Nightlife in Andover

Andover’s small but energetic nightlife scene does one thing and does it very, very well: pubs.

One of the best town centre pubs is Town Mills, around a 15-minute walk from our Andover hotel. Dating back to the 18th century, the pub retains a lot of its watermill heritage including a still-active 2.59m wheel in the middle powered by the nearby River Anton. With a large beer garden, two spacious rooms inside and a wide range of food and drinks on offer, it’s a great place to start your Andover pub crawl.

On the southwestern edge of the town centre is the Anton Arms, a more modern Greene King Brewery pub with pool tables, a large dining room and all the big sporting action on several large screens.

Thanks to Andover’s position amidst several Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there are plenty of rural pubs worth the drive from the town centre, or used as a stop-off on a walking route. One such pub is The Hare & Hounds, a recently renovated country pub with a large garden terrace, live music stage and views across to the North Wessex Downs. Nearby in Tangley is The Fox Inn, another rustic pub with an open fire, large garden and terrace to enjoy their cask ales and an excellent Thai menu.

Heading the other way, you’ll find the thatched roof pub Crook & Shears in Upper Clatford, a mile south of the town centre. The historic pub offers homely food, plenty of cask ales and even an old-fashioned skittle alley.

Lastly, The Poplar Farm to the south of Andover is known for its hearty pub grub (including a vegan menu) and its handy location next to the Army Flying Museum. The dog-friendly pub is also a regular stop-off for walkers, with several popular routes nearby.