Hop Press

Issue 19 – February 1986

A rough scan & OCR of the original leaving out adverts & some sections such as the Crossword
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Contents

• EDITORIAL
• SOTON TO HOST CAMRA AGM
• QUIZ AND CROSSWORD ANSWERS
• TRAVELS IN THE COLONIES .... KEN HILL
• PUB NEWS
• DEVENISH REVERSE TAKEOVER
• STOCKBRIDGE WALKABOUT
• TIME FOR A CHANGE
• INNSIGHT

EDITORIAL Hop Press index

BREWERIEs FOR MONOPOLIES COMMISSION REFERRAL?

Hop Press readers may have seen reports in the national press recently, "t ha t the Office of Fair Trading is considering referring the brewing industry as a whole to the Monopolies Commission. One particular concern would be whether the tied house system, i. e, brewers' ownership of public houses, is against the public interest.

This could be the best news for real ale drinkers for many years. The tied house system allows brewers to 'tie' licensees to their products by owning the pubs and clubs or by granting them loans at preferential rates of interest in return for an agreement to sel1 no-one else's products. Its power is increased by some brewers by extending it beyond beer to all drinks and possibly other products, such as snacks, meals and the hire of games :machines.

The combination in Britain of the tie with restricted licencing, i.e. the magistrate's power to limit the number of liquor licences issued, gives a huge advantage to existing companies, and especially the largest ones, over new entrants to the industry. It prevents new firms from starting up and makes growth difficult, because they cannot find sales outlets in areas where the existing houses are all 'tied' and the magistrates will allow few new licences, or none at all, to be granted. It also encourages brewers to buy each other up because that is the easiest way to expand, rather than competing on price or quality of the product.

The supply of beer was investigated in 1969 by the Monopolies Commission, which concluded that the tied house system operated against the public interest and recommended a number of improvements. Seventeen years on, most of the objections are still true, and much damage has already been done to the nation's unique heritage of beer and pubs. Let us hope that any new investigation will be acted upon this time and such abuse of the public interest will be brought to an end.

SOUTHAMPTON TO HOST CAMRA AGM Hop Press index

The 1986 annual general meeting of CAMRA Ltd. is to be held on the 19th & 20th of April at the University of Southampton.

As with all national organisations, this is the major policy making event which will decide the campaign's direction for the following year and reviei,,r progress to date. It allows ordinary members from all parts of the British Isles (and beyond) to meet each other, discuss concerns and, most importantly, take part in the decision making process.

If you are a local member and do not take an active part in the Campaign, then why not take this unique opportunity to see what goes on 'behind the scenes', or add your own voice to the. proceedings. If you are not a member and are concerned at the way brewers treat our pubs and beer and wish to share in the country's largest consumer voice, JOIN NOW!

Besides formal business, workshops and other activities, there will also be a beer festival on Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon. Admission is strictly members only.

Membership is currently £7 a year; ho1tever, this may be increased at the AGM.

Answers to Pub Quiz Hop Press index

1. The Bass red triangle.

2. The "H.H." in Cheriton. ("H.H." stands for Hampshire Hunt.

3. The Red Lion.

4. At Cosham. A Sociable Plover is a bird from central Asia that occurs in Britain only as a rare vagrant. migrant. (?)

5. The First In Last Out.

6. The Sun.

7. The Rack and Manger at Crawley.

8. The Bourne Valley Brewery in Andover. "Wallop" is a strong, dark, winter brew.

9. Marston's Pedigree.

10. The drinks are:
• Old and bitter
• Brown and mild
• Old and mild
• Half a pint of mild and bitter
• Barley wine and rum.

Travels in the Colonies Hop Press index

Ken Hill

Many years ago (why do I use that phrase so often? I'll tell you - now I am old and grey, my son mind your own bloody business!), I travelled to the United States - on business, and more than once. I must admit, I fell into the Churchillian trap of believing that because as they spoke roughly the same language as us they would BE like us. I was wrong! Anyway, without further ado, here's what happened.

