The George, Alton

A single roomed pub on the edge of the town centre, single roomed with a kind of cafe feel about it. The bric-a-brac is still very evident including the no riff raff sign, but like Aqualung I too got served, the choice was from Sharps Sea Fury, Irving Type 42, Flack Manor Double Drop and Brains Cafe Phoenix which was decent enough. The one slight difference from Aqualungs report below is that all ales are now £3.50 across the the board plus a further 20p CAMRA discount, which like Aqualung before me, I totally missed before paying, despite a sign on the bar. This pub was much better than I was expecting.

A glance at my 1986 Hampshire beer guide reveals that this was then a Courage pub called the Duke's Head. It's a single wide room with another area behind and to the left of the bar. There is all sorts of bric-a-brac around including soda siphons, ice buckets a Watney's Red Barrel window light and a sign saying "No Riff Raff". On my Thursday midday visit I didn't spot any Reserved signs on tables or find the landlord attached to a phone. I got the feeling that it was more pubby than suggested a few years ago. The old outside toilet definitely gained it brownie points from me, a shame it wasn't raining or snowing. The five hand pumps had Long Dog Lamplight Porter, Sharp's Atlantic, St Austell Tribute, West Berks Skiff and Bowman's Wallops Wood. Despite the Riff Raff sign I was served the Porter (£3.70) which the landlord enthused about and was in first class condition. Sadly I completely forgot about the CAMRA discount. I thought this was a good pub.

Portico entrance leading to a hip, modernised interior consisting of a long main front bar with a characterful exposed brick side room to the left of it. Various bits of relatively tasteful ephemera, including chunky wooden farmhouse furniture and an old telephone sign wall mounted and lit up, as well as a collection of jugs and telephones behind the bar. Also some slightly tackier touches, such as the astroturf on the wall with plastic daisies poking out. Wood burning stove spotted. Fans of the 19th century can enjoy an outside gents toilet via the nice garden. Dog friendly. A number of tables were reserved but helpfully had the timing of the reservation also (though I note the comments left by the reviewer below). Good Beer Guide listed and did not disappoint on this front, with Andwell King John, Itchin Valley Hampshire Rose, Sharps Atlantic, Flack Catcher and a lovely half of the sublime Dancing Duck Dark Drake. An otherwise enjoyable visit was spoilt by the sarcastic ‘too cool for school’ fat-faced hipster bar manager, who when asked if he knew what was happening with the recently-closed Hop Poles next door, replied “it’s nothing to do with me” whilst continuing to fiddle with his phone. 0/10 for customer service, there. Factoid: this place was also a court house “famed for the trial of the sailor who murdered Sweet Fanny Adams”