The Whitchurch Public House

Over one hundred years ago the Star newspaper described Whitchurch with:

“Whitchurch is in Hampshire. People who live in it call it a town.
People who live out of it call it a village.
It is about as big as a good-sized pocket handkerchief.
It has three shops and 19 public houses.”

Much has happened since that was written but Whitchurch is still a town, a status proudly guarded by its 4500 residents. The Royal Charter was awarded in 1285 and each year a Mayor and burgesses were elected to govern the town with the existing Town Hall, built around 1790, dominating the centre and where the Town Council now conducts its business.

Special places
The Public House holds a special place in the town's history, but over the years many have been lost and along with them part of the town's special character. There are now just five left, plus one 'Club'. That character must not be eroded any more.

Presently the pubs are:
The White Hart, The Kings Arms, The Prince Regent, The Bell Inn, The Red House, and the Whitchurch Sports & Social Club.

Reasons for demise

There are many reasons claimed for the closure of pubs – changes in social habits, increasing costs through taxation and duty, competition from supermarkets, the smoking ban, the extortionate restrictive practices of Pub Companies, pressures on land, high taxation and business rates ... the list goes on, and we can all add more to it.

Massive benefits to the Town
But what is often missed are the massive benefits the public house brings to a community as part of its social, economic and historical fabric. They are places were people meet, talk, exchange ideas, debate and put the world to rights.

They provide venues for local clubs and societies, from reading groups to craft circles and from darts teams to quiz teams. They raise thousands each year through charity events ranging from simple raffles and coffee mornings through to sponsored chest waxing with proceeds being fed back to enhance the lives of Whitchurch people.

And who cannot mention the annual Pub Race where over 200 Fancy Dress participants fill the town with music, colour and hilarity whilst filling the charity buckets with donations.

Pubs also provide entertainment in many forms ranging from singers to discos and from folk to cabaret. Whitchurch has a long history in the music world with several nationally prominent musicians in traditional, classical and modern music fields – all having started in the local pubs.

The local economy

But its not just socialising and entertainment that pubs provide. Pubs add enormously to the local economy in both attracting visitors into the area as well as being a source of employment for many.

They provide work for local tradespeople such as window cleaners, gardeners, electricians, plumbers, and taxi companies. The income earned by these tradespeople will often be returned into the local economy in supporting local shops and businesses, providing an ongoing livelihood for a great many people.

Our town's publicans – Let us raise a glass

The worth each pub brings to Whitchurch is almost beyond value. This is only possible by the hard work of the town's publicans who too often are forgotten. Hours are long, the work is tough and the financial rewards often poor.

Without the publicans our town's well-being would be massively depleted; its heritage and culture diminished.

Let us all make a resolution to call into one of our fine pubs and raise a glass to the unstinting commitment of our landlords, landladies and their staff.
They deserve our gratitude.

Cheers!

Pubs top to bottom:
The White Hart, The Kings Arms, The Prince Regent, The Bell Inn, The Red House (currently closed), and the Whitchurch Sports & Social Club.
(technically the Sports and Social Club is not a pub but in the context of this item it acts the same – a valuable amenity to Whitchurch)

There are two local Pub related sites that may be worth looking at (Facebook):

WHITCHURCH PUB HUB and

NORTH HAMPSHIRE and UPPER TEST PUB GROUP

National campaigning site:

CAMRA