retiredmartin

August 2024. Upham. Southampton.

Slow but steady ticking last week, following up the obligatory Southampton micro with a more traditional pub in the smart South Downs villages,  which probably claim allegiance with Winchester.

616 souls in Upham, but the Brushmakers still took unexpected effort to track down,

but ain’t it gorgeous?

Bench seating, fresh flowers, lit candles in the dining area,

and all the action at the bar.

“DON’T have the Flowerpots” says bloke drinking Steam Town.

“Why, is it your last barrel ?“. Villagers can be oddly resistant to visitors drinking their beer.

Nope, he just doesn’t think it’s great, and the half I’d coincidentally drunk in Hythe in that terrible glass was tired, but here it was vibrant (not Forest).

The beer was cool, the pub was warm and friendly,

locals and landlady filling me in on Bishop Waltham gossip.

And if you’ve never been to the Grapes in Bishop Waltham, you really should. Take out a mortgage first.