On my first trip, I really was the innocent abroad. After the "pre:match" excitement of getting on board the aeroplane, I settled down to what I understood to be seven hours of boredom. To my delight and pleasure, the stewardess soon arrived at my elbow, with an enquiry as to what I would like to drink. Of course, in true Brit fashion, I politely asked what she was dispensing. On being told "Schlitz or Budweiser" (ignoring all the poofy drinks like Gin etc.), I settled for a "Bud" on the grounds that a) I'd heard of it, and b) the other one sounded a bit dodgy if mispronounced, and resigned myself to the fact that tinned lager was all that I was going to get.

Now you have to understand, at this point, that it was a week before Christmas and, naturally, all the traffic was in the other direction, so the plane was relatively empty. I therefore had the (almost) undivided attention of this strapping Southern Belle for the whole flight. Some six hours into the trip, I nonchalantly pressed the little button on the arm of my seat and asked for another "Bud".

"Ah'm sshrry suh" she sweetly replied, "Ah'm afriad you'alls drunk them". So I settled for a Schlitz. It was not surprising, therefore, that when she came round a little later with the disembarkation cards I stuffed it into my pocket without realising what it was. I found out when I finally got to the front of the Immigration queue at Kennedy Airport to be confronted by this amazon with blue-rinsed hair and steel-rimmed glasses demanding said disembarkation card.

I compounded the error by protesting. that I was British and that we didn't need those kind of things! (I'd only been on internal flights before). I went to the back of the friggin' queue as she suggested!

I finally got to my hotel at about 7.00 pm local time, having left the UK at 8.30 am local time (the flight was diverted due to bad weather - I didn't notice, thanks to Messrs. Budweiser & Co.). But I was determined not to miss a moment cf this, my first time in the States, so I hurriedly bathed, changed and ate, then strolled into the hotel bar.

Firstly, I ordered a Bud (you see, I pick up the language very quickly) and, when it brought in a frost-rimmed glass, ordered another to sit on the bar to warm up while I picked up my teeth from the first draught. The barman, being a typically quick-witted New York bartender, noted this and said, "Say, I've heard about youse Limeys liking warm beer but I never believed it till now. Why d' ya do dat?" Being slightly pissed, jet-lagged, fed-up and stroppy, all I could think of was, "well you can drink it quicker when it' s warm!" I'm sure he was convinced and has retailed that explanation to thousands of New Yorkers by now.

Next I noticed the TV was on (yes, they really do have them sitting just above the bar like you see in the movies) and that American Footbal1" as showing. Now I'd been watching that back in the UK, thanks to an obliging friend who worked for Pan-Am and who flew the films in for some of us at work, long before Channel 4 started it up, so I knew what I was watching. A local man was sitting next to me and was intrigued by my rapt attention to the game. "Say", he drawled, "it's unusual for youse guys to watch this without telling us all about Soccer at the same time..."

"Sssshh... " I replied, "they're just about to try for a field goal"

Later on the same trip I was asked to join some colleagues for a lunchtime drink (they had the strange impression that people from the UK just could not operate if they didn't get their lunchtime injection of beer - wonder where they picked up that strange notion?) and, of course, agreed. We went what seemed like about fifty miles to this "Li'1 place that we think is 1ike your Limey pubs", in about 4" of snow.

To my surprise they bustled in and said to Joe, the bartender (honest!) "0. K. Joe, here's that guy that we you about. Set 'em up". Whereupon Joe made a lot of fuss about getting a NON-FROSTED glass from under the counter and grabbing one of about a dozen bottles sitting on the back shelf. "there ya go", he bellowed, "nice and warm. Just how you like it". They, of course had the obligatory glasses with ice on them, and the bottles were beaded with condensation. They must have had teeth made of concrete to swallow lager at that temperature!

