the pub’s fire salon. Despite a number of objections alarm system… permission was granted to sell alcohol until 9pm every day. The applicant, Stuart Knowles, Setley A little to the north, the Filly Inn at Setley said that the Yard Café, within Guy Kremer came under new management in the autumn.

SPRING 2019 9 Pub News by Rob Whatley An application for a large variety of external PegasusLife intend to submit a revised signage and lighting was refused in November. application to New Forest National Park A new application was submitted in February. planners. The hotel closed in 2014. Also submitted was a request for a first-floor rear extension, fencing and associated A licensing application has been submitted for landscaping. 23 High Street by Renoufs Wine Bars. At the time of writing the premises is trading as Tea Brockenhurst Total. There are currently Renoufs wine bars On the outskirts of Brockenhurst, permission operating in Bournemouth, Wimborne and was granted for an extension to the car parking Southbourne. area of the Forest Park Hotel. Permission has also been granted for extensions to the Minstead property, the conversion of (hopefully large!) It’s not only pubs that are closing across the store rooms into staff accommodation and the county, many village shops also face an demolition of an existing conservatory. uncertain future. The village shop in Minstead closed last summer after 250 years of trading. Burley Now a group of villagers are hoping to open a In Burley, the Queens Head underwent a shop in a storeroom at the Trusty Servant pub. significant, six figure, refurbishment at the end It is hoped that this shop, which will be staffed of last year. The revamp was sympathetic to the by volunteers, will start trading in the summer. many unusual features of the 17th century building which means that it does not have the Beaulieu same corporate feel of some of the other pubs There is a new head chef at the Montagu in Greene King’s Chef and Brewer chain. Arms. Matthew Whitfield, who is originally from , returns to the Montagu Emery Down Arms after spending time abroad working in In December the Swan at Swan Green suffered Michelin starred restaurants. There was a from an early morning flood. Despite parts of chimney fire in January but fortunately the the pub being under several inches of water, it local fire station is only 50 yards away. A was able to reopen in the evening. request for various internal alterations connected to the accommodation was granted Lyndhurst in March. In the centre of nearby Lyndhurst, the management of the Fox and Hounds were Calshot awarded first prize in the Best County/Village Some readers will remember the Flying Boat Pub category at the annual award ceremony of pub that was in the former officers’ mess of the owners, Fullers. RAF Calshot. The pub is long closed and recent attempts to get permission to construct On the eastern edge of the village centre, the seven new homes on the site were refused. saga of the future of the Lyndhurst Park Some five years previously permission had Hotel continues. An appeal against the most been granted for a hotel but work on this recent refusal, which was due to be heard in project had not been started. The reasons for January, was withdrawn by owners the refusal included the absence of affordable PegasusLife shortly before the hearing was due or social housing. to take place. The latest news is that

