The Queens Arms, Basingstoke

Pub closely situated near to Basingstoke train station. This does seem to be a CAMRA haunt, it may seem an unusual pub at first but this does feel like a real locals with men sitting at the bar chatting away. It is not somewhere to come out of the way for, but is a decent pub.

The Queen's Arms is a slightly run-down looking pub which seems a bit out of place in the modern town centre, but stepping inside is like entering a different world. The reception was a bit odd, and the staff a bit reserved. The clientele was mixed, ranging from a suited idiot who couldn't work out how to pay to a CAMRA cliche, quietly yet harmlessly knitting his own yoghurt in the corner. This is clearly a CAMRA haunt, as evinced by the various awards around the walls and the CAMRA newsletters from various parts of the country (though, curiously, none from Hampshire). The beer was fantastic, and despite appearances, the landlord abviously cares a great deal about it. There were 4 ales on when I visited; I tried both the Springhead Ginger Pig and the Ascot Ales Alley Cat - both were outstanding, pefectly kept and served at the right temperature. This is a great beer pub and surely a must for any town crawl. It's also very close to the station, so worth breaking a journey for and ideal if waiting for a train.

A busy pub next to the station, very probably the best in Basingstoke. Varied choice of good guest ales plus the usual range of fine keg beers. Decor is a particularly odd brewers tudor with genuine 16th century fibre glass beams. Older but not old customers and very much less chavvy than you normally find in Basingrad. A very pleasant place to wait for a train, in fact you will probably end up missing one or two trains.