My second trip, a few months later, was somewhat similar (apart from the plane ride - I watched the movie instead). However, on my first night in the hotel, I met a Geordie who, apparently, made frequent trips to the States in his capacity as a printer. As I was then in the technical writing game, we got on well, both being interested in printing and publishing, and we happily made plans for the weekend in New York.

At about 10.00 pm the bartender came up to us and asked us if we were entering the Macho Man contest, to be held in about an hour's time. We ascertained that this was a competition to find a local he-man to accompany the Foxy Lady winner (you should hear how . they pronounce "Foxy" - honestly, I thought my luck had changed for a minute!) Apparently the winners would be treated to a weekend for two in Acapulco, plus lots of other goodies.

"What's in it for us?" asked the Geordie, being wise to the ways of the US
"Well," replied the bartender, "A free tee-shirt for all who enter"
"Big deal", sneered Geordie
"Half price drinks when you wear the tee-shirt"
"Won't be here next week" riposted Geordie
"0. K. you'se guys. If you put yer names down to get the crowd going, I'll poisonally give yez free drinks for the rest of the evening"
"Yer on"! came back the chorus from both of us

We were billed as "Two Limey sports who wanna go to Acapulco with the Foxy Lady" and promptly came 7th and 8th out of six entrants! We were given the tee-shirts (I still wear mine when no-one's looking) and settled down for a session. After about an hour, Geordie asked the bartender if he had any pint glasses cos' the 1ittle ones took too much effort to keep getting filled. He got a flower vase from the back room, which seemed adequate!

At three a.m. the bartender said "Furcrissakes, you guys, go to bed. You've cost me forty bucks so far!" A good session. I wonder who DID win the Macho Man contest?

Finally, I made my mark at the Ryetown Hilton in New York State. Now the name "Hilton" conjures up 1uxury for all of us, and it was not really a disappointment to me. The food was good, and the crowd I was with reckoned it to b" good enough for the "end-of-course" booze-up too. I agreed, 'cos I was quite taken with the extremely attractive waitresses in their backless, damn-nigh topless long, slinky dresses. Anyway, we had a couple, then I suggested a "whipround" because each shout was coming to five or six quid, Explaining a "whipround", I collected five bucks from everyone and proceeded to order a round.

We had about fifty bucks in the kitty, and the round came to about 35 dollars, Now in those days it was about 2.5 dollars to the pound, so .I gave this lovely girl, who up till then had been all teeth, dimples and cleavage, 40 dollars and grandly said, "keep it, dear" (move over, Bond!)

You'd have thought I'd said "Foxy Lady" the American way!

"whassermatter wid de soivice, ya. cheap jerk?" she yelled. "Don't ya like da way I move or sumpun?" and many another genteel epithet. Of course, my immediate reaction, having worked in an English pub when you'll be 1ucky to get "And a half for yourself" for your pains, was to say "what's the matter with you, missus? Ain't two quid enough for walking over here from .the bar? Don't be - bleeding greedy!" (or words to that effect).

It was at that point that my new-won friends hustled me out and we went down the road to another bar. I apparently did not understand the fiscal system of New York State, never mind its tipping system.

I haven't repeated my experiences lately. Perhaps just as well. I did have some very nice times in the States - some bars were super. But when everything goes right, you just don't remember them, do you? It's only the weirdo things that stick in the mind.
Happy globe-trotting.

Pub News Hop Press index

Aged Swill

We'll start our travels in Romsey, where the Dolphin Hotel in the town centre has closed for renovation. It's a Whitbread house, as are most of the pubs in Ramsey, so there'll be no prizes for guessing the outcome. Further to the West, we learn that there are new owners, Ron and Pam Hibbs, in the Brewers Arms at East Dean, where the beers now sold are Wadworth 6X and Privett bitter. The Black Horse in nearby West Tytherley also has a new landlord, Michael Mann. A warm welcome to all of them.

To the East of Romsey we also welcome new pint-pullers, Dick and Jan Evans, to the Dog and Crook in Braishfield. Our best wishes to them both.

