The Bridge Inn, Winchester

Shawford's village pub next to its railway station is a Chef & Brewer establishment. It wins the prize for the most over-elaborated safety precautions I've witnessed since lockdown. We were shown to a table, passing the bar on the way. I clocked the beers and was happy to see Lilley's Bee Sting Perry on handpull. I ordered a half at the table, only to be told that it wasn't on. Never mind, I'll have the White Horse Village Idiot instead. That's not on either. Basically, none of the pumpclips displayed were available. The only ales on were Greene King IPA & Abbot & Black Sheep Best Bitter. So, it was soft drinks all round. Whilst consuming said drinks, about a dozen staff were busy trying to clean every spare inch of space. One table adjacent to us, which remained unoccupied and untouched during the duration of our stay. Yet, it was sprayed and wiped with an anti-bacterial spray on three separate occasions. The gents toilets were immaculate, which was hardly surprising having witnessed one member of staff rigorously polishing the base of the disabled toilet. A very clean pub with a deceiving drinks range, a surplus of staff and over-the-top practices. One for those scared to venture out of their houses!

Chef & Brewer by the train station and the Itchen Navigation. Usual C&B interior stylings, charmless faux rustic over a number of interconnected areas with quarry tile flooring. Big grassed garden overlooked by mature woodland is a big selling point. GBG listed and there were six pumps, two banks of three separated by a dividing pillar; Plain Ales rugby-themed beer, Ringwood 49er, Andwell King John, Milk St Funky Monkey (fine) with Abbot and White Horse off. Friendly barmaid. As a pub it didn’t do much for me (in the summer it’d worth it though) but the management are clearly making an effort with the beer.

Despite having been knocked about substantially and extended during various renovations, this Chef & Brewer pub / restaurant does at least retain a reasonable bar area in addition to the various dining spaces on either side. Also has a large patio terrace and beer garden beside the Itchen Navigation. I found five of six handpumps in use, offering a rather pedestrian selection of Greene King IPA, Pride, Landlord, Butcombe Bitter and Harvey's, with Rocking Rudolph on next by the look of things.

Official site of The Bridge Inn - www.chefandbrewer.com

Official site of The Bridge Inn - www.chefandbrewer.com