Support Hampshire Beer Week at the Pub - 18th to 22nd October

During the 3rd week of October the Royal Staff will be showcasing a selection of Hampshire brewed beers, with 2/3 available at any one time and customers being encouraged to vote for their favourite. The Branch will be holding a social event there on Wednesday 20th October from 7.30pm, all welcome to join us.

This is all part of a fantastic turnaround in the fortune of the pub since new landlord Milo Wheller arrived in the Summer. Real ale has been reintroduced, with a single changing guest beer to ensure quality and sufficient turnover. Areal community focus and buzz has returned to the pub again.

However, the owner of the Royal Staff is still far from committed to the future of the Royal Staff as a community pub. A planning application was submitted to Rushmoor Borough Council seeking permission to convert the Royal Staff into a shop. There was absolutely nothing in the application in terms of justifying the change of use or repudiating Rushmoor's excellent Pub Protection Policy. Therefore it was little surprise that the application was refused with the Council indicating that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate there there is no-longer term need for the public house.

This really is a case of use it or loose it.