Continuing East to the village of Littleton near Winchester, it's farewell to our old friend Richard Hollaway of the Running Horse. He's taking over a guest house in the West Country named, would you believe, 'Fawlty Towers'!

In Winchester, we are delighted to report that the Theatre Bar, (yes, it's reverted to its former name), has reopened after major refurbishment of the Theatre Royal. During performances, though, one half of the bar is roped off for the use of theatre-goers only. Note also that it doesn't open on Sundays, .... oh, and Gales Best Bitter is 90p a pint! Talking of Gales, the good news for beer drinkers in Winchester is that the Riverside Inn is changing hands. Eldridge Pope have swapped the pub with a Gales house in Sussex; the changeover will take place towards the end of February.

The Wykeham Arms is extending into one of the old kitchens, previously a dark forgotten corner, to add a 'public' with a dartboard and a separate fami1y room. Now that's what we call a sensible pub modification (take note Whitbread). However, the pub bashers are swinging into action again; this time it's the Stanmore Hotel, where we hear that the public and 1ounge bars are about to be knocked into one. At this rate there won't be a public bar left in Winchester soon.

The catering contract for the Recreation centre comes up for renewal shortly; perhaps if it's taken up by another company we might see some decent real ale in the bar.

Free house, the Black Boy, has opened up a new bar in the old stables alongside the main building, and since the demise of Simpkiss, your host Cif has offered some interesting guest beers. Other beer additions in Winchester; the Market Inn has added Sam Whitbread to its real ales, both the Green Man and the Fulflood now sell Owd Rodger, and the Royal Oak currently serves Wethereds Winter Royal. Finally we warmly welcome new hosts, Dave and Alison Munden, to the Roebuck in Stockbridge Road.

In the nearby village of Easton, it's rumoured that the Chestnut Horse, recently sold off by Phoenix, is to open again soon as a free house.

North of Alresford, we are sad to learn that old CAMRA friend, Dave Trigg, is leaving the business after running the Three Horseshoes at Bighton for several years. We wish him the best of luck with his new venture and welcome the new landlord, recently retired. police sergeant Arthur Hayward from Winchester.

A little further South, Mike Sinker has given up the tenancy of the Bridge at Shawford, in order to run the Hiltonbury Farmhouse, which has just opened in Chandlers Ford. For the moment he is also looking after his other pub, the lively Bakers Arms in Winchester. The new managers at the Bridge are a couple of nice chaps, we understand.

It's good news for the tapers of Colden Common, where the Old House at Home has been refurbished and has gained an extra bar! Further to the South East, the Farmer's Home at Durley now serves Wethereds Bitter, Flowers Original and Sam Whitbread. In Bishops Waltham, the White Horse, Ashton, has also put on Wethereds Bitter and Sam Whitbread. Whilst we're in that area, we'd like offer a belated welcome to Derek and Mary Steer, who've been in the Bricklayers Arms, Swanmore for 9 months. Sometimes the news takes a little time to reach us!

The only news from Eastleigh is bad news. The Grantham has discontinued its Strong Country, making it the first all keg pub in the town for some time. Shame!

To the East of Southampton, now, where in West End, the Sportsman has re-opened after a being 'redeveloped' by Whitbread. We hear (surprise, surprise) that it's all been bashed into one bar, although it has added an up-market family room and features a venture playground. The dartboard has been retained, too, in a games area. We wish new hosts Geoff and Carol Stephenson the best of luck. On a happier note, the Roll Call, Butlocks Heath, has had an extension built onto its public bar

Southampton has quite a few items of news. Nellies Nob in St Denys has been bought by Tony Sabey, the owner of the Frog and Frigate. The ales now sold are Draught Bass, Hancocks HB, Frog 0.B. and Croaker and Ringwood Old Thumper. We welcome back as managers, Paul and Christine Barnard.

