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Here is an interesting map for you. The New Forest on the west (left) side, Portsmouth and Southampton conurbations, centre and right, and bottom right a small diamond shaped island, which, remains largely undiscovered by pub bloggers. Though there was a brief expedition by the Famous Five (Four Old Farts and a Friend) in October 2018 (https://ghpub.blogspot.com/2018/10/five-find-lost-island-pt-1-ferry-to.html ) this failed to make much progress beyond the landing point. On a positive note however Retired Martin has discovered a new island in Sheffield...
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Today's expedition however, in pre-Lockdown2 August 2020, was along the blue line on the map from Hythe to the village of Sway in the New Forest. Long before 'Concrete Bob' McAlpine got to grips with the stuff, and built the Glenfinnan Viaduct for the Harry Potter movies, Sway found its claim to fame with mass concrete. The Sway Tower (photo above from Wiki) was built as a folly soon after the material was invented. There's a fascinating little account of it here... http://engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=125
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There are apparently a number of early mass concrete buildings in the Sway area, and one of the least mentioned is the mass concrete former piggery, now the premises of New Forest Koi, where we popped in for a bit of ornamental fish retail therapy (well at least we bought some fish food). (Image Google Maps)
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Naturally, as a retired Civil Engineer, I’d be happy to talk concrete all day, but you wouldn't appreciate it. However Sway also has a couple of pubs - so we couldn't pass by without stopping for a quick drink at the Hare and Hounds, a family owned hostelry. As the photo shows it's quite a big sprawling pub, but nevertheless as non-bookers we were informed on this lunchtime that there was no socially distanced room inside the Inn - but plenty of room in the rear garden.
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So - fully sanitised, we found a table in the garden and very efficient staff armed with smart pad computer thingies, quickly took our drinks order, while we relaxed and watched the pub garden world go by...
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In classic Hampshire dining pub tradition there was nothing much going on, just peace and quiet, with one or two families dining outside...
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...the distant sound of children in the play area, and a firmly grounded Granny fretting at Freddy frolicking fearlessly, far up on the climbing frame ...
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...and tree stump art...
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....and the gravity served cask house beverage specially for dogs.
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The waitress brought the drinks to the table and the Badger Best bitter was perfect for a sunny summer afternoon, (GHBSS 3).
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| As the lacings slid slowly down the glass it was almost paradise.... in fact the only thing that even slightly dented the calm
perfection that is Hampshire dining pubbing, was when a little boy
dashed back from the play area to his parents table, to announce
loudly and urgently, with appropriate trouser holding gesture, that he needed a wee... |
But will it be the same post Lockdown2?...
Soon, I may have to come out from behind the sofa and have a look....😁
