Flower Pots Inn, Cheriton (Flowerpots Inn)

The Flower Pots is a 19th century building whose first landlord had been a gardener in one of the large houses, possibly Avington; this may be a clue to the name's origin. It has been a free house for many years but was formerly owned by Whitbread following that company's takeover of Strong's of Romsey.

The public bar is divided into two areas, between which are an archway and a covered but visible well. The walls are adorned with some of the pub's and associated brewery's many awards, and photographs of the local area. The north side of the public bar has a tiled floor, brick fireplace, and a (somewhat inconveniently located) dartboard. The south side is L-shaped and tile-floored; it has a full-width (but not full-height) west window, a recessed shelf containing many years' Good Beer Guides, and an alcove in which are displayed old bottles and flagons.

The locals' bar is an intimate, wood-floored, carpeted room with a small fireplace. It is not necessary to be autochthonous nor to live locally, but it is advisable to be willing to converse.

The new bar is an opening-out of a former domestic area, part of which had been a public, family- room until a few decades ago. It is wood-floored, and has a wood-lintelled archway between its two areas. Here are more pictures of the local area.

The newest (2020) part of the building is the extension to the rear of the pub. A covered walkway, herringbone-floored and with full-height glazing, including doors, to its west, leads past the garden-bar counter (summer and special events only) to a fine 'barn' which fails to look out of place next to the Victorian pub. Flag-floored, wood panelled, and with a queen-strut roof, this large room is used for overflow from the pub's main rooms, and for events.

There are two gardens: a small one to the front (north) of the pub, and a larger one to the rear (south) of the pub. In summer, the field to the west of the rear garden and car park offers picnic benches for additional al fresco drinking and dining. Good, home-cooked food is available daily except on the evenings of Sunday and Monday. Wednesday is Thai night.

On August bank holiday weekend there is a large and meticulously-organized beer festival.

Cheriton is a pretty village bisected by, and close to the source of, the River Itchen. The village was the site of a major Civil War battle whose progress may be followed on a walking guide available from Winchester's visitor information centre; numerous other guides to the many enjoyable walks in this area are published. The village has a 13th century church, and one mile away is the National Trust's Hinton Ampner, a 20th century Neo-Georgian house.

Although the Flower Pots is the only surviving pub in (Old) Cheriton, evidence of a long-closed pub may be found on the side of a building in the village: the H.H. Inn was said to have the shortest pub name in England; the initials stand for Hampshire Hunt.

Stagecoach bus route 67 (Winchester to Petersfield) takes a meandering, rural route to serve Cheriton village and Hinton Ampner House. The bus stop for the Flower Pots is Village Hall (Petersfield to Winchester) or War Memorial (Winchester to Petersfield).