[Closed] Where am I drinking in Basingstoke?

Are there any decent places to drink in Basingstoke

No.

or do we go with plan B and hop on a train to Waterloo?

Yes

Somewhere nice to go in Basingrad...!

That’s a tough one, a very very tough one. I’d prefer downtown Mogadishu tbh (or just head for Waterloo).

I’ve not lived there for nearly 20 years now.  The only pub I remember what the KnifeJar (NightJar) in the middle of town which was like a Weatherspoons but with worse beer and way more fighting 🙂

I once had a freelance job on in Basingstoke that forced me to stay over there (nobody would do so through choice)

There was a United Champions League game on that evening that I didn't want to miss. So I asked the lads I was working with if there was a decent pub I could watch it in.

They all replied in unison 'there are no decent pubs in Basingstoke'.

I wouldn't have this so as it was a nice evening I wandered around from grim shithole to grim shithole trying to find somewhere even borderline inhabitable before concluding that they were indeed right.

Unless you're idea of fun is a Weatherspoons type affair full of coked up scaffolders, I'd go somewhere else.

How the **** people endure an existence in places like Basingstoke, I have no idea

I used to live in Reading. It's worse than Reading.

Plan B, yes.

I used to live in Reading. It’s worse than Reading.

I would like to dispute this. Sadly Martin is right.

I think we used to get a train to Winchester where there were some great pubs.

by 'eck, I fort everywhere wer posh darn sowf.

Plan B it is.

Can't you re-book your accommodation? There may be some rather good deals on hotels in Central London at the moment for some reason.

Of course, they may close the whole joint by next weekend, at which point Basingstoke will be your only option. Truly the end times are upon us. 🙂

Winchester is not far down the M3. The tour takes place in Whitchurch, which isn't Basingstoke.

There might be somewhere nice to stay in Overton or Whitchurch, which are just along the valley from Laverstoke where the distillery us.

It is a dump of the highest order. Head anywhere else, some nice country pubs if you head south.

Of course this is classic XC territory with Watership Down not far away, will you be bringing bikes?

Stay in Whitchurch - there are lots of great country pubs in the area or as said, take the train to Winchester.

I was in hotels in Basingstoke for 3 years for a project. Never found a decent pub. Bel and the Dragon at Kingsclere is on the same side of town as Bombay Sapphire, and although it's a pub is quite civilised. They have decent rooms too.

Watership Down is a cracking pub very near the Bombay Saphire place
Overton White Heart is an Upham Foodie pub with nice rooms
As you mention cocktails though You need London or Winchester imo

I'm going to do the distillery tour next month, if you get chance please let me know what you think. Enjoy!!

I grew up in Basingstoke - got to know London quite well!

Bartons Mill was a place that was walkable (to Old Basing), it was good back in the day and a nice setting. Probably surrounded by Barratt homes now!?

I like the idea of a cocktail bar in basingstoke. A gap in the market if there ever was one.

if you are after cocktails then London is probably preferable to hampshire. Though there was a bar in lymington that was ok. I went to a great bar near Trafalgar Square. This was a couple of decades ago, so it may be closed and I can’t remember the name.

We used to have to stay frequently at the basingstoke Hilton with work, it became known as the Bangkok Hilton. Awful place! Went to a pub in town one night, and it was the closest I've ever felt to things just kicking off for no reason, proper mindless violence vibe.

Bearing in mind I used to drink in various parts of Greenock and Port Glasgow, which were rough as ****, but somehow more predictable in the mental-ness.

Avoid!

Agree with Winchester idea, lovely place.

You all make Basingstoke sound terrible, I've never been there, but it can't be worse than Merthyr Tydfil can it?

I lived there for about 18 months. It's certainly not the best but I have quite fond memories of the biking to the South of the town. It's where I got properly into riding and there are loads of nice bridleways. Being a new town it also has an extensive networks of paths for running / cycling so from an exercise point of view it's pretty good.

It is however a cultural wasteland. The excellent road and rail links partially offset this but by god it is fairly bleak. I was there pre precipitous decline of the high street and shopping centres so lord knows what it's like now. As a place to work / live for families it would be far from the worst by UK standards. As a place to voluntarily go for leisure, no.

We stayed at the watershipdown inn - great pub, does gin cocktails and good food.

You do know the distillery has a rather funky bar itself? which we drank quite a lot in.

I believe they also offer a 'gin bus' to and from the station so you can stay there for quite a few.

I'd not bother with amazingstoke or long journeys back to London. Just sit in the distillery bar and enjoy it.

As above, don't bother with the Stoke.

The Watership is a fine spot, great beer and food. No idea about the rooms, but if the rest of the pub is anything to go by, should be grand. Walking distance to Bombay.

The White Hart in Overton. Beer is OK, wine and food very good. There's a free bus shuttle, or a walk if you like. The route along the road is full, but doable.

If you're in Overton, be sure to pop in to Caviste. Superb wine merchant, plenty gin as well.

Winchester is OK, but on a different train line. If you want a nice place to visit, far easier (and better), to head west to Salisbury, about 25mins on the train.

As CG rightly points out, it's great country around here, so if you're bringing bikes, I've got routes. Not super gnar, but great fun. Very gravel friendly.

Ah, Salisbury might be a good shout.

There's a famous cathedral there, the Salisbury cathedral. It's famous not just in all of Europe, it's famous all over the world I think. It's famous for its 123-metre spire, its famous for its clock, the first clock made in the world that still runs.

Thanks all for the heads up, I'm a little disappointed in myself for assuming that everywhere within an hour of London had been sufficiently gentrified. We've now adjusted plans to see friends in London after the tour.

@beaker - will report back on the tour.

a little disappointed in myself for assuming that everywhere within an hour of London had been sufficiently gentrified

There's plenty of excellent stuff in the area, just not in Basinggrad.

You all make Basingstoke sound terrible, I’ve never been there, but it can’t be worse than Merthyr Tydfil can it?

We didn't call it Boringstoke for no reason. It's rubbish. Or at least it was 25 years ago.

Go to Winchester by train. Only takes 15 minutes. Pretty sure there's a "just past eleven" train back.

Pleased that you've returned Cap'n, you had us worried you know!