Saturday 16th to Saturday 23rd February 2008

It's a frightening reality that at least 56 pubs are closing in Britain each month and early indications of new research suggest that this figure could actually be significantly higher. Worse still, the majority of these pubs are not high street chain bars or theme pubs, but community pubs, recognised by most people these days, as important community amenities.
The local pub, after all, is often the heart of the community.
We believe several Whitchurch Pubs may be at risk!

CAMRA ran a number of events in Whitchurch over the 2008 Community Pubs Week.
READ OUR REPORT...
The week opened with real ale enthusiasts representing pub users in the Wessex area (IOW, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and the Channel Islands) meeting at the White Hart.
Special guest Roger Protz, the world's leading author and broadcaster on beers of the world, and regular columnist for national newspapers addressed the gathering with details of how beer-related publications are put together.
Following a superb buffet, a tour of several of the Town's pubs was undertaken, including the Bell, the Red House, the Harvest and the Prince Regent.
The party included two brewers, one of whom was able to sample the quality of his own beers, now regularly on sale in a Whitchurch pub!

Later in the week local CAMRA members met in the Harvest Home, where they enjoyed one of the renowned offers by Chris and Jane - their superb curry and a pint offer; enjoyed while Doug and Terry provided traditional musical entertainment.

The week ended with a sell-out coach tour.
After some excellent Goddards brews in the Bell, the coach took the party via a number of fine community pubs - the Wonston Arms, the King Charles Springvale, the Hyde Winchester and finally the Flowerpots in Cheriton. Here, the head brewer of the adjacent Flowerpots Brewery was presented with a certificate for the Beer of the Festival Award, gained at last November's Whitchurch Beer Festival.
The coach then came back to drop people off in Whitchurch after a very enjoyable evening out.

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CAMRA has successfully run National Pubs Week for four years in an attempt to convince more people to visit more pubs more of the time. CAMRA members across the country have worked hard to promote pub-going in response to the growth in home drinking. Despite low supermarket prices, nothing can match the British pub for its service and atmosphere.

Community Pubs Week complements a range of CAMRA-led initiatives including the Community Pubs Foundation, launched in 2005 to support campaigns to save local public houses by offering assistance to community groups, as well as a whole range of local campaigns by CAMRA to save and promote community pubs.

Community Pubs Week celebrates and promotes all community pubs - not just village locals, but urban gems too.

If you wish to help support local pubs , contact John on 07963237619 or 01256 892650