The Eight Bells, Alton

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.