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Welcome to The Eclipse Inn
A warm Winchester welcome awaits you at The Eclipse Inn,
located on the sunny side of the historic Square between the Buttercross and the Cathedral.
Small but perfectly formed, our building dates back to 1540 and features a ‘splendid Tudor facade’
complemented by the ancient beamed ceiling and timber pillars of its interior.
Over the centuries The Eclipse Inn (supposedly named to compete – successfully - with a nearby ‘The Sun’)
has been a rectory and a private residence before becoming an ale house in 1750,
evolving into an inn by the early 1800s.
As well as offering CAMRA-accredited real ales, local gins, lots of home-made food and friendly bar staff,The Eclipse Inn is also renowned for a shocking event which took place outside its bowed windows on 2nd September 1685:
the execution of the venerable and locally-admired Lady Alice Lisle as the first victim of Judge Jeffreys ‘Bloody Assizes’
following the defeat of the Monmouth Rebellion. Dame Alice spent her last night in an upper room of The Eclipse,
from whose window she stepped out onto a specially-constructed scaffold before having her head removed from her body with an axe.
But that wasn’t the last of Lady Alice Lisle: the figure of a tall, elegant Lady in Grey has been seen or heard on a number of occasions,
drifting along an upper corridor between the Ladies and the Lady Lisle Room. Perhaps even ghosts need comfort breaks…
Whatever that reality, the truth is that The Eclipse Inn has been a favourite watering hole of Winchester’s locals and visitors for over 250 years.
Sit outside on the broad pavement only 50 yards from the cathedral and watch the Winchester world go by.
Or settle inside the traditional, snug interior to sample our regulars’ favourite Real Ales
like Doom Bar & Timothy Taylors Landlord plus a monthly changing selection of Guest Ales.
To accompany them we now offer PieMinister pies (our Winchester exclusive), amazing Sunday Roasts,
home-made traditional Pub Grub such as Fish & Chips, Sausage & Mash or our own Eclipse Burger,
plus lighter Bar Bites and the usual packeted nibbles.
The Eclipse Inn boasts an extensive menu of over 100 round-the-world gins including Winchester-distilled ‘Dry Gin’ and ‘Twisted Nose’.
Naturally we also have a full range of ciders, wines (red, white, rosé and sparkling) and soft drinks too.
Serving delicious drinks and fabulous food, you, your mates and your four-legged friends are assured a true Winchester welcome at The Eclipse Inn.
Beers & Ciders
A beamed sixteenth century building housing an olde worlde snug pub, The Eclipse Inn takes its beer as seriously as you do – which is why we are a firm favourite among the traditional inns of Winchester, feature in the Good Beer Guide, and have just been given Winchester’s BEST BAR NONE Award for 2019!
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Gins
At The Eclipse Inn we love our fantastic selection of gins and we are confident you will too.
Contrary to the ‘Mother’s Ruin’ of eighteenth century England, in the twenty-first century gin has become THE spirit of choice, a truly indulgent through-the-day treat featuring a wealth of exotic ingredients and flavours.
Lady Lisle Room
We are delighted to introduce our exclusive Private Dining Room, the Lady Lisle Room.
Named in honour of Dame Alice (Alicia) Lisle, who spent her last night in The Eclipse Inn before being beheaded outside on the instructions of the notorious ‘Hanging’ Judge Jeffreys in 1685, the Lady Lisle Room offers a superior dining experience for private parties, celebratory meals and special events.