A 'LITTLE chocolate box' in the Test Valley countryside, this destination pub has recently come under new management.
Located in the picturesque countryside of Hatherden, The Old Bell and Crown is an important part of the local community, and perhaps one of Andover's hidden gems.
"We are that little chocolate box destination pub in the countryside," says new landlady Lyndsay Kitson.
"You're not necessarily getting that town vibe, it's a great countryside location, we're surrounded by beautiful countryside, with quite a good network of roads so it's quite accessible, we have a picturesque garden and we have good parking."
Lyndsay was the front-of-house manager at this gorgeous 17th-Century thatched country pub for three years but has now made the step up to become the landlady.
She told the Advertiser: "Pubs were always something I've wanted to do, and now I've got the chance."
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Since taking the reins on June 6, Lynsday has had a positive start to life as landlady.
"We really hit the ground running, and we've been massively supported by locals who wanted to see a change within the pub
"My business plan was always to bring the pub back into the community - they have massively supported us.
"The community has already given us a massive cash injection and social injection and we've sustained that over the first four or five weeks."
Lyndsay's goal is to return the favour and get more involved with the locals.
"We'd like to give a bit back, we organised a music festival in July, which featured a lot of local bands and singers.
"We like to support local music, and we plan to feature more as time goes on.
As she finds her feet at the helm, Lyndsay has some exciting new ideas in the pipeline.
"We plan to start doing quiz nights soon, and we also want to plan some themed nights and going forwards offer some lighter menus for those who don't want a huge portion of food or to pay through their nose.
"We're also thinking about Christmas - I know we're only in July but you've got to think forward. We will offer a fantastic Christmas menu."
Lyndsay told the Advertiser that she is happy with the state the pub was in when she took over and that big changes weren't necessary.
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"We want to build on what has already been left, good pub food, drinks, that has put us in really good stead, I just want to build on this legacy that has been left to me.
"I didn't really want to change it an awful lot, we want to honour the legacy and be consistent, be open when we say we will be, and keep consistently good food.
"We've kept the same team but we want to try new things too, put my own, and our chef's own stamp on things like new specials and themed nights.
The Old Bell and Crown is only a stone's throw away from the crematorium, which means the pub gets a lot of business after funerals.
"We deliver quite a bespoke wake, which sounds quite morbid but this is a lovely venue where people come and relax after something that is really quite hard, so we pride ourselves on delivering a good service."
So what's on draft?
"Our beers are all Wadworths, the local brewery in Devizes, and we also have the popular lagers like Amstel and Birra Morretti, we try to pick ones that aren't the usual town pub type."
How about food?
"We are very much your traditional pub, we do a cracking Sunday roast, and serve classic pub food.
"We try to use suppliers as local as we can, particularly with meat like lamb, sometimes we do have to use suppliers from further afield."
A beautiful 17th-Century Hampshire country pub that is very much back in business under new leadership, The Old Bell and Crown takes the spot as the Advertiser's Pub of the Month for July 2023.
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