+44 (0)203 868 4999
or enquiries@epicurean.club

From 2023 the Epicurean Club becomes Loupe

In addition to the pubs-with-rooms we cover here, you'll find a much broader collection of off-the-beaten-track beach huts and massive party castles, hidden oyster shacks and innovative chef's tables, high-stake adrenalin adventures and stories tracking trends and events from all corners of the British Isles.

Explore Loupe before anyone else and when the full site launches you'll get an exclusive membership discount. If you have any questions, you can reach us at info@loupe-uk.com or 020 3868 4999.

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The Woolpack Inn

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Overview

Located in the heart of the smallest hamlet in England, this Grade I listed flint and brick inn exudes warmth, charm and comfort. Surrounded by the wide open farmland of Hampshire's serene Candover Valley, renowned for shooting, fishing, cycling and walking, the Woolpack is a great destination for an activity-based escape.

But if you just want to settle into a comfy leather armchair and sit by a roaring fire with a drink in hand, then it's perfect for that too. Tuck into delicious seasonal food - with traditional pub classics offered alongside more imaginative dishes - which you can eat by the fire in the classic flagstone-floored bar, dining room or on outdoor dining terrace, replete with a wood-fired pizza oven.

There are seven well-appointed guest rooms for overnight stays and dogs are warmly welcomed.

Rooms from

7 doubles: £100


Good to know

  • All major credit cards accepted
  • Private & alfresco dining
  • Parking available
  • Dog stay: £15
  • Helicopter landing site available

Walking

Walking opportunities abound locally - don your boots and follow the Itchen Valley Way from Alresford to Winchester (bus back), walk a section of the South Downs Way (south of Cheriton), or explore the tracks and footpaths that radiate from the inn's front door.

Dog-friendly
Your four-legged friends are very welcome to accompany you on an overnight stay and in the dining areas. Dog bowls and beds can be provided as well.

Rooms

Nestled in the heart of Candover Valley's spectacular shooting country, each of the seven en suite rooms are named after a game bird.

There are six cosy double bedrooms and the spacious Golden Pheasant suite comprises two doubles and a shared bathroom. Converted from the original stables, exposed flint walls and wooden beams exude rustic charm with plenty of home comfort - think fluffy towels, Egyptian cotton linen, fresh milk in the fridge, and gun cabinets for the shooting fraternity.

Restaurant & bar

Making the most of its rural surroundings, the menu features dishes made with the best and freshest local ingredients, including estate game, trout from the Itchen chalk stream, artisan dairy cheeses and watercress from the Alresford beds.

You can choose to dine in the traditional bar area, dining room or in the heated outside area. In summer, head outside to the well-equipped outdoor kitchen and order a fresh baked pizza from the wood-fired oven. Typical dishes include brisket burger with fries and onion relish, chicken, tarragon and creamy leek pie, and rhubarb and custard crumble pie. Don't miss the roast pork Sunday lunches.

The bar stocks top-quality real ales, including their very own Ramshead, brewed especially for the inn by the Marston's brewery in the Midlands, and a wide range of wines. Don't miss the unique cocktails either - a heady mix of home infused vodkas (garlic, basil and chilli), and a special scotch and fiery Mary mix.

Private dining

The private dining room seats 12 and has its own terrace. For larger parties, the private courtyard can accommodate up to 150 guests. Alternatively, the bar and dining room which can seat up to 50, can be easily divided to suit event requirements.

Experiences
Things to do

Located in the Candover Valley, a pretty corner of Hampshire sandwiched between the North Wessex Downs and the South Downs. The landscape is dominated by open downland pasture (for sheep) and arable fields (for wheat, barley and rape), but there's a lot of unspoilt countryside, including pretty woodlands and chalk downs, that can be explored via footpaths and bridleways that criss-cross the valley.

If you are after a shot of heritage and culture, head to Winchester - England's ancient capital, former seat of King Alfred the Great and home to Winchester Cathedral, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Alternatively, head to nearby New Alresford, which is home to independent shops, tearooms and pubs, as well as being the final destination on the Watercress Line, a vintage railway which gets its name from its early days transporting watercress from local farms to London.

Getting here

Directions

Nearest train station: Winchester
Taxi from station: 15min
Drive: Basingstoke 25min; Andover 30min; Southampton 30min; London 1hr 20min

Address

Totford, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9TJ

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Prices & availability