Greetings, too, to the new hosts at the Anchor in East Street, where they" ve also introduced Wethereds Winter Royal. Previous managers Basil and .Julie have moved to 'Bedfords' (another plurals pub with an imaginative name change - it used to be called the Bedford Hotel). The recently refurbished pub now sports a conservatory, tastefully done we've heard, but for lovers of loud background muzak. In Shirley we welcome new hosts Derek and Gina Hoare to the Osborne, which, by the way, is not being turned into a wine bar as we were previously informed

We note from the press that the Globe in Bernard street has had a grand reopening ... we weren't aware of the grand closing ....

Some beer news: firstly Shirley, where the Freemantle now sells Websters instead of Tamplins and the Gateway has Wadworth 6X and Flowers Original. Next to Bitterne, where the Bitterne Park Hotel has stopped serving real ale, despite public demand. Lastly in Millbrook, the Key and Anchor has managed to get the fast disappearing Pompey Royal as well as Flowers Original.

The news from Waterside bringeth not good cheer. Both the Orchard Inn, Pocks Green and Hythe's West Cliff Hotel, are now all fizz pubs. On the brighter side, though, the Croft, Hythe is selling Trumans Sampson, perhaps the only pub doing so in our area.

Continuing Westwards to Battramsley, (no I'd never heard of it either) where we are delighted to welcome to the Hobler new tenant, Mr Steven, who has put all his beers on gravity behind the bar. These are Strong Country, Flowers Original, Sam Whitbread, and Pompey Royal when available. Cheers!

Some more news from the forest. The Forest Inn, Ashurst is currently being run by a temporary manager, Harry Wallbrook... no news on its future though. We greet some new licensees; firstly at the Queens Head, Burley, where a Mr P Reeve has taken over and then at the Swan in Lyndhurst, where there are also new tenants.

From the Lymington area, our correspondent reports that the East End ArIIIS now dispenses Sam Whitbread and the Wheel Inn, Pennington, has replaced the Strong Country with Flowers Original. In the town we welcome back to the trade Michael Stevens who has taken over as licensee of the Monkey House.

A recent CAMRA survey of the area has revealed that some of the northwestern New Forest free houses are serving interesting ranges of real ales. Not news perhaps, but here's the current menu at three of them. The Old Beams at Ibsley: Waddles 6X and Old Timer, EP Royal Oak, Gibbs Bishops Tipple, Ringwood Best Bitter, Strong Country and Bulmers cider. The Foresters Arms at Frogham: Waddles 6X, Hook Norton best bitter, Perrys Scrumpy and two guest beers. The Cartwheel, Whitsbury: Halls Harvest, Waddies 6X, Hook Norton BB and Bunces BB.

Also, in nearby Fordingbridge, t'is sad to learn that the Ship has stopped serving real ale. Lastly, in Ringwood, we welcome new manager, Mr D Rolphe to the Elm Tree, Hightown.

DRINK YOUR HEALTH

Research by the Johns Hopkins university in Baltimore has shown that beer drinkers are 25% less likely to become ill than the average person, including teetotallers. It's thought either that moderate beer drinkers may live healthier life styles or that (Real) ale's high food value (lotsa vitamin B!) is a contributory factor. We'll drink to that!

IRELAND RELAXES PUB HOURS

Pubs in the major cities of Ireland may now open till midnight during the week and 11pm on Sundays. However, the infamous 'holy hour', during which pubs must close between four and five pm every day, will still remain.

DEVENISH REVERSE TAKEOVER Hop Press index

Keen-eyed observers of the financial press will be aware that a little known firm named ' Inn Leisure' has recently merged with with Devenish of Weymouth. Devenish recently shifted all production to their Redruth brewery, al though they own numerous pubs in Dorset, and some in Hampshire, out of their total of 350 spread over the South West.

Inn Leisure already owns a chain of 40 wine bars and restaurant-cum-pubs in London, Birmingham and Bristol. Although it was publicised as a takeover by Devenish of Inn Leisure, in fact the deal appears to be the other way round, with Inn Leisure acquiring over 50t of the voting power at a cost of only 30% of the shares.

