Branch Diary Archive 2008

Interested in what we did in 2007? Click here!.

January 2008
Tues 8th Branch Meeting – Richmond Inn, Portswood, Southampton – 8pm.
Thurs 17th GBG Selection meeting – Richmond Inn, Portswood, Southampton – 7.30pm.
Fri 18th

Monthly Beer Bus – A chance to go to some of our less accessible pubs, departing Southampton Central Station (Toys R Us side) – 7:30pm. Destinations TBA. Please contact Alex for the Beer Bus

Sat 26th Late Christmas Party – South Western Arms, St. Denys, Southampton – 8pm. If you can, please contact Chris (023 8055 4881) to let him know if you are coming.
   
February 2008
Tues 12th Branch Meeting – Richmond Inn, Portswood, Southampton – 8pm.
Fri 15th

Monthly Beer Bus – A chance to go to some of our less accessible pubs, departing Southampton Central Station (Toys R Us side) – 7:30pm. Destinations Three Horseshoes, Bighton; Tichborne Arms, Tichborne; Flower Pots, Cheriton. Please contact Alex for the Beer Bus. Sorry, FULL!

Thurs 28th Feb -
Sun 2nd March
Belgium Trip - Zythos Beer Festival. 4 nights in Brugge (Bruges) . Contact Chris to book a place.
   
March 2008
Sat 8th Our neighbouring Surrey/Hants Borders Branch is having a Winchester Walkabout starting at 11.20 at the St.James Tavern and invites local members to join with them.
Tues 11th Branch Meeting and Pub of the Year vote – Richmond Inn, Portswood, Southampton – 8pm.
Thurs 13th Brewery visit to Ringwood Brewery. Departing Southampton Central Station (Toys 'R' Us side) 6pm. A 2 hour tour of the brewery, then retire to a pub for dinner featuring Ringwood's 30th anniversary ale. Cost £15. Phone Chris to book.
Fri 21st

Monthly Beer Bus Good Friday Special – A chance to go to some of our less accessible pubs, departing Southampton Central Station (Toys R Us side) – 7:30pm. Destinations TBA. Please contact Alex for the Beer Bus

   
April 2008
Tues 8th Branch Meeting – Richmond Inn, Portswood, Southampton – 8pm.
Wed 9th Annual Mike King Darts Competition – Guide Dog, Earls Road, Bevois Valley, Southampton ) – 7.30pm. Please register in advance for this event. To register or for further information contact Ian Black 023 8077 8906.
Fri 18th

Monthly Beer Bus A chance to go to some of our less accessible pubs, departing Southampton Central Station (Toys R Us side) – 7:30pm. Destinations: Three Tuns, Bransgore; Oak Inn, Bank; New Forest Inn, Emery Down. Please contact Alex for the Beer Bus

Sat 19th Visit to Tally Ho, Broughton beer festival. Sorry - too many competing events to make a coach trip viable. Some of us may still try to make it. The No.68 Salisbury - Winchester bus (pdf timetable 158KB [Link removed as it no longer works -- Ed]) stops very close by.
   
May 2008
Mon 5th Annual Itchen Navigation pub walk. A stroll along the old Itchen Navigation tow path calling in on a few pubs on the way. Depart from Woodmill Bridge, Southampton at 9:30am, reaching The Black Boy, Winchester around 2:30pm. Usually a pub or two more then a curry. Contact Pete Horn for this event (023 8076 9873 or 07968 809291 on the day).
Note:- Our usual first pub, The Prince of Wales, Bishopstoke Road, Bishopstoke, won't be opening until later, therefore we'll go to The Anglers, Riverside, Bishopstoke, which is just up the road & to the left from the Prince, and opens at 11am.
Tues 13th Branch AGM – Richmond Inn, Portswood, Southampton – 8pm. Are you able to help out running this branch, supporting campaigns or organising social events? If so, come along and join in.
Tues 20th Leafleting for Southampton Beer Festival – Meet at the Pensioners, Bedford Place – 7:30pm.
Fri 23rd

Monthly Beer Bus (Note - a week later than usual) A chance to go to some of our less accessible pubs, departing Southampton Central Station (Toys R Us side) – 7:30pm. Destinations: Bell Inn, St Cross, Winchester; Rack & Manger, Crawley; Black Boy, Winchester. Please contact Alex for the Beer Bus

   
June 2008
Wed 4th Pub of the Year Presentation, The Guide Dog, Earl's Road, Bevois Valley, Southampton, 8pm
Thurs 5th – Sat 7th

Southampton Beer Festival 2008. Staff needed from Wednesday to Sunday. Please help if you can on any day. See here for staffing details.