10 SPRING 2019 HOPPRESS ISSUE 86 Pub News by Rob Whatley Holbury trading again in April. Planning applications The Bridge Tavern at Ipers Bridge, Holbury associated with the pub reopening include the has been partially demolished. It closed in provision of a children’s play area and a 2014 and two years ago National Park planners marquee for use during the summer. gave permission for the demolition of the 20th century additions to the building and their Chilworth replacement with a matching two storey The Chilworth Arms welcomed a new addition as part of a private house. manager, James Miller, last autumn. The focus is still on food, though music and fundraising Marchwood events are also on the menu. A little off the A326, the Bold Forester in Beaulieu Road, Marchwood underwent a Romsey significant six-week refurbishment last There is little sign of the Abbey Hotel autumn. The carvery has been removed and the reopening any time soon. Meanwhile, the dining area now consists of a number of Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical separate areas of various sizes. The real ales on Parish of St Mary and St Ethelflaeda, Romsey offer at the bar usually include at least one has been granted permission to sell alcohol for Ringwood beer and a guest ale. consumption on the premises every day between the hours of noon and 11pm at the Totton actual Abbey, after which the hotel is named. The Players in Water Lane, remains closed, it has been shut now for two years. Owners, The Sun Inn in Winchester Road has been Wellington Pub Company, said that they were refurbished. The American theme has been trying to sell it as a pub but had not had any replaced by a more traditional pub feel. realistic offers although they had refused offers Yet more planning applications have been to buy the land for ‘alternative uses.’ submitted for the Cromwell Arms. The latest, Cadnam which was partially retrospective, for an The three brothers who at one time ran the Sir extension to the patio area, external seating John Barleycorn at Cadnam, have been jailed plus changes to the external lighting, was after being found guilty of a £3.2m VAT scam. granted subject to conditions. Shahab Haashtroudi and his brothers Shahin and Hedayat ran various companies including Braishfield the Alcatraz Pub Company. They had also A little to the north, an application for a single previously been involved with the Hobler, storey side extension and a paved patio area at Battramssley and the aforementioned Old the Wheatsheaf at Braishfield has been Beams at Ibsley. granted. Nursling Michelmersh We reported in the last edition that permission In a heart-warming act, the former manager of had been granted to build three three-bedroom the nearby Bear and Ragged Staff in houses and two two-bedroom houses on land Michelmersh, Jo Clark, wrote to the Romsey belonging to the Four Horseshoes at Nursling. Advertiser to say thank you to all the customers The resulting funds are to be used to reopen the who had visited during her 16 years at the pub. pub. It was hoped that the pub would start

SPRING 2019 11 Pub News by Rob Whatley Timsbury the new bar, which was formerly a bank. Just a bit further up the main A3057, the Malthouse is closed, undergoing a On the eastern side of the village the Brewery refurbishment. It is due to reopen in June as the Bar is, at the time of writing, closed for some re-named Goat. refurbishment but the details are not at the moment known to us. Kimbridge Nearby, Hampshire company Ideal Collection, Netley which readers may recognise as the proprietors The micro-pub movement continues to spread of other local pubs including the White Horse like a rash, now reaching Victoria Road in in Otterbourne and the Bugle in Hamble, added Netley where a licence has just been granted a new outlet to its portfolio in October. It is for the Netley Tap in premises that were now running Kimbridge Barn, which was formerly a Co-op convenience store. They are previously trading as Annie’s Kitchen and Tea hoping to be open by August. Rooms. It reopened in December following a £300,000 refit. Hedge End To continue this theme, there could soon be a Eastleigh new outlet in Hedge End. An application has There are three new outlets in the Borough of been submitted to convert what was a card shop Eastleigh. In the town centre, The Chalet at 5 Lower Northam Road into a micro-pub. opened at the beginning of November in the The applicants include Russel Clarke, the High Street premises that was previously home owner of Southampton’s Tapit micro-brewery. to JKS Winebar. The décor has a smart skiing chalet theme, with wood panelling (and an Durley A few miles to the north, an application to build illuminated reindeer!). Four handpumps offer a a dwelling on land west of the changing range of beers usually sourced from Farmers Home was submitted in October. Fullers and local brewers.

What was Chimichanga in the Swan Centre is Upham now Hancock’s American Kitchen and Bar. The Brushmakers Arms in Upham was It is the latest in a chain of six across , nominated in the Countryside Alliance Oscar and Hampshire. There is no real ale. Awards. It is a regional finalist and after a judge Older readers may recall that after the town’s has visited the pub the regional winners will be Regal Cinema closed in the 1980’s it housed a announced in May. The regional winners will bar called Hancocks. then be invited to Parliament for the national finals. Botley In Eastleigh’s southern Parishes, a new venue Colden Common to enjoy Cracklerock beers has opened in In Colden Common, permission has been Botley High Street. The CrackleRock Tap granted for new signage at the ACV listed Room is on the other side of High Street from Rising Sun. the brewery’s previous outlet. On a November Sunday night, at closing time, customers of the Twyford old venue picked up the furniture and took it to A little to the north, the Bugle in Twyford was offered for sale with a guide price of

