The White Swan in Bosham closed earlier this year, but the locals aren’t taking it lying down: they have formed a campaign to buy the pub and run it as a community-owned facility. The meeting held last week was well-attended (and started half an hour earlier than the local paper said, so we missed most of it, alas) and showed strong support for the plan.

Details of the campaign to save the White Swan, Bosham are available at the Bosham Community website.

(The White Swan is a former branch pub of the year: another local example of a community-owned pub is the current branch pub of the year, the Duke of Cumberland Arms, Henley.)

The Olive Branch (formerly the Black Dog) in Yapton has been closed for a few months now, with occasional signs of work taking place. It has now opened again (on May 15, just in time for the Yapton Beerex!)

We’ve not had any reports so far (plenty of us in the area last weekend, but we were a tad busy) though it’s believed to be selling Greene King beers. (Update: last Sunday, the beer range was Greene King IPA, Fuller’s London Pride, and Courage Best, though the Best was turned around at the time.)

Down the road, the Shoulder Of Mutton And Cucumbers has an “under offer” sign outside. Whether the offer involves it staying as a pub is unknown…

The summer Bus Cruise will include an early visit to the Duke of Cumberland Arms, Henley, where we will be presenting the certificate for Branch Pub of the Year.

Later on, we’ll head to Langham Brewery, followed by a walk up the road to the Hollist Arms, Lodsworth. The rest of the afternoon will be spent at the White Horse, Graffham, for their midsummer beer festival.

Most of the stops have been stretched to 90 minutes to make a nice relaxing day out.

Once again, our transport will be old 199, the lovely 1968 Southdown “one-man operated” Leyland Leopard. Pick ups are at Worthing station (09:00); Littlehampton station (09:30); Maypole Lane, Yapton (09:45); Chichester station, south side (10:15). We should be back at Chichester by 18:30, dropping off in the reverse order.

Tickets are limited to 45 seats, and are now on sale at £15 a head, including the brewery visit.

Please send an SAE to

Bus Cruise
2 Elm Grove South
Barnham
PO22 0EL

(cheques payable to P Brown, please)

Social, starting at the Noah’s Ark, Lurgashall, at 8:45. Then on to the Lickfold Inn, finishing at the Duke of Cumberland Arms, Henley.

Social, starting at the Gribble, Oving at 8:45. Then on to the Wilkes Head, Westergate, and finishing at the Anglesey Arms, Halnaker.

Social, starting at the Spotted Cow, Hunston at 8:45. Then on to the Seal, Selsey.

Social, starting at the Half Moon, Northchapel at 8:45, then crossing the road to the Deepwell Inn. Possible finish at the Black Horse, Byworth if time permits.

Formal meeting and beerex washup, Maypole, Yapton at 8:45.

It’s that time of year again! Details of Yapton Beerex 2009 are just a click away…

Social, starting at the Murrell Arms, Barnham at 8:45. Then on to the Spur, Slindon and finally the Holly Tree, Walberton.