The Eclipse Inn

The Eclipse Inn is a historic public house at 25 The Square in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It operates from a building whose origins date to the sixteenth century and which was formerly the rectory of St Lawrence Church. The premises form part of the historic group of listed buildings extending from numbers 10 to 25 around The Square, one of Winchester’s central architectural settings. The inn’s name is associated with its position opposite the Sun Inn. This pairing gives the establishment a distinctive local identity: the Eclipse stands across from the Sun, creating a deliberately contrasting name within the city’s historic pub landscape. The building is notable for its timber-framed construction over three storeys. Its façade includes a seven-light casement window with wooden mullions, while the timber framing was rediscovered during the 1920s after plaster that had concealed it was removed. The property has been designated Grade II on the National Heritage List for England since January 1974. The heritage listing recognizes the building’s architectural and historic interest, although the listing description also characterizes the structure as having been substantially modernized. This combination of historic fabric and later adaptation is typical of long-used urban premises that continue to serve a commercial hospitality function. As a pub, The Eclipse Inn’s customer proposition is centered on traditional public-house hospitality, including drinks, social space, and associated pub services. It has also received recognition through inclusion in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide, edited by Roger Protz, linking the venue with Britain’s independent beer and real-ale culture. The available reference material does not establish a founding date for the pub as a business, its ownership history, a parent company, or detailed information about its food and beverage range. It is best understood as a local hospitality venue whose principal distinguishing assets are its central Winchester location, historic architecture, heritage designation, and association with the city’s traditional pub culture.

The Eclipse Inn occupies a historic building at 25 The Square in Winchester, Hampshire. The structure dates from the sixteenth century and was formerly used as the rectory of St Lawrence Church, connecting the site to the ecclesiastical and civic history of central Winchester. Its position within The Square places it among a group of historic properties that collectively define part of the city’s architectural character. The name Eclipse is explained by the inn’s location opposite the Sun Inn. The relationship between the two names provides the pub with a memorable local identity and reflects the historical practice of naming public houses after familiar images, objects, or places. The available sources do not provide a documented opening date for The Eclipse Inn as a public house, nor do they identify its original proprietor or subsequent ownership succession. Architecturally, the building is timber-framed and rises over three storeys. A seven-light casement window with wooden mullions is among its identifiable features. The timber framing was uncovered in the 1920s when plaster covering the exterior was removed, revealing aspects of the earlier construction. Although the structure has undergone extensive modernization, its surviving historic elements remain important to its character. The building was added to the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II listed property in January 1974. The designation places the inn within England’s system for recognizing buildings of special architectural or historic interest. The listing also records the building as very modernized, indicating that its present appearance and use reflect both historic construction and later changes made to accommodate continued occupation and commercial hospitality. The Eclipse Inn is described as a public house and has been included in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide, a reference work associated with the promotion and assessment of Britain’s beer-focused pub culture. This recognition supports the inn’s identity as a traditional pub rather than solely as a historic building or tourist landmark. Its role therefore combines local hospitality, beer service, and the adaptive reuse of a protected historic property. The available reference material does not document major corporate transactions, leadership appointments, campaigns, controversies, or financial developments involving the inn. Its historical significance rests primarily on the continuity of its site, its relationship with Winchester’s historic center, the rediscovery of its timber frame, its Grade II listing, and its place in the city’s pub tradition.

• 1974

  Grade II listing

  [1]The Eclipse Innen.wikipedia.org

  The property was added to the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II listed building in January 1974.

• 1920

  Timber framing revealed

  [1]The Eclipse Innen.wikipedia.org

  Historic timber framing was rediscovered after plaster concealing the structure was removed from the building.

• Construction of the historic building

  [1]The Eclipse Innen.wikipedia.org

  The building occupied by The Eclipse Inn dates from the sixteenth century and was formerly the rectory of St Lawrence Church.

• Inclusion in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide

  [1]The Eclipse Innen.wikipedia.org

  The Eclipse Inn has been included in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide, associating the pub with Britain’s traditional beer and real-ale culture.

A traditional Winchester public house combining everyday pub hospitality with a distinctive historic setting and heritage-listed architecture.

• Hospitality

  Pub hospitality

  The Eclipse Inn’s core offering is traditional public-house hospitality in a central Winchester setting. This includes a place for customers to meet, drink, and socialize within a historic building. The available sources identify the venue as a pub but do not provide a complete current menu, detailed food program, or specific beverage brands.

• Beverages

  Beer service

  Beer is a significant part of the inn’s traditional pub identity. Its inclusion in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide indicates recognition within the UK’s beer-focused pub tradition. The available reference material does not specify particular beers, breweries, cellar arrangements, or current rotating selections.

• Hospitality experience

  Historic venue experience

  The venue offers a hospitality experience shaped by its sixteenth-century building, exposed or rediscovered timber framing, three-storey