...The Black Horse, West Tytherley, Hampshire.
This could be a sub-series of 'Garden Hermit Goes...' blog posts, the number of which is unknown. It is based on my, and Mrs GH's, random wanderings to find a village pub for lunch. May they long continue...
Our most recent random wandering took us to the village of West Tyrtherley, Hampshire, a Doomsday book village, whose church, St Peters, has the oldest bell in the world (nearly). It is dated to 1260, though it is said that a museum in Bulgaria has a bell which is 1211 - 1216.
And here it is on the map...
In addition to the pub (more on that shortly), it has a village hall, post office/shop, loads of chocolate box cottages...
... a good few of which have porch supports made of tree branches...
...which might relate to some kind of ancient practice or custom in the locality, I don't know, but perhaps someone else does?.
Without doubt a very nice Hampshire village.
Most importantly it has that essential hub of the community, a pub.
The Black Horse is a 17th century coaching inn presumably originally to serve travellers between Romsey and Salisbury (the two nearest towns) and beyond.
Today, there was something going on as the car park was partially fenced off and a group of men appeared to be decorating it (the car park). Undeterred we parked on the village road and walked across to ask if the pub was open, which they confirmed it was.
Further enquiry revealed that the decorations were for a centenary celebration for the village football team, West Tyrtherley FC, taking place the day after.
West Tytherley FC are currently riding high in Div 1 of the Salisbury & District Sunday League, and I wondered whether thhe doyen of lower league (non-league?) football, Pubmeister had visited to watch a match at their ground, the recreation ground just across the road from the pub.
The decorations being put up included this natty display based on the teams nickname 'The Pigeons'
Anyway, back to the pub, and inside it definitely showed its history with loads of old character and charm.
I understand that this fireplace, according to the pub website, came from the nearby Norman Court manor house in 1830 and it is said to date back to the late 1600s.
At the bar, suitable country/farm style beers were available...
So I had a pint of Exmoor Ram (3.4%). A fine naturally crafted golden ale - lovely.
'Butcombe' for me, conjures up a bad memory of their 'optional' service charge, compulsorily and quietly applied to the food and drink bills in their own pubs, (see post here)*.
Even though still scarred by that event, I had a half of Butcombe's Adam Henson's Rare Breed Pale Ale (3.9%)...a pleasant copper coloured pale ale.
Like many pubs there wasn't too many customers at the Black Horse on this weekday lunchtime (at least while we were there), which is a shame. The food was tasty and good value, cask beers were well kept, a traditional village pub, deserving of more custom.
At least I hoped that the following days celebrations for West Tytherley FC's centenary, would be a bumper day for the pub too.
The three wise monkeys will probably know!
*Such sneaky service charge practices are of course, avialable at other outlets.