CAMRA is concerned about public statements which have been made by the Chairman of Inn Leisure, to the effect that his company specialises in modern wine bars and restaurants attracting "a younger and more affluent clientele". He has stated that he intends to inject this kind of "new life" into Devenish's tied estate. This coming from a man who is also quoted as admitting that he knows nothing about brewing.

What chance for the many delightful, traditional country pubs owned by Devenish and for their quality real ales?

DON'T BE FOOLED!

Whitbread has recently launched a new lager called 'Gold Label' (oddly, that is an existing Whitbread brand name - have they run out of ideas?). Beware, however, that although it is served through a handpump under less pressure than most other lagers; it is not 'Real' . Small print on the pump clip informs you that it is brewery conditioned, ie, keg.

Incidentally, it was amusing to note on the poster that promotes the stuff, the statement "...less fizz, more taste.."! What a giveaway; so they've admitted it at last. Perhaps we can now expect some keg adverts informing us that they have ".. more fizz, less taste.."!

Whitbread Early Retirement Scheme?

After the grand reopening of one of Whitbread's revamped pubs, designed to conform to their "catch 'em when they come out of kindergarten" strategic style, the barman, who had worked there for several years, was asked to leave. When he asked why, he was told that he was too old to serve the new type of clientele they were trying to encourage.

He's 28.

STOCKBRIDGE WALKABOUT Hop Press index

"Gwair Tymherus, Porta Flavus, Cwrw Da, A Cwal Cysurus",

This message is still partly legible above the door of what was once a drovers inn an the edge of Stockbridge. This tranquil, picturesque village stands where the ancient drove road from the Welsh mountains ta the great markets and fairs of the South crossed the river Test. Translated, the message reads, "Worthwhile grass, pleasant pasture, goad beer and comfortable shelter".

Goad beer and comfortable shelter are certainly still available along the broad main street of Stockbridge today.

Starting at the Eastern end of the street, the White Hart is the first stop. Here, in an interesting early nineteenth century coach house, one can Slip Draught Bass or Hancocks HB whilst playing a game of shave penny (twice as much fun as shave half penny). Far the peckish, there is a separate restaurant, and at the rear is a wine bar, which regularly features live jazz.

A short stroll away is the Vine, a pleasant two bar pub serving Whitbread Strang Country Bitter and Flowers Original. This pub has a reputation far good value food, served either in the bar or in part of the lounge set aside as a small restaurant. There is also a scenic riverside garden at the rear. Further along an the same side of the road is the Waggon and Horses, very much the locals' pub with one bar, where Strong Country bitter is served. For lovers of agriculturablia, the walls are adorned with all manner of farming and hunting implements.

Over the road ta the splendours of Grosvenor Hotel. You may well see customers from earlier venues here; some local drinkers seem to move around rather than stay in one place. The Grosvenor also serves Strang Country Bitter as its only hand pumped beer, but it is a well kept pint served in a comfortable lounge, with a roaring log fire in winter. There is a second bar, a small snug, for those who prefer privacy.

The final port of call is the Greyhound where a pint of Courage Best or Directors provides a welcome change from the ubiquitous Whitbread beers. The Greyhound is a one bar pub with a separate restaurant area and a childrens room; the extensive menu lists many varieties of that traditional Hampshire dish, the pizza.

Stockbridge lies on the river Test and both the Greyhound and The Grosvenor have strong angling links; fishing being available from bath establishments. For those of you whose pennies do not run to trout fishing, a relaxing stroll along the river bank is an ideal way to clear the head after a few pints of ale.

TIME FOR A CHANGE Hop Press index

It is now almost inevitable that some relaxation of our archaic licensing laws will came about in the next few years. CAMRA has campaigned vigorously for this for some time now, and eagerly awaits developments.

Reaction by local landlords, though, appears to be mixed. Whilst some see 'flexitime' as a way of allowing them to open at times more suited to their type of trade, and hence increase their business, others have voiced. fears that it will lead to increased prices and poorer service.

