Progress at the Bell

A significant internal refurbishment project at the Bell commenced early in February and it is planned to be complete by the middle of April. Our plan is for formal reopening celebrations over the week-end of the May Day Bank Holiday 1st – 3rd May and we look forward to welcoming many of the local residents over the week-end. More details of this event will be broadcast over the coming weeks.

We are delighted that Neil and Helen Sanders have accepted an offer to become the managers of the Bell and are anticipating taking up residence in the pub early in April. Neil has managed a number of pubs in the Hampshire area and Helen met him when she took part time work at a pub he was managing.

Should we rename the pub?

One of the matters which we have been considering recently is the opportunity for renaming the Bell. This has arisen out of a desire to explore the possibility of choosing a name which might be more closely associated with the village.

Suggestions already brought forward centre around the history attaching to the Rev. John Schorne – part of the bar is already named after him – and include The Well, The Devil in a Boot and The Jack in a Box.

Changing the name of a village amenity can raise fierce passions and we would like to have input from anyone who has an interest in the topic. Please let us know your thoughts; we would like to ensure that any change has support from the community. You can make your views known by completing the form below, or by contacting either Steve George – 01296 682367 or email, or John Gregory – 01296 682751 or email.