Hen & Chicken Inn

The Hen & Chicken Inn is a historic public house located in Upper Froyle, near Alton in East Hampshire, England. It sits on the busy A31 road between Alton and Farnham, a position that reflects its origins as a coaching inn. According to the pub's own account, the building was originally constructed in 1746 as a chaise house, a stopping point where stagecoaches travelling to London would rest while horses were changed and passengers refreshed. Its first known landlord was a Mr. Rawson, under whom the inn became a popular gathering place for travellers and horse dealers; a picture of him is said to hang by the inglenook fireplace. Much of the building's historic charm and character has been preserved, and the house has since evolved into a popular eatery serving local guests, families and passing travellers. The pub offers dining, takes table bookings online and by telephone, and accommodates functions and events. It is dog friendly, and the team, led by Dave, welcomes visitors. The Hen & Chicken Inn is a privately run, single-site hospitality business rather than part of a large pub chain, and it operates as a traditional British pub with a strong food-led offering.

The Hen & Chicken Inn traces its origins to 1746, when the building was erected as a chaise house on the road between Alton and Farnham in Hampshire. In the era of stagecoach travel, such houses served as resting points where coaches bound for London would stop so that horses could be changed and passengers could be refreshed. The inn's location on the busy A31 preserves this historic coaching route connection. The first known landlord was a Mr. Rawson, who established the house as a popular gathering place for travellers and horse dealers; a picture of him can be found by the inglenook fireplace, a surviving feature of the building's historic interior. Over the centuries the property retained much of its charm and character, and it gradually shifted from a coaching inn into a food-led public house and eatery. In its present form the Hen & Chicken Inn welcomes local guests, families and passers-by, offering dining with online and telephone table booking, and hosting functions and events. It is dog friendly. The pub is run by a team led by Dave, and it operates as an independent, privately owned single-site hospitality business rather than as part of a national pub company or chain.

• 1746

  The building is constructed as a chaise house on the road between Alton and Farnham.

• Mr. Rawson becomes the first known landlord, establishing the inn as a gathering place for travellers and horse dealers.

• The house evolves into a popular food-led public house and eatery for locals, families and passers-by.

A charming, historic food-led public house and eatery serving locals, families and travellers on the A31.

• Pub dining and meals

• Table bookings (online and by phone)

• Function and event hosting

1. 1The Hen & Chicken Inn, Upper Froyle, Alton — official websitehenandchicken.co.uk
2. 2Hen And Chicken Public House — Wikidatawikidata.org