12 SPRING 2019 HOPPRESS ISSUE 86 Pub News by Rob Whatley £1,495,000 in November, as expected, as the November at a price of £700,000. The pub was owner moved attention to Crawley’s long- part of the Little Pub Group run by Jayne closed Fox and Hounds. Gillin, which also includes the nearby Mucky Duck (one-time White Swan) in Hyde Street. Crawley Lenny Carr-Roberts has now reopened his new Continuing around the ring road, permission venture in Crawley. Perhaps reflecting modern has been granted to convert the former Mash times, the Fox no longer has any following Tun, which has traded as El Sabio Tapas Bar hounds. However, considerable amounts have more recently, into five flats. A planning officer clearly been spent on the quality of took the decision under delegated powers and refurbishment. accepted that the closure of El Sabio showed the site was ‘unviable as a pub or restaurant.’ Bighton Visitors taking in the great view from the beer The ongoing saga of the English Partridge at garden of the Bishop on the Bridge may now Bighton took a new twist when an application see a pergola, outbuildings and associated for a B&B was submitted last year. The works if planning permission is granted. The application stated, ‘The existing use of the pub was closed at the time of writing and likely English Partridge is a public house. The to remain so for some weeks to allow other application seeks to confirm that the proposed internal and external refurbishment to take use of the first and second floors to provide 3 place. rooms for B&B accommodation is ancillary to the primary use of the building.’ The outcome A long-closed pub could see a resurrection. is still awaited. Plans for a major development of the Station Approach area are currently being formulated. Cheriton As part of the plans, it is being suggested that A major news story for this quiet village. Do the former registry office, which was you have a spare couple of million in your back previously the South Western Inn before it pocket? If so, a delight awaits in Cheriton, the closed in 1992, could be extended to form a bar whole pub and brewery complex at the or restaurant. Flowerpots has been put up for sale (by Christies) as a going concern at ‘offers over Moving into the High Street, the bar and £1,750,000.’ The pub represents roughly a restaurant that was Piquant has reopened as third of this value and the award-winning the Roxbury. It opened in January, three 10-barrel brewery two thirds. months after the previous venture at the premises, Piquant, closed. On opening, the Winchester Facebook page promised ‘street food, live Just outside the city centre, Alfred’s Brewery music and a wide selection of event nights...’ celebrated the opening of its new, larger premises in October. The new brewery is Back to the city’s eastern outskirts, Derek and located just off Easton Lane in Winnall. Brid Phelan of the Golden Lion in Alresford Road won a prize in recognition of the floral Customers and users of the ring road will be displays that adorn the pub and grounds at an familiar with the Corner House (formerly the awards evening by owners, Wadworth. Other Foresters), halfway down North Walls, which winners from our local area were Phill Butler was put up for sale by owners Greene King in and Freya Loveless of the Green Dragon in SPRING 2019 13 Pub News by Rob Whatley Brook for Best Turnaround Pub, Jade and John Two doors down, at 136, Sharkeys Sports Bar Whitfield of the Cleveland Bay in Chandler’s is due to open in spring 2019 in what was Ford for Best Managed House Marketing Pub, previously Moss Bros. There is a similar venue for which Steve Cooper of the Humble Plumb with the same name already trading in in Bitterne received the runners up award. Bournemouth. Kings Worthy We note that Mettricks, which is a bar as well North of the city, applications have been as a coffee outlet, has a new majority submitted for refurbishment and new signage shareholder in the form of Winchester-based at the Cart and Horses. The changes would Coffee Lab. The new arrangement also covers result in a new entrance lobby, new windows the Woolston outlet. and doors, a new bar and internal design Almost opposite what was at one time another changes, refurbishment and relocation of a Mettricks outlet in the High Street, the disabled toilet plus the replacement of Crammed Inn finally opened in October. It is illuminated and non-illuminated signs. located in what was Oceans gift shop. The man A more unusual planning application was in charge is Matt Lucker, who has previously submitted to city planners by the King been at the Dolphin in St Denys and Tramstop Charles. The request, which was granted, was in Portswood. A changing range of mostly local to ‘reduce the new growth’ of trees, fairly ales are available from the three handpumps. routine, maybe, but not the reason given which As with many of the recently opened smaller was: ‘…to reduce the production of apples.’ pubs and bars, opening hours vary throughout the week so check first to avoid Southampton: City Centre disappointment. A Southampton pub that is a popular venue for live rock music, is set to close. The Southampton: Oxford Street Firehouse, which is hidden behind Above Bar The Nook Bar & Kitchen has opened in what in Vincents Walk, is set to be replaced by a new was most recently Casa Brazil in Havelock building containing 39 flats. This is just the Chambers, Queens Terrace, on the corner with latest in a number of schemes that has seen an Latimer Street. The owners, Boozy Berry Ltd, increase in the amount of accommodation in say the venue will be open daily from 8am to the city centre, which does have the advantage midnight. There is also the provision for live of providing more potential trade for the music. venues that survive. More than 3,000 people In Oxford Street itself, an application to signed a petition against the plans. Some enlarge the pavement seating area outside the positive news is that the manager of the White Star was rejected by city planners. The Firehouse is actively looking for another venue reason given was that the extension would, ‘… where they will be able to continue to provide not leave sufficient ‘footway’ left (sic), which entertainment for lovers of rock music. would result in potential conflict and Further up Above Bar, The Neighbourhood obstruction to pedestrian flow in this busy bar restaurant closed late last year. It opened in street, especially during the evenings and 2015. Owners, Faucet Inn Group, went into weekends.’ administration last summer. Another Oxford Street venue, Cargo, has

