Village Pub Set to Reopen After Almost Two Years

Strategic Insights -

After a nearly two-year closure, a village pub in Alton is set to reopen as the Barn Owl under the ownership of Brunning and Price. The Binsted Road pub has undergone a transformation and is nearing completion. The venue will offer a unique experience with a new garden room, a terraced area with a vintage tractor for children, and a private dining room seating 16. The pub will also feature a cosy bar hosting seven local ales and rooms with a "restaurant-feel".

Key Takeaways:

  • The Barn Owl, formerly known as the Jolly Farmer, is set to reopen in November under the ownership of Brunning and Price.
  • The pub has been closed for nearly two years and has undergone a significant transformation.
  • The venue will feature a new garden room, a terraced area with a vintage tractor for children, and a private dining room seating 16.
  • The pub will have a cosy bar hosting seven local ales and rooms with a "restaurant-feel".
  • The Barn Owl will be dog-friendly, allowing both owners and their pets to enter.
  • Brunning and Price plans to hire over 50 local people for various roles, including front of house, kitchen, gardening, cleaning, and management.
  • Recruitment days will take place at the Blacknest Golf and Country Club on October 15 and 16.
  • The company has expanded significantly in the South and now operates 79 locations, including five with bedrooms.
  • The Barn Owl will offer a unique experience with a focus on good cask beers, freshly cooked food, and delicious and affordable wine.

Statistics:

  • 79 - The number of locations operated by Brunning and Price, including five with bedrooms.
  • 50+ - The number of local people the company plans to hire for various roles at the Barn Owl.
  • 15 October - The date of a recruitment day at the Blacknest Golf and Country Club.
  • 16 October - The date of the second recruitment day at the Blacknest Golf and Country Club.
  • 12pm - 6pm - The hours of the first recruitment day.
  • 9am - 3pm - The hours of the second recruitment day.

Sources:

  • "Basingstoke Wetherspoon pubs named in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 2026"
  • "Two pubs to host beer festival with up to 30 real ales"
  • Latest food hygiene ratings for Basingstoke pub and Salvation Army
  • "Brunning and Price also own the Mill House in Hook, the Leather Bottle in Mattingley, and the Refectory in Godalming."
  • "The Barn Owl will have a new garden room, a terraced area with a vintage tractor for children, and a private dining room seating 16."
  • Brunning and Price (brunningandprice.co.uk)