The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!
The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!
The London and Southampton Railway was first proposed in 1831 and the bill approved by Parliament in 1834 at a cost of £900,000. The section between Basingstoke and Winchester opened on 11 May 1840 – and was the final part of the London and Southampton Railway to be completed. Prior to its construction, all of the traffic between London and Southampton was carried by eight stage coaches, four wagons per week, and one barge weekly on the Basingstoke Canal!
Half Moon & Spread Eagle
Winchester Road
Micheldever
SO21 3DG
Micheldever Hampshire SO21 3DG
Winchester Road
What’s happening to our pub?
Recent History In 2019,
Nick Warr and Phil Penton purchased the pub on behalf of the community. Volunteers from the village refurbished the ground floor on a tight budget. The pub was run to generate rental income for Nick and Phil, but challenges like COVID-19 and the hospitality downturn left them out of pocket.
Now, five years later, they can no longer support the pub.
Current Situation
*The Future of the Half Moon & Spread Eagle*
As many of you will remember, it was announced in October 2024 that Phil Penton, one of the current owners of the Half Moon and Spread Eagle, wished to step back from ownership of the pub. Since then, a dedicated group of five villagers has come together to purchase Phil’s share, and this handover is now being finalised. This secures the future of the Half Moon as a public house at the heart of Micheldever.
A huge thank you is owed to both Phil Penton and Nick Warr, who have supported and sustained the pub through some of the most difficult years in recent memory for the hospitality industry.
We also want to recognise and celebrate the young team who have kept the pub running over the past year. Lois and Jake have worked tirelessly, showing great energy and commitment. What they may have lacked in experience, they more than made up for in enthusiasm and resilience. Thanks also go to Charles Holden, whose behind‑the‑scenes support and mentoring have been instrumental in helping them navigate the ups and downs of the trade.
So what next? It’s fair to say that the pub isn’t yet everything it could be. The new ownership group will be working closely with Jake and Lois to evolve and improve the pub’s offering, bringing fresh ideas while listening to the community. The aim is simple: to shape the Half Moon into a place we can all be proud of.
In the meantime, the most important thing you can do is to support your local. Drop in for a drink, a meal, or even just a chat. Every visit helps. Keep an eye out for updates as plans develop. We’ll be sharing more soon.
As Jeremy Clarkson said in Clarkson’s Farm, “If we end up at a point where there’s no village pub then what is a village? It’s just some houses. Pubs are the hub and it should always be that way.”
HMSE Village Investor Group
Face Book. ( Facebook link)
Telephone: 01962 774150
Email: halfmoonmicheldever@gmail.com
Monday – 5.00pm – 9:00pm
Tuesday – 5.00pm – 9:00pm
Wednesday, Thursday, 11.30am – 3pm & 5 pm – 10pm
Friday, 12 to 11 pm
Saturday 12 to 11pm
Sunday 12 – 5pm
Food served lunchtimes Wednesday – Sunday 12pm – 2.30pm, and evenings Wednesday-Saturday 6pm – 8.30pm.
Web-site Half Moon and Spread Eagle
The Half Moon and Spread Eagle, a beautiful old drovers’ inn dating back to 1703, is situated in the picturesque Hampshire village of Micheldever, overlooking the former village cricket ground.
History of Half Moon & Spread Eagle CLICK HERE
2020
2020