14 SPRING 2019 HOPPRESS ISSUE 86 Pub News by Rob Whatley closed as part of the fall-out of the financial following a successful licence application. problems of owners Faucet Inn group. Southampton: Mount Pleasant Southampton: Bedford Place It is not so pleasant to report the sudden closure Just off Bedford Place, the owners ofBrewDog of the Old Farmhouse after an EHO were offering a free bottle of their alcohol-free (environmental health officer) inspection beer Subwooofer IPA on Valentine’s Day for resulted in a food hygiene rating of 0! The pub every customer who ordered a pint of Punk IPA has now appeared on Savills’ list as available while accompanied by their dog. Subwooofer leasehold at £395,000. IPA is an alcohol-free, hop-free, non- carbonated beer (?) with 'additional Southampton: Portswood ingredients' that are claimed to be 'beneficial to Also with extended hours is the Crafty Fox in dogs'. Portswood. It can now open until midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Objections The owners of Heartbreakers are behind a new were raised by some local residents but the venue, XOXO, in Bedford Place. It is hoped to authorities agreed with the pub owner’s claims become a popular brunch destination, and, in that many nearby pubs were allowed to trade the evenings, it will have a late-night bar. The until midnight and that the extended hours premises previously housed Shrimp and would allow the Crafty Fox to compete on a Burger. level playing field and would not significantly add to the volume of pedestrian traffic in the Southampton: Shirley area. However, plans to create an outside At the top of the High Street, the former seating area were refused because of its impact Crown which has more recently been a Paddy on the width of the public highway and Power betting shop, was hit by a fire late last potential noise issues. The Crafty Fox occupies year. At the time the ex-pub was covered in a former Costa Coffee outlet. (See article scaffolding. The fire appeared to start on the Destruction Goes on... elsewhere in this issue.) first floor then spread to the roof. Southampton: Highfield In Regents Park Road the, Regents Park Hotel We finish with news of a new world record. On closed in mid-April for a massive £412,000 Thursday 29th November 21 pubs in the refurbishment from owners Heineken (Star Brewhouse and Kitchen chain joined together Pubs and Bars) and the operators Marion and for an attempt on the world record for the Don Healy. Re-opening is scheduled for before world’s largest beer tasting event. The the end of May when it will assume its Highfield outlet was one of the participating modified new name of just the Regents Park. venues. Guinness World Records confirmed The Healys are looking to provide a genuine that a new benchmark had been achieved, with community pub with increased games and 1,264 people undertaking a synchronised beer function area and increased garden space; the tasting. new manager will be Southamptonian Lee Slaymaker. If you have any news about pub openings, change of landlords, closures, or other Southampton: Bevois Valley interesting items, please let us know at: In Bevois Valley, the Shooting Star is now [email protected] able to sell alcohol until 3.00am every day

