Do you remember when this was the Crows Nest Cowplain?
I visited this pub a few times, including just prior to the closure of the pub.
The land was bought by a developer, the developer closed the pub … the nursery opened …
… and the developer built houses on the former pub car park.
The owners of the pub said that the Crows Nest was turning a profit prior to it’s closure.
The next-nearest pub to the former Crows Nest is The Spotted Cow Cowplain.
It was a shame this community asset had to close, was there anything that could have been done to retain this pub, or was the outcome unavoidable?
Gemma Shorten Amanda Keogh
Yes it might be a shame that the pub had to close for the community, but in it’s place a fantastic nursery has opened in it’s place for lots of families in the community.
I think a nursery is a community asset too, especially a quality one such as this, and from what you say the pub owners weren’t forced to sell to a developer – if they were turning a profit, they could’ve sold to another landlord? I’m just glad it’s not all housing!
Great pub ,devastated when it shut ,great memory’s though
Had some real good night’s in the crows nest. With good friends. Miss those days.xx
Hi Lynne – our understanding is that the lease was not renewed by the land/building owner so the pub (which was run by a different company) was forced to shut.
Many memories from there going back to the 70s :-)
Memories of the mobile library being in the car park once a week!
When the estate was originally built , back in the early sixties, it was agreed that the pub should be built to serve the working community. I agree that the nursery is a community asset, however , it’s doesn’t serve the whole community. The pub needed up grading and should have moved into the family field and concentrated on providing good quality food and beverages. It had enough land to have a wonderful garden, play area and car park. It’s a real loss to our community .
Fantastic nursery in its place a real community asset
I remember when the pub had an off-license, we often went in there as children to buy packets of crisps, real shame it went downhill, in the sixties it was the hub of the community and well used.
I moved to the area just to see the new houses being built, such a shame, wanted a close enough local that was part of the community focus. :-(
Not surprised it closed, rotten pub, and stank of smoke years after the smoking ban, obviously flouting the law
Yes I remember it well went in there a few times
Rick Dickyboy Kirk
I can’t really say the pub was an asset to the community. Needing lots of love and pennies spent to make it an asset.
A cracking nursery tho!!! ðâºï¸. Lovely families, lovely children. Something that is an asset ð
I also think time to move on! Was like 2.5 years ago now!! Life evolves. Things change. For the better x
This was the best pub around once. People commenting saying it wasn’t don’t have a clue. When rose and trev ran it, it was superb. Shame it shut to be a nursery. What a waste!
Had many a pint there in the 80’s with Jim Sergeant and Matt Upton. Lost a lot on the pool table too!
Was a great pub. I worked behind the bar. Played in the pool team. And best of all got served when I was under age. We all had a great laugh and it was one of those pubs where as you were walking in. Your drink was poured and waiting for you on the bar Met some really good friends in their.
My family grew up in this area and like many of you spoke of amazing stories but from so long ago. It is a shame that the pub closed but the nursery have won many many awards. Congratulations to staff and owners who have really created an amazing nursery.
I too used the pub when Rose and Trev had it – a fantastic pub. It then when drastically down hill. I worked behind the bar until the pub closed by which time the only people using the pub were a handful of local regulars. Only half the pub was being used, the other half permanently closed due to lack of custom. Maybe if more people used local pubs it wouldn’t have been forced to close and they could have afforded to spend money on the building. If you’re looking for a vibrant community pub with a large garden and which is well attended serving great food and a large variety of ales, visit The George Inn, Finchdean, Waterlooville. (Paul Cartwright)
Both my children now attend Little Gems, the nursery in place of the Crows Nest and both love being there. It is well attended and always full meaning the building is well looked after and not an eye sore for the local community. Gemma Shorten, Amanda Keogh you run an amazing business, which was well needed.
Really miss the crows nest such a shame it closed. Paul and Alan had many good night’s there.
I remember getting kicked out of this pub for trying to buy alcohol underage in the 80’s. Never went back.
Can’t say I miss the ropey old pub.
can only remember the Spotted Cow was my dads
second home when we lived there is it still there ?
Spotted Cow is still there Nina. During Feb they had £2 on selected pints before 5pm on weekdays, which is/was probably cheapest in the area. Haven’t eaten there yet (hence no review from us) though food looks good. Garden is fab for the kids with a playframe and enclosed garden.
Spotted Cow [Fuller’s pub] had to follow The Heroes in Waterlooville on beer prices once Weatherspoon’s [Denmead Queen] opened, it took a struggle with Fuller’s to do it
Both are £2 a pint weekday daytime, Heroes until 6, all pints, Spotted Cow until 5, not draught ales
Spotted Cow food is fine, pub grub, not eaten in the Heroes so cannot comment
Both are Fuller’s pubs, so choice of booze will be very similar
Thank you Mike. I didn’t know that The Heroes had similar pricing.
I understand that the Social Club across the road from the Spotted Cow has similar prices, but their prices are all day / all evening and weekends and of course it is members only.
We’ll have to give the pub grub at the Cow a go :) thank you for the recommendation.
think i’ll take my dad on a trip down memory lane!
My nan and grandad owned this pub back in the early 90’s…. Shame to pass it and see what’s happened now