Town Mills, Andover

A nice looking exterior and riverside setting, but once inside it becomes an ordinary family pub, rather bland and contrived,much like the beer on offer,all Wadworth of course, 6x,Horizon,Swordfish and the misnamed IPA, I had half a Horizon setting me back £2.15. Not overly impressed.

This is a Wadworth tied house although apart from a mention of 6X on the A board outside I could see no other signage. It's a converted mill and you can see a wheel driven by the water on the right as you enter. There is also an old juke box which may or may not be responsible for the dull muzak played. I would think not as nobody in their right mind would pay to listen to rubbish like that. Inside it's a rambling place with wooden floors and solid furniture. There are steps leading upstairs from the bar area from where I could hear the sound of pool being played. The bar has six hand pumps which had two unused and just the Wadworth options of IPA, 6X, Swordfish and Horizon. I went for the Swordfish (£3.95), a beer I don't recall trying before and in good nick but I wasn't impressed. Despite my antipathy towards Wadworth beers this isn't a bad place but if the Hampshire going rate is what I paid here I'm glad I ignored their outlet near Lymington Town Station a week before.

Attractive-looking exterior with a general ‘country pub in the town’ ambience and a faux-rustic interior which was somewhat spoilt by the pointless muted TV being on. Situated over two floors, the downstairs is a more rustic affair with the upstairs being more modern (pool tables and dart board). The furniture upstairs (which features some Chesterfields and sofas) is in a poor state and needs replacing but the ground floor is a lot nicer. Six ales were on, Wadworth line-up with a ‘guest’ of Morland Original. The two pints we had (Swordfish and Moonlight) were on good form. There’s a nice outdoor area adjoining the river and the main entrance of the pub. Perhaps the nicest feature is that the mill stream still runs through (under?) part of the pub and can be viewed at the entrance. In a town leaden with dreary pubs, this one is a winner and should be top of the list should you find yourself in the area.