New Alresford is delightful: a handsome market town of colour-washed Georgian townhouses. It is usually simply called Alresford (pronounced ‘Allsford’) and it is certainly not new. Alresford has been around for some 800 years, with most of those elegant Georgian facades hiding much earlier origins. The adjective merely differentiates it from its even older neighbour, Old Alresford.
Alresford has the sort of good looks (Broad Street is considered one of the most beautiful streets in Hampshire), that ensures it regularly pops up in those ‘Best Places to Live’ lists. The latest was The Daily Mail’s which named Alresford as one of the best market towns in the UK and described it as ‘bijou Georgian’.
Schooling ticks the education box. Sun Hill Infant, Sun Hill Junior and Perins at secondary level are all ‘Good’ says Ofsted. For sixth form Peter Symonds in Winchester is considered ‘Outstanding’. Local independents also impress. Prince’s Mead, a prep school in nearby Martyr Worthy, is rated ‘Excellent’ by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, while St Swithun’s, on the edge of Winchester, is one of the country’s leading schools for girls.
As for connections, despite the rural location and lack of a mainline train service, accessibility is good. The M3 and A31 bypass the town, providing access to Winchester and Southampton in one direction and Guildford and London in the other.
Located on the edge of the South Downs among a landscape of chalk streams, watercress beds and hillsides of vines, Alresford is both idyllic and stylish. For a small market town (population 5,339 according to the 2021 census) it punches well above its size in terms of shopping and eating experiences.
It still has its weekly Thursday market, its roots go back to the early 13th century, with stalls of fresh bread, pots of herbs and olive oils, alongside a thriving ‘high street’ of top-notch independents. These include a bakery, two butchers (one is also a game dealer, the other has a wet fish counter), deli, greengrocer and an excellent wine merchant, plus florist, useful hardware store and pharmacy. Other joys include a little library, Lawrence Oxley, a local institution selling new and old books and art materials, plus an assortment for children, including Billy Goat for shoes, Ragamuffins for clothes and Toy Box for fun.
Alresford also has more than its fair share of designer boutiques and inspirational interior and lifestyle stores. Homeowners can source everything from fabrics to flooring from the likes of Eddolls Carpets, Handmade Rugs and Susie Watson Designs. Wardrobes can be refreshed with visits to Delilah, Hêtre, Roxtons and Moda Rosa – where this season’s must-haves include Vilagallo crochet coats and Luisa Cerano satin midis. Throw into the mix jewellers and leading beauty and hair salons and pretty much every need and want is satisfied.
Foodies will be very happy. Eateries run the gamut from old coaching inns to coffee houses. Listing just a very few: there’s child-friendly The Arlebury café with soft play area, a new branch of Josie’s in Station Mill, The Bell Inn, The Horse & Groom and The Cricketers. As for restaurants, tapas bar Pulpo Negro has a Michelin bib gourmand, Shapla is a popular Indian restaurant serving dishes such as Bengal duck roast and crispy Kerala crab, and The Townhouse is a relatively new addition offering co-working alongside coffee, cocktails, breakfast, lunch and supper. Cosy country inns in villages round and about include Tichborne Arms in Tichborne, The Flower Pots in Cheriton and The Three Horseshoes in Bighton.
Traditionally this is watercress country. The excellent West Lea Farm Shop sits among watercress beds, The Bell Inn features moreish watercress souffle on its menu, and the Watercress Festival, an annual celebration of this superfood, celebrated its 20th year last May. There’s also The Watercress Line, a heritage steam railway supported by a community of enthusiasts (there’s a volunteer welcome day on 24 November) with a programme of events and experiences.
Increasingly, however, this is also becoming wine country with local vineyards and wineries, among them The Grange, Hattingley Valley, Louis Pommery England and Raimes Sparkling Wine – with some offering tours and cellar door experiences.
Along with a wide-ranging calendar of events, including The Grange Festival, opera, dance, jazz and theatre in a grand country house setting, and The Alresford Show, dubbed the best agricultural show in the south, Alresford delivers a sparkling social scene.
Gordon Thoday, Director, Hellards Estate Agents
‘People are attracted to move to Alresford because of its eclectic mix of independent shops, the strong local community and its beautiful setting, located on the edge of the South Downs National Park. Many home buyers who move here are from the Home Counties, and the excellent road and rail communications enable them to easily stay in contact with friends and family.
Alresford has a great family-friendly ambience. Attractions include feeding the ducks and riverside strolls along the Arle. Being off the beaten track appeals to people when they discover Alresford. With its clear chalk streams, beautiful country walks and traditional market town atmosphere, the feel of the town reminds one of the days when there was more time to appreciate our surroundings and the important things in life.
The town has a varied mixture of properties ranging from Georgian townhouses in East Street and Broad Street, to modern houses and bungalows on the edge of the town. The pretty villages surrounding Alresford have an abundance of oak-beamed cottages, as well as larger, individual homes. So, there is something to suit every need and budget. New homes are scheduled to be built on the eastern edge of Alresford, which will provide more options for those who want a practical, modern home.
Hampshire was a weekend escape for my wife Sally and I over many years, and we eventually took the plunge to move out of London over 20 years ago with our two sons. We quickly settled into the relaxed way of life in Alresford and enjoy nothing more than a circular walk at the weekend with our Jack Russell, Tiggy, normally including a visit to one of the excellent local pubs along the way!
Cheryl Bezants, Wood Farm Equestrian
Cheryl Bezants is a BHS (British Horse Society) Performance Coach who has competed professionally in eventing, dressage and showjumping and runs the livery yard at Wood Farm Equestrian (WFE), a new equine facility on the outskirts of Alresford which opened in April this year.
Cheryl says: ‘With a large equine community and nowhere locally offering seven-day-a-week arena hire and training, Wood Farm decided to diversify into equine. They returned fields to grassland, reinstated old hedge lines and converted one of the barns into stables.
‘I love being part of the WFE team, which is so friendly. Feedback from the local community has been very positive, with pony clubs, riding clubs and trainers using WFE. Local riders welcome the fact that they no longer have to travel far to train. There’s a large arena and a full set of show jumps sponsored by local businesses. In addition, WFE also offer livery packages and have created job opportunities including apprenticeship schemes.
‘I live locally and have been involved from the start. This is such a beautiful and tranquil setting. We are so lucky to have access to many bridle paths and being able to hack to country pubs without having to go on the roads is amazing!’