Tues 10th Branch Meeting – Richmond Inn, Portswood, Southampton – 8pm.
Fri 20th Monthly Beer Bus – departing Southampton Central Station (Toys R Us side) – 7:30pm. A chance to go to some of our less accessible pubs, Destinations: Hare & Hounds, Sway; Forester's Arms, Brockenhurst; Royal Oak, Fritham. Please contact Alex for the Beer Bus
Tues 24th Southampton Beer Festival Wash-up Meeting Richmond Inn, Southampton – 8pm
For anyone who worked at the beer festival who would like to give feedback.
Thurs 26th

Hamble Amble – Meeting at The Victory – just after 8pm. A walkabout of pubs in Hamble. Take the No 16 bus from Southampton Poundtree Road.

   
July 2008
Fri 4th Independents Day Walkabout – An impromptou social due to a request to continue with tradition. Independents day coincides with America's Independence day and visits pubs within the branch area that serve beer from independent breweries.
Meet South Western Arms, St Denys from 7:30pm to depart for the Dolphin, St Denys at around 9pm and later onto branch pub of the year, The Guide Dog. Locations of pubs.(NB multimap does not recognise the footbridge at St Denys Station.)
Tues 8th Branch Meeting Abbey Hotel, Romsey – 8pm prompt start. To be followed by Romsey walkabout for those interested
Fri 18th Monthly Beer Bus – departing Southampton Central Station (Toys R Us side) – 7:30pm. A chance to go to some of our less accessible pubs, Destinations: Compass Inn, Winsor; Lamb, Nomansland; Cuckoo, Hamptworth. Please contact Alex for the Beer Bus
 
August 2008
Tues 5th – Sat 9th Great British Beer Festival – Earl's Court, London
Tues 12th Branch MeetingFleming Arms, Swaythling – 8pm prompt start
Fri 15th Monthly Beer Bus – departing Southampton Central Station (Toys R Us side) – 7:30pm. A chance to go to some of our less accessible pubs, Destinations: Crofton, Hill Head; Wickham Wine Bar, Wickham; Wheatsheaf, Shedfield. Please contact Alex for the Beer Bus
Sat 16th Wessex Regional Meeting – Ringwood Brewery – midday
 
Sun 24th Branch Summer Social – Southwestern Arms
This is the Southwestern Arms' One Year Celebration after Shona and Ryan took over.
Mon 25th Annual Informal Cricket knock-about and picnic – Southampton Sports Centre – 12 noon. Meet on the cricket pitch nearest the Dunkirk Road car park, or phone 079 6880 9291 to find out which pitch we've moved to. All standards welcome – yes we really mean this, no experience necessary. Everyone gets to bat and bowl. If it rains we'll retire somewhere dry for the picnic. Please contact Pete for this event.
Fri 29th Bowman Ales Hampshire Beer of the Year Presentation Evening – Southampton Central – 7:30pm, £10 minibus fare. Still a few places left. Please contact Steve to book for this event.
September 2008
Tues 9th Branch Meeting Richmond Inn, Southampton – 8pm prompt start
Sat 13th Oakleaf Brewery Beer of the Festival Presentation – 12:03 train from Southampton Central to Portsmouth Harbour (Arr. 12:55), then the Gosport Ferry over to the brewery (arriving at around 13:30).
It is expected that we'll visit the Clarence (and maybe some other pubs afterwards). Contact Alex - 07xxx xxxxxx to book for this event.
Fri 19th Monthly Beer Bus – departing Southampton Central Station (Toys R Us side) – 7:30pm. A chance to go to some of our less accessible pubs, Destinations: Red Lion, Milford-on-Sea; Fleur de Lys, Pilley; Turfcutter's, East Boldre. Please contact Alex for the Beer Bus
Thurs 25th Winchester Walkabout – Start Old Gaolhouse about 19:40. 20:30 leave to Wykeham Arms. 21:30 Leave for black Boy. 22:30 Leave for Eclipse. 23:30 Old Gaolhouse for a quick half before train home. If travelling from Southampton take 1915 train (arr. 1930). Train home 00:12, stopping at Eastleigh, Parkway St. Denys & Central (arr. 00:35). Or take the Bluestar 1 bus, only £1.20 each way & last bus back @ 23:35.
   
