They Don’t Like It...

Running Horse, Littleton (image courtesy of Google maps street view)

...up’em, said Corporal Jones in famous sitcom Dad’s Army (referring to fuzzie-wuzzies of course), but the subject of this post, Upham Brewery’s Running Horse, is quite the opposite - really a case of what is there not to like?
(Phew - I think I just about survived that tenuous title link).


This pub is in the lovely village of Littleton, near Winchester in Hampshire, an area known historically for racehorse training.  Not hard to get to, it is just a stones throw from the overburdened A34 dual carriageway on which southern folk head north, and northern folk head for the New Forest, Southampton cruise liners and possibly even the Isle of Wight.

The Running Horse (according to Upham Brewery’s own website) has pub history going back to 1853 when it was associated with the Lion Brewery of Farnham.  Today the pub is one of Upham Brewery’s small group of gastro-pubs.

The Upham Brewery is, by some peculiar coincidence, located near Upham in Hampshire.
(Map for place name aficionados - there is an Upham, a Lower Upham, but no Upper Upham).

Mrs GH and myself called in for lunch one weekday during a week off work, just as the brewery van was delivering fresh real ale - that’s service for you.

Upham’s thoroughbred in smart racing colours.

This is a pub unashamedly aimed at diners and is decorated in a tasteful, gentile fashion, bookshelves full of books, floral curtains, brick fireplace - a quiet, calm, and pleasant environment.  I would guess it still also manages to be a community pub for the village locals.
The breweries core range of 3 beers are usually on offer, Punter (best bitter), Stakes (premium bitter) and Tipster (golden ale).  A horse racing theme then, but this brewery could never be considered ‘racy', instead sticking to a well crafted core line up with the occasional  special beer.

Deservedly, the biggest photo is reserved for a very good pint of Punter in proper Upham glass

The food was spot-on too.....

Oh yes!  Upham ale battered fish, triple cooked chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce...

Though this pub is a bit 'out in the sticks’ and not ideal for getting home easily after a beery night out, there is another option as the pub has ‘rooms’.  Not just ordinary rooms in the pub mind, these are in converted buildings out the back.  I’d guess from the historic heritage of the area and horseshoes on the doors, that these were possibly old stables/tack rooms or for some other horsey purpose - not sure though.

Rooms at the back - just a short stagger from the beer garden.

Starting at £94 for a twin room it probably won’t feature on RM’s budget room list .....perhaps a taxi home would be cheaper...