Date: 15 Decemer 2012 Basingstoke Round the World

Sampled by:

ROC, KOC, TM, PC, RN and PV

With Frank’s 60th Birthday Party scheduled for the usual Saturday selected for RTW, the annual foreign quest was undertaken a week earlier. With no ‘guests’ traveling with Mengo this year, PV was left to drink ‘British’ on his own this time.

Pub Location Post Code
Maidenhead Inn Basingstoke RG21 7ED
Comment
A typical J D Wetherspoon outlet (probably) converted from a bank. With the arrival of Mengo the regular cast of drinkers was completed – disgruntled travelers to Basingstoke gratefully arriving at an older part of town after suffering the walk through the centre destroyed by the planners and developers.

Brewer Beer % Price Mark Comment
Orkney Clootie Dumpling 4.3 £2.10 3.5 -
Lodden Ferrmen's Gold 4.4 £2.10 3.5 -
Titanic Plum Porter 4.9 £2.10 3.0 -
Jennings Red Breast 4.5 £2.10 3.0 -
Beer Country % Price Mark Comment
Moretti Italy 4.6 £3.09 for 660ml
Baltika Russia 5.5 £2.55 for 500ml
Pub Location Post Code
Wheatsheaf Basingstoke RG21 8EU
Comment
A large part of the main bar was devoid of furniture signifying this pubs main earner as a music venue. It was therefore not surprising there was no real ale for PV to try. Overall the place looked a bit run down but the locals were at least friendly and offered directions to our next pub.

Brewer Beer % Price Mark Comment
Beer Country % Price Mark Comment
Singha Thailand 5.0 £3.50 - 330ml
Pub Location Post Code
Bounty Inn Basingstoke RG21 8EU
Comment
This was a nice old local boozer with customers doted around the many individual bars. The Gents are still outside – something you don’t come across often nowadays.

Brewer Beer % Price Mark Comment
Triple fff Alton's Pride 3.8 £3.30 2.5 -
Moorhouse White Witch 3.9 - 2.5 Went off when we arried
Beer Country % Price Mark Comment
Mahou Spain 5.5 £3.50 - 330ml
Amstel Holland 4.1 £3.55 - 330ml
Pub Location Post Code
Bakers Arms Basingstoke RG21 7ED
Comment
Old town centre pub next to the J D Wetherspoon outlet. This Greene King tie was very busy with a choice of football and rugby available from different screens.

Brewer Beer % Price Mark Comment
Morland Old Speckled Hen 4.5 £2.90 2.0 -
Beer Country % Price Mark Comment
Corona Mexico 4.5 £3.55 - 330ml
Pub Location Post Code
Rhu Bar Basingstoke RG21 7NT
Comment
The choice was between The Kings Hotel and the Rhu Bar. TM reported the hotel had nothing special to try while KOC said the bar had lots of foreign beers on. Unfortunately KOC had been swayed by the barmaid – most of the lagers were brewed in the UK. The place could be described as quirky or, alternatively, a dive.

Brewer Beer % Price Mark Comment
Beer Country % Price Mark Comment
Stella Artois Belgium 4.9 £3.90 2.0 Unfortunately not black
Brahma Brazil 4.8 - - 330ml - Brewed in the UK
Pub Location Post Code
White HArt Basingstoke RG21 4AE
Comment
Old style pub just off the main centre. Warm and welcoming the foreign drinkers found the most unusual beers of the day – PC even brought some to take away and obtained a free jar to drink them with.

Brewer Beer % Price Mark Comment
Beer Country % Price Mark Comment
Andwell Ruddy Darter 4.6 £3.40 1.5 -
Jeremiah Weed USA 4.0 £3.50 - 500ml - Kentucky
Jeremiah Weed USA 4.0 £3.50 - 500ml
Pub Location Post Code
Lloyds No 1 Basingstoke RG21 7BB
Comment
Loud, brash and busy, this J D Wetherspoon at least has a good selection of British and foreign beers to try.

Brewer Beer % Price Mark Comment
Lodden Hullabaloo 4.2 - 3.0 -
J W Lee Plum Pudding 4.8 - 3.0 -
Beer Country % Price Mark Comment
Tyskie Poland 5.6 - 500 ml - Brewed in UK 330ml
Pub Location Post Code
Queens Arms Basingstoke RG21 7JE
Comment
This proper pub is very near the railway station and does not require walking through the shopping Mall. Indeed with this nearby pub there is no need to venture far into Basingstoke at all – which seems a good idea to some of us. A slight disaster occurred – PV spilt beer all over his notes.

Brewer Beer % Price Mark Comment
RCH Steam Sleigh 3.8 £3.45 3.5 -
York Three Kings 4.5 £3.45 3.5 -
Gree Jack Red Robin 3.8 £3.45 3.5 -
Beer Country % Price Mark Comment
Beck's Germany 4.8 £3.50 330 ml 330ml