SPRING 2019 15 ‘Pubs of the Year,’ ur cover image for this edition is of As the Editorial mentions, the Wonston the Campaign for Real Ale’s Arms is the first Hampshire pub to be ONational ‘Pub of the Year’ for selected in the 31 years of the competition; 2018, the Wonston Arms, just north of the previous nearest was in 1990, the Bell at Winchester. Although, perhaps confusingly, Aldworth in north , a lovely not announced until now, early 2019. village inn dating, astonishingly, from CAMRA takes a very convoluted and time- 1340. consuming path to arrive at this result. For the 2019 round, the Southern The annual competition to select, what we Hampshire branch completed its selection consider, the best pub in the land was at the start of March and our winner this initiated more than 30 years ago, in 1988, year is one of our new breed of micro-pubs, and involves three quite independent the Steel Tank Alehouse in Chandler’s judging stages. At the start of each year, Ford; they were presented with the members of the 200 plus branches in Great certificate at an evening of capacity ‘one in, Britain can all vote to produce a short list of one out’ trading on Wednesday, April 17th. pubs within their branch area (in Southern Hampshire’s case, four). These are then visited, anonymously, at differing times over several weeks, by branch member volunteers (again we use four). They assess the pubs against a broad set of criteria established by CAMRA nationally – for beer quality, obviously, but also on such aspects as ambiance, service, welcome, décor and involvement in local activities.

The sum of all these judges’ scores establishes the branch’s ‘Pub of the Year;’ around February/March of the year. Branch selections then pass on to CAMRA’s sixteen regional areas where a wholly new Adam Beale (left) being presented with his set of inspectors, selected from throughout ‘Pub of the Year’ certificate by the the region also visit (again anonymously) to competition organiser and long-time arrive at a regional winner. Finally, the branch committee member, Alex Presland. regional winners all go through to a third, nation-wide contest, judged by yet another The Steel Tank is in the Chandler’s Ford group of predominantly CAMRA National Precinct, at number 1, occupying the Committee or National Executive members former HSBC bank site, still famed for an to (at last!) produce our deliberation on that armed shootout in 2007 when metropolitan year’s Pub of the Year, by which time the robbers, attempting a heist, were fatally year is pretty much over… thwarted by a police stakeout. The rhyming 16 SPRING 2019 HOPPRESS ISSUE 86 from Branch to Nation slang name seemed the only one possible in the circumstances of such a pre-history!

The Steel Tank has bloomed in Chandler’s Ford as an outpost of interesting, small brewery real ales, real ciders and some of the more interesting craft keg beers now so much in vogue. An important added plus is the depth of knowledge of the owners and staff of the products they sell. For customers wanting to try a good selection of the (usually six) unusual micro-brewery ales, the pub will serve them in third pints. Adding to the Steel Tank’s convenience the Southampton-Winchester bus (Bluestar no 1) service passes outside and Southampton- Romsey train services are only minutes away at the station in Hursley Road!