What do you think? The editor would welcome your views on the subject.

INNSIGHT - The Wykeham Arms, Winchester Hop Press index

If you'd strolled through Kingsgate, Winchester in the 1750s and headed South, you would have come across much the same buildings as are there today. On the corner of Kingsgate Street and what is today Canon Street, an inn known as the 'Flower de Luce' (a corruption of the french 'fleur-de-lis') had been established.

Although it is not cIear when it became an inn (the deeds of the pub go back only to 1755), there are records of buildings on the site since before 1300, as the map excerpt below shows [there was no map in Hop Press!]. In 1352 the corner site was known to be occupied by two tenements, one of which was rented from Serlo, the brother of Richard de Wolvesey, for 2d (lp) a year. (That's about what some breweries charge their tenants every 30 seconds today!)

By 1542 the two properties and their garden plots were owned by the Dean and Chapter of the cathedral; over the next hundred or so years these were Leased variously to yeomen, a cook and, at one time, the butler of Winchester college.

Canon Street was known at that time as 'Paillardestwichene'; a paillarde was an expression used for a rogue or ne'er-do-well, (and some of the first members of CAMRA), and twichen a word meaning something between other things (twixt?). So roughly speaking, the street was known as 'Rogues' Alley'. (It later became corrupted to 'Baileystwichen' and by the 18th Century it was known as 'Barrow Stichin Lane')

The buildings were described in 1649 as being of timber framed construction, each containing a shop, buttery,' kitchen and chambers. The larger building also had two parlours, a bakehouse, garrets, a double stable and a thatched hayloft. It may also have included a brewhouse.

The origins of the Wykeham Arms as a pub are somewhat hazy. Although there is a reference as long ago as 1677 to a Winchester inn known as the 'Flower de Luice', it is not clear if this was the same 'Flower de Luce' mentioned in the 1755 deeds of the site. By then, however, the two properties had been combined into one and from that time onward its history as a pub is fairly well documented.

In 1782 it was 1eased from the Dean and Chapter by a Mr T. Middleton, and at some stage the pub name seems . to have been prefixed by 'the Three Crowns and ...' T. D. Trollope, son of the famous father (both were Wykehamists), stayed at the inn in July 1820 and referred to it as the 'Fleur de Lys'. He later wrote that he had put up at ".. a very ancient and third rate hostelry .." His reason for staying there, however, was that his father preferred it to the 'George' (demolished in the 50s to widen Jewry Street and delight us with the architectural splendour of Barclays bank) or the 'White Hart', (now a shoe shop!) because it was close to the college and much cheaper.

During the early 19th Century the name changed to the 'Wykeham Arms Inn', after William of Wykeham, the founder of the College. The change may have been as a result of the Napoleonic wars, when french sounding names took a dive in popularity.

In 1834, the landlord was Thomas Slade. He advertised in the 'Hampshire Chronicle' to notify "the nobility and gentry" and ".. to acquaint the public generally, that to render the 'Wykeham Arms' in every respect worthy of their patronage, he has, at very considerable expense fitted up and improved the interior of the establishment ...". (This sounds like Whitbread's PR department justifying some of their modern day alterations to "a very ancient ... hostelry" - I bet this one was more tastefully done!!)

On the 6th of November 1844 the Wykeham Arms Inn was sold by auction in two lots (although the lease was still. held by the Dean and Chapter) at the George Inn; the previous (and late) tenant, James Robbins, had been declared bankrupt. It is shown on a plan with the Particulars and Conditions of Sale as having a shop on the corner of Kingsgate street and what was by now Canon street. The entrance to the several small bars was through a door in Canon Street which led into the courtyard. At the rear of the building were stables and coach-houses, a small garden. Next to the kitchen, which is still in use today, was a brewhouse (sadly, not in use today). The cellar was twice the size that it is now, with steps down from both Canon Street and the courtyard.

