BASINGSTOKE

One of the good things about visiting Beerhound's site is that you can have your whole consciousness expanded; and so it is with Basingstoke, which you may think is just a sixties style concrete planners' nightmare, complete with listed roundabouts; well, so it is in some parts, but scratch below the surface and you find the old Basingstoke, ex-charming Hampshire country town, physically living on in its backstreets! Anyway the best bet is to come by train (assuming Stagecoach haven't sacked all their drivers) and roll straight into the Queen's Arms* (1) in Bunnian Place right by the station.
The Queen's was here long before all the tacky sixties towers and still serves Courage beers in good condition as well as a guest, often from one of the local micro breweries. Lunchtime food available.
Walking through the labyrinth (take a compass as well as a map!) and coming out on the Winchester Rd., turn into Bounty Rd and try the Bounty*(2), a two bar Ushers' house with a nice public bar and, we're told, an hexagonal pool table. Other beers, and food, are available, and there is a rare outside gents if you like that kind of thing.
Nearby is the Basingstoke and North Hants Cricket Club*(3) at the Mays Bounty Ground in Fairfield Rd.after which the Bounty was renamed, and which has been recommended by several people. A splendid range of beers is normally to be had, but the bad news is that you have to be a member of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, to get in! So, a good excuse to join the cause!
Now that Becketts brewery is no more, the fate of the Rising Sun (4), on Chapel Hill is unknown to your scribe. Reports welcome!
One further, potentially interesting option is to head further north on the Sherborne Rd to the SOLDIERS' RETURN (5), a former GBG pub with a listed exterior which also offers beers from micro-breweries, and Courage. Lunchtime food available.
The Camrose ground is a long trudge up the Winchester Rd to the Brighton Hill
roundabout, then right onto Western Way. Alternatively, a bus (!), Stagecoach service 39, runs from the Bus Station (well signposted from the rail station) via Winchester Road and stops opposite the Camrose. There are 3-4 buses an hour on Saturdays but the last one leaves at 6.20 pm on weekdays, be warned!