The Eight Bells, Alton

Romsey IPA, Bowman Wallops Wood & Swift One, Ringwood Best, Ballard's Best. Carpetted bar, partly divided into front & smaller rear sections, low then very low beamed ceilngs, mix of wood & copper-topped tables, slightly ‘70s retro feel, some banquette seating & stools, dartboard at far end although corner table would need moving. Nice little paved beer garden with light pine picnic sets, some umbrellas, trees & shrubs attractively complement the scene. The stable door allows the pub to be aired in nice weather but prevents the Lancashire Heeler (Toby) from making his escape. There is the story of the local, horrific, murder of ‘Poor Fanny Adams' in 1867 & check out the photo above the real fire ‘Farnham United Breweries, Fine Ales & Stout Drawn from the Wood'. I have a note that this is local Camra poty, but a couple of others I visited on the day would be serious competition.

A decent GBG pub, quiet on my mid week visit but it is a little off the main drag.I had a pint of Bowmans Swift One reasonably priced at £3.20.Certainly worth a visit.

In 1986 this was Alton's only free house and Egon Ronay recommended. It seems to be more of an Ale House now as there is only very limited food. It's clearly very old and is a long beamed room with another area to the left of the bar. The five hand pumps had Doom Bore, Bowman's Swift One, Hogs Back Fresh Spring, Flack Manor Flack's Double Drop and Triple fff Alton's Pride. The beer choice was the one thing that put me off this one, five bitters two of which were 4% and three less than 4%. I went for the Fresh Spring (£3.30) which was pleasant enough and in excellent condition. Despite my reservations about the beer choice it's still worth a look and is only a short way off the main drag.

Characterful freehouse, untouched since a classic late 60s/70s upmarket refit - ceiling beams, crazy carpet, copper topped tables, brasses, woodchip wallpaper, red fabric stools and banquettes. Items of note included a nice backlit inlaid trophy cabinet and eight little bells hanging from beams in front of the bar. Layout is a long main with a front facing bar along with cosy rear room. Papers available. A GBG entry, there were five pumps dispensing Cotleigh, Triple fff Comfortably Numb, Bowman Swift, Doom Bar, Milk Street Same Again (good nick). A nice laid-back place that is well worth a visit. 7.5

A single long room with a snug off to the back at one end, five handpumps with the products of micros plus Doombar. I thought the beer was a bit average for a GBG listed pub, I had a Bowman Swift One but maybe on an off day. It's a nice pub, quiet, with traditional decor, copper topped tables and a couple of Britannias, a few ceiling beams, bench and stool seating and lots of brassware including some discreet railway memorabilia and some less discreet, there's a cabinet of silverware, for golf I believe, given the golf clubs hanging from the ceiling. CAMRA mags are available in one corner and there are certificates for fund raising for Help for Heroes.