The next notable date in the pub's long history was in May of 1865, when the Dean and Chapter sold the lease to a Mr Ropers, although it's not clear if he was also the pub landlord. Twenty three years later the Wykeham Arms was bought by its present owners, Eldridge Pope, who will be celebrating that centenary in July this year. The vendor was William Henry Snelling who, oddly, was a New Zealander!

There is probably little, if anything, of the original pre-medieval buildings remaining, but the structure remains much as it was three hundred years ago, although there have been several Victorian alterations. The building next door in Kingsgate Street (which included a watch repair shop belonging to the late father of local CAMRA member, Marcus Church) was acquired in the 1950s.

This century has seen several changes of landlord and the pub's longest serving regular, Harry Jerram, remembers most of them. At 76 he has been using .the pub since 1928. He recalls vividly, 'Blakey' the landlord who was there until the mid 30s, as being eccentric and somewhat cantankerous, There were just two small drinking areas then and customers had to knock on a hatch to buy their ale, which Blakey would fetch grudgingly from the 'cellar' at the rear. (The real cellar was used as a coal hole), He had no till, but wore a big leather jacket with many pockets, each of which was used to keep a different denomination of coin.

In 1946, the pub was taken over from a Mr Wildig by Harry Osman, an ex Southampton footballer and coach, who also coached the Winchester team. Harry had previously lived in the pub before applying for the tenancy, and remained there until the early 60s when Jack Redman took over. He remained host through to the mid 70s when it passed into the hands of an ex landlord of the West Meon Hut, Phillip Marshall. During his two year spell , he made major alterations to the pub. An entranceway was made between the two bars and the Corner bar was extended into what had been the Bottle and Jug (which had also earlier served as a room for women and children).

Two more landlords, Stan Wright and Ian Wallis followed him until, in 1984, today's hosts, Graeme and Anne Jameson, took over.

Now the public area is larger than ever. Graeme has extended the Canon Street bar yet again to add a 'snug', named the 'Coachhouse' bar after its origins. It is separated by a through fireplace and two curtained archways. At the other end the breakfast room in the old watchmaker's shop also serves as an additional bar area.

All of the bars are tastefully decorated using white and warm red and the furniture and fittings are mostly stripped pine or other light woods. Soft lighting is aided by the candles on the tables and an attractive touch is added by a small vase of flowers on each table. The modern bar back is interesting and unusual; it was apparently made by craft students at Dartmouth College

A modest amount of odds and ends are hung on the walls, including sailing prints, an ornate gilt mirror and a Spanish mule yoke which Graeme reckons he threw off when he left the world of industry (some yoke, huh!). Above one fireplace is a selection of books for public use, and a visitors' book signed, amongst others, by Hoagy Charmichael's son and Zulu Chief Butchezeli!

Both main bars are best described as lounges, although the new Coachhouse bar may soon have a dartboard. What is noticeable is that there are no machines, jukebox or background muzak, although there is a piano which sometimes gets an airing. The main noise is from the conversation, for the pub is very popular and busy - people of all ages and walks of life find the friendly and relaxed atmosphere a pleasure to drink in. In winter this is enhanced by by three real log fires which warm the pub beautifully,

The Wykeham is still an inn which offers comfortable accommodation in its seven bedrooms. Upstairs there is also a well appointed function room and, would you believe, a sauna! An out-of-the-ordinary menu of excellent home prepared food is on offer, as well as quality wines from an extensive list.

Three cask conditioned beers, Dorchester Bitter, IPA and Royal Oak are served (using cask breathers). Their reliably first class condition reflects, in no small way, the carefully tended cellar (complete with pictures on the wall), Historians, incidentally, may be curious about the mysterious stone arches which are set into the cellar walls, appearing from below floor level,

Visitors and regulars alike are sure of a warm welcome in the Wykeham Arms ... judge that, and the quality of the beer, for yourselves.

Hop Press issue number 19 – February 1986

Editor: Charlie Excell
105 Elder Close
Winchester 63706

hop-press@shantscamra.org.uk

© CAMRA Ltd. 1986