The Albion, Winchester

My old Hampshire beer guide reveals that this small wedge shaped pub was probably once a Watney's pub. It's now run by the Flowerpots brewery who seem to be a lot bigger than the brew pub at Cheriton last time I was in the area. It's a basic wooden floored room which on my early Thursday afternoon visit had a mix of suits from Winchester's offices and locals. The four hand pumps had Flowerpots Hopton Pale, Goodens Gold & Bitter and Dark Star Hophead. I went for the Goodens Gold (£3.20) which was excellent. This one and the Spoons were the only pubs of the five visited in Winchester that I liked.

The pub has had a spruce up since my last visit back in 2009. The layout is the same but there is now a bright and airy feel with red lower wainscoting and cream upper walls, hops are wound around the beams. The pub now sells beers from Flowerpot, Bitter, Perridge Pale, the sublime Gooden's Gold plus Spring Loaded yesterday. We visited at lunch and again early evening, beers were spot on and the pub lively and friendly. A shelf above the bar contains stacks of beer bottles. Score upped accordingly.