Hare and Hounds Public House

The Hare and Hounds, Lambourn Woodlands, is no longer a public house having pulled the last pint some years ago. It was a popular pub in its day particularly with passing trade along Ermin Street (B4000).

The original pub is a Grade II listed former coaching inn dating back to 1630.

Reminiscences

Mick Dowdeswell: I was coming back from the Newbury Show, sometime in 1964 at a guess, with a well known local person at the time and we thought we’d call in at the Hare & Hounds. My friend drunk a lot of Guinness, although I didn’t drink a lot of anything really. There was a little barrel of Taunton Cider on the counter, so we thought that would be a change, so asked for two pints. ” Oh no, Sir, this is strong stuff, and we only serve it in halves” “Ok, that’s alright, we’ll have two halves please” ” I can only let you have three halves each Sir, or you will be in trouble” said the landlord. We laughed, and had the three halves each and moved on. Some weeks, or even months later, we were coming by again, so in we go and see that there is a different landlord behind the bar. Enquiring, we’re told, “Oh, he’s on holiday Sir”. “Ah. Two pints of Taunton cider then please”. “Certainly Sir”. So, We’d had three pints each and I felt ok, but noticed my friend was a little slurry in his speech. ” Is your friend alright Sir” said the landlord. “This is some strong stuff here you know”. “Yes” I said, ” He’s always saying how much Guinness he can drink”. ” Hmmn” said the landlord, ” I’m not sure of that”. 10:40pm came and we made for the door. My friend took one step outside, and went down flat on his nose! I picked him up and carted him off and into my vehicle. I still felt perfectly alright, strangely enough. I got him to his house, helped him to the front door and rang the bell and waited until his wife opened the door, then made a run for it! Some days later, I was in the Malt Shovel. My friend came in; his nose all skinned and looking the worse for wear still. “Whatever have you been doing” said the crowd in there. “Oi fell off me bike” was the reply. I looked at him, and him at me, and I never said another word. I remember it all as if it was yesterday.