SPRING 2019 17 ACVs – A Force for Good? Pete Horn n ACV is an Asset of Community At this point you might think all well and Value. Once a council designates good as the owners had no intention of selling Asomewhere, a pub for instance, as an the pub except to sitting pub tenants but even ACV then any proposed sale is delayed by up so the rumours continued along with the to six months to give the community a chance owners being shunned in the local shop. But to raise funds to put in a bid to buy it. It then the ACV became a problem in itself. In sounds like a force for good, doesn’t it? It can the pub trade, the presence of an ACV has prevent a pub from being suddenly and, come to be seen as a sign of a failing pub, and crucially, secretly, sold off to developers, but the sale restriction greatly reduces the surprisingly there can be a downside and that attractiveness of a three-year lease with a buy can result in a pub then closing; how so? option. So the new tenants that Nick and Elaine had lined up pulled out of the deal, A bit of background: The Black Horse in resulting in the pub closing when Nathaniel West Tytherley passed into the tenanted hands and Vanessa left. Nick and Elaine did return to of Nick and Elaine Cooper in 2009. They run the pub over Christmas but shut the doors immediately made a success of the pub and in on 13th January, long term until new tenants 2011 they bought the freehold from Admiral could be found. This is not what an ACV is Taverns. But running a pub is hard work and supposed to do! a few years later they leased the pub out to tenants and moved to for a relaxed So, what next? Nick & Elaine lodged a notice semi-retirement. All was fine and Nathaniel to dispose of their ‘asset’ and this triggered and Vanessa had the Black Horse on a 3-year the six month period in which the community lease with an option to buy the freehold. In can put together a bid. Once that period is up, the meantime, Nick and Elaine got planning assuming that the community don’t actually permission for a small house on a part of the raise enough to buy the pub, the tenancy could pub’s unused land, with hopes that their again be offered under the old lease terms eventual full retirement might be next door to with option to buy terms and the freehold their favourite pub. could then actually be split to make the land for the house next door a separate entity. Three years later, Nathaniel and Vanessa moved on, at the end of their tenancy, to run a However, fortune has smiled on the pub and pub in , so Nick and Elaine sought new tenants have now been found despite the again for new tenants. At this stage a rumour still un-expired ACV. Ken and Linda started to go around the village that the Black reopened the Black Horse on 22nd March and Horse itself was going to be converted to your author can vouch for the quality of the housing, not just have a house built next door, beer again. and rather than talking to the owners to see what the plans actually were the Parish ACVs, a great idea for pubs at risk, but maybe Council leapt into action and applied for, and ‘be careful about what you wish for’ should got, an ACV listing on the pub, which also be the advice for ‘safe’ pubs. A list of Pubs included the land for the proposed house next with ACVs can be found on the branch’s door. website at: www.shantscamra.org.uk/campaigns/acv

18 SPRING 2019 HOPPRESS ISSUE 86 London Tavern Linford Road, Poulner near Ringwood BH24 1TY

Friendly Public House featuring a range of Real Ales. Great Wine, Gin Menu and Home Cooked Food. Regular Live Music, Quiz Nights and Sunday Roasts. Call now to book your table on 01425 473819 or find us on Facebook. Open: 12-11 Mon-Thu; 12-11.30 Fri & Sat; 12-10.30 Sun [email protected] www.thelondontavern.co.uk thelondontavernringwood Destruction Goes on… Rob Whatley hat links an industrial wasteland in the centre of Romsey, a chain of Wcoffee shops and two new, central Southampton hotels, opened within the last few years? In the 1970s and 1980s Whitbread were the dominant brewer and pub owner in our part of Hampshire (as in many other areas of England and Wales). This came about through the company’s avaricious takeovers of regional breweries. Locally, purchases included Strongs of Romsey and Brickwoods of Portsmouth. At first, the beers sold, at least the real ales, continued to be those brewed in the breweries that previously supplied the pub estate. Gradually though, Whitbread began to cease brewing at many of its acquisitions including Strongs in 1981 and Brickwoods in 1983. The nationwide spate of closures led CAMRA to produce one of its most popular ever campaigning t-shirts - The Whitbread Tour of Destruction, shown here. While the Romsey site continued as a depot for a while, distribution eventually moved to Hedge End in 1989 and Whitbread finally left In 2005 provisional planning permission was the site in October 1989. The managed house granted for 211 new homes on the site but division was due to retain a presence in the according to Test Valley Borough Council just town, but this plan was abandoned following 13 houses have been built to date! Planners the publication of the Monopoly and Mergers were in talks earlier this year to try to get Committee’s notorious report into the building re-started but we are still awaiting an brewing industry, in 1990. announcement of a date.