October 2008
Tues 14th Branch Meeting Waterloo Arms, Freemantle – 8pm prompt start.
Fri 17th Monthly Beer Bus – departing Southampton Central Station (Toys R Us side) – 7:30pm. A chance to go to some of our less accessible pubs, Destinations: Cricketer's Inn, Easton; Hinton Arms, Hinton Ampner; Flower Pots, Cheriton. Please contact Alex for the Beer Bus
Fri 24th Triple FFF Brewery Visit Depart Soton Central Station 6:45pm prompt. Returns to Southampton Central at 11:30pm.THIS TRIP IS NOW FULL Cost £15 per head.
   
November 2008
Sat 1st Wessex Regional Meeting– Florence, Southsea, PO5 2NE – midday
Wed 5th Beer & Bangers – From 7pm, Guide Dog, Earls Rd. Southampton SO14 6SF.
Mon 10th Wetherspoons' Beer Festivals Walkabout Meet Bright Water Inn, Shirley from 7pm to depart on a tour of the other 3 Southampton Wetherspoons. A loose social event for Steve's birthday so feel free to come and go as you please.
Tues 11th Branch Meeting Abbey Hotel, Romsey – 8pm prompt start. To be followed by Romsey walkabout for those interested
Thurs 13th
  – Sun 16th
4 day Belgian Trip, including Brewery visit and the second Brugge Beer Festival
Coach from Southampton Central Station, 3 nights Hotel accommodation. Cost £190 per person sharing, £210 single room.
Contact Chris Brown on 023 8055 4881 or in person at Bitter Virtue, 70 Cambridge Road, Southampton or Chris@bittervirtue.co.uk
Fri 21st Monthly Beer Bus – departing Southampton Central Station (Toys R Us side) – 7:30pm. A chance to go to some of our less accessible pubs, Destinations: John O'Gaunt, Horsebridge; Mill Arms, Dunbridge; Newport / Wheatsheaf (TBC), Braishfield. Please contact Alex for the Beer Bus FULL
December 2008
Sun 7th Ballards Walk – A visit to Ballards Brewery, Nyewood, West Sussex for the launch of their seasonal beer, then a walk across fields or along roads with about 100 others to some of the local pubs serving Ballards beers. A great annual event. Contact Steve (details above) if you are interested – with enough people we'll organise a bus.CANCELLED DUE TO LOW NUMBERS
Tues 9th Branch Meeting Duke of Wellington, Bugle Street – 8pm prompt start. To be followed by local pub visits if people interested.
December
Sat 13th Beer Train to Brighton– We will be getting the 10:36 (arr 12:18) train from Southampton Central Station - meet on the platform 10 minutes before. You will need to buy your own train ticket. You're welcome to just turn up on the day. The plan is to have lunch in the Battle of Trafalgar (I'll pre-book tables for those who confirm that they're coming along in advance). After that, we'll visit some other pubs in Brighton (itinerary TBC) and stop off somewhere on the way home. Those coming along may join the itinerary for as little or as much as they like.
Please contact Alex for the Beer Train.
Thurs 18th Mailout Envelope Stuffing – and pre-Xmas social. Meet at the Southwestern Arms, St Denys 7:30pm
Mon 29th Post-Christmas Pubcrawl – Meet at the Waterloo Arms, Freemantle 7pm for walk about local pubs.