There are hopes that the Hop Inn on Woodmill Lane, which it’s understood closed at the weekend, will reopen “shortly”.
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The popular local on Woodmill Lane is described by The Campaign for Real Ale as a “Good urban local in residential area by Riverside Park in Bitterne Park”.
CAMRA, which says it’s “the UK's largest and most influential pub-going consumer organisation”, noted on its ‘What Pub’ guide about the Hop: “This pub is long-term closed. Closed at end of trade 5th January 2024 - licensees have not renewed the lease. We expect Stonegate, the Freehold owners, to advertise for new tenants/managers.”
Many of the local commentariat mourned the pub’s apparent loss on social media: “Another bit of my Midanbury history lost forever” said one, while another opined: “Blimey, what with the Swan being shut due to flooding. The Castle has gone. The bitterne brewery has gone. No local pubs around now really!”
One even suggested they’d like to own it, writing: “Great pub , spent many a happy evening in the garden with a packet of crisps and a bottle of coke as a child .I would buy it !!!”
But Stonegate Group, which says it’s now the largest pub group in the UK, confirmed that the pub has closed but that it does hope the Hop will reopen “shortly”.
A spokesperson told bitternepark.info: “The Hop Inn, Bitterne [sic] is currently closed, whilst a change of tenancy takes place. The pub hopes to re-open as usual shortly. Please visit the pubs Instagram page for further news and updates.”
The last post on the Instagram page is dated May 2023.
We were unable to contact the pub for clarification and comment on Monday.