The Flowerpots Inn, Alresford

This is an idiosyncratic little pub in the chocolate-box Hampshire village of Cheriton, which serves as something of a brewery tap for the Flowerpots Brewery which is on the same site. It has an old fashioned two-bar arrangement and a pleasant little garden complete with a marquee which serves I presume as a smokers' shelter. The Flowerpots beers were in pretty good form (Perridge Pale & Flowerpots Bitter sampled) and cheap for the area at around the £2.30 mark. This pub is clearly very popular with both locals and those passing but I feel I must draw something of a negative from the rather off-hand service - possibly a result of a busy Sunday lunchtime of trade. Still, I enjoyed my visit nonetheless.

A detached un-rendered brick house and extension, with patio and beer garden, that also is a B&B, camp site, does food and of course, is home to the Flower Pots Brewery within spitting distance from the pub door. In GBG 2010. The interior has two rooms served by the same wood panel bar; a small bar/lounge and a larger lounge/dining area with wood tables and chairs. The décor was a mix of red and cream, with some exposed brick and stone, with a couple of fireplaces with nice fires going. There was some odd ephemera dotted about and certificates on the walls. The service was great, the clientele mixed age and seemingly both local and visitors, but the place had a friendly atmosphere, with the chap behind the bar asking for my preferences as I went through their brews. There was no music or TV. Beer; tap stuff, with four handpulls; Perridge Pale was OK, the Flowerpots Bitter nice, the Goodens Gold very good and the IPA was class. Sadly, I missed their MILD! A fantastic place. It is friendly and serves decent beer. A must visit if you are passing, and too be honest, even if you are not! I long to go back.