Early suggestions for the use of the Strongs Over time Whitbread withdrew completely Brewery site included housing and a retail from brewing and largely from the pub outlet. Plans for the retail outlet were quickly business. Deciding, in 2001, to sell all its refused by Test Valley planners in 1988, breweries and brewing interests (Whitbread leaving housing as the preferred option. Years Beer Company) to Interbrew, (later InBev, passed and after numerous incidents of now Budweiser Brewing Group). In 2002, vandalism, most remaining brewery buildings they sold the pubs, known as the Laurel Pub were demolished in early 1996; but stagnation Co., to Enterprise Inns (now Ei Group). continued.

20 SPRING 2019 HOPPRESS ISSUE 86 Destruction Goes on… What can I do for continued WhatPub? Whitbread put their capital into many other WhatPub is CAMRA's ventures including David Lloyd Leisure, on-line pub guide. We Pizza Hut UK and TGI Friday’s, though all of aim to list every pub these they have since disposed of. They even and club in the United had a 20% stake in TVS, the predecessor of Kingdom with up-to- Meridian TV. Whitbread did continue to run date, independently large, food-based pub/restaurants. The current researched details line-up includes: Brewers Fayre (160 outlets) making it the nation’s Beefeater (165) Cookhouse and Pub (10) Bar 'go to' online pub and Block (6) and Table Table (80). guide. You may have noticed that Beefeaters or Brewers Fayres are next to Premier Inns. No The web address is easy to remember – surprise then, that Premier Inns are also part of whatpub.com. Go there and you can search the current Whitbread group with a total of for your local pubs, or for pubs anywhere in 4,385 rooms in UK. Breakfast for those the UK, and filter the results by over 30 staying at the Inn is served in the adjoining selectable desired features such as ‘serving Beefeater or Brewers Fayre. real ale,’ ‘dog friendly,’ ‘quiet pub’ or ‘close to a railway station.’ As the number of pubs has decreased in recent years so the number of coffee shops has As with all web-based information systems, increased. Whitbread picked up on this and the success of this guide depends on the purchased Costa Coffee in 1995. Prime quality of its information being up to date and locations are important in both the pub and accurate, and this is where you can help. If coffee shop trades. So, it is no surprise to find you are looking at WhatPub and notice some Costa in premises that were once pubs. One information that is wrong, or you notice some example is opposite Southampton’s Central important feature has been left out, please use station in what used to be the Victory pub. The the 'Submit Updates' tab to send us your building is now home to not one but two update. You don't have to be a CAMRA coffee shops, Costa and Starbucks. But, for member to do this but if you are a CAMRA how long is in doubt as permission has been member please sign in to WhatPub – you'll sought to demolish the building, and anyway, get a better feedback form and won't have to in January this year, Whitbread sold Costa input your email address, and, as an added Coffee to the Coca-Cola Company in a deal bonus, there's a settings page to turn off the worth £3.9bn! adverts! In the 1970s, when CAMRA began, Whitbread were seen as ‘public enemy If you would be able to help the Southern number one’ for lack of real ales, lack of Hampshire branch of CAMRA with doing full choice and for brewery closures. Today their pub surveys please send an email to: interest in alcoholic beverages is minimal and [email protected],uk many younger readers would not recognise or go to our local website at: the name unless it is on some fading signage. www.shantscamra.org.uk/beer/pubdata/ One might be more likely to come across old to see the pubs that need surveys. Again, Strongs or Brickwoods windows in pubs than CAMRA members can sign in and get better the Whitbread name. access.

SPRING 2019 21

Competition Crossword

Prizes to the first two correct entries drawn.

Closing date: 22nd July 2019

To: The Editor Hop Press 1 Surbiton Road Eastleigh, Hants. SO50 4HY

QUETZALCOATL Alphabetic puzzle. Solve the clues and fit the K Far southern village that is, even in UK, solutions as you can (note, two layouts are creatable (5) possible! ‘U’ gives a clue to mine.). L Long-lived (not a cobbler’s work) (7) M Farah’s falcons, real New Yorkers! (7) A These sea-green waves exhibit assent (5) N Berlin newspaper of 1933-45 era? (4,5) B Marston, say, are very (heads up one) (7) O How Marx saw religion – just a toxic smoke! (5) C Get it? Amigo (9) P Arguable in a case of a deep ball (9) D Dustin Hoffman, thrice disheartened then Q Leaflet seeking facts – queen’s a riot in farce! less loud – my old man! (7) (13) Poetic couplet announcing no respect for credit! R Rejects matters of the Royal East Kent (7) Regiment (7) E Satirical mag slates hairy facial fringes (9) S Irish goon who ‘told us he was ill’ (5,8) F Tiny circus star, lame after treatment (4,5) T Flow qualifier that I’d allow in here (5) G Small, soft dumplings said to lack the life force! U Ruin, an alp just gets so flattened (9) (7) V Cultural worth adherent in old artworks or H No hero in Bath’s fantasy engineer (5,8) curios (5) I Creating envy, I saw, like Caesar, in good sense W We dress in ragged strange ways (9) (9) X Classical pirates’ cartographical instruction? J Shocks enjoin all gutsy, lusty hearts (5) (1,5,3,4) Tribal gathering originally just in rebel governed Y Doughnuts so good they’re named twice! (7) areas (5) Z Belief in the uniqueness of a life force (5)

24 SPRING 2019 HOPPRESS ISSUE 86 Issue 85 Solution Vibrant Forest Brewery

t has been almost five years since Vibrant Forest IBrewery began brewing near Lymington, in a unit that was then thought ‘massive.’ Two years ago, they had to hire a small unit on a farm just up the road for storage as they had entirely run out of space. So the search for larger premises began.

Finally, new premises have been found, all the planning, licencing and bureaucracy has been waded through and moving is under way; into four brand new units at Hardley Industrial Estate, Hythe.

A very good entry for this edition, 26, with Unit 3 will be a large taproom, and some cask only one with a couple of letters confused in storage area. Unit 4, including a mezzanine the three-letter word core. Apologies for the floor, a cask, can and bottle store. Unit 5, anagram in the clue for ZINFANDEL which another with mezzanine floor, storage and two somehow acquired an extra letter (corrected cold rooms, together with a canning line. Unit in the online version) but this seemed not to 6 the brewery itself. throw anyone! Outside the taproom will be a large south Winners: facing seating area. Longer opening hours are planned for the taproom and there is also a Joss Britcher, Portsmouth large space inside for seating. Food will be J. E. Green, St. Albans available in the form of snacks, plus there will be ‘street food’ on special days such as Open The other twenty-three correct solvers were: Days (as at Lymington now) plus beer Ron Brading Nigel Cook festivals at the brewery (instead of at the Rod Cross Linda Derrick Brockenhurst Village Hall). Philip Doughty Dave Ellison The new brewery is also now close to a very David Hancock Belinda Harvey regular bus route, Bluestar route 9, every 20 Norman Hurl P. D. Jordan minutes from Southampton station, via Guy Lawrenson R. S. Milligan Totton. Hythe, of course, is also easy and very Gary Morse Mark Nichols pleasant to reach by sea and tram by its ferry Tim Parkinson Jeff Phillips plus pier railway! Rebecca Pink Ron Poole Launch day for the brewery and its Harvey Saunders Martin Sirl taproom is planned to be the first of June. Trevor Smith Howard Sprenger Check nearer the date at: Dave Walbridge www.vibrantforest.co.uk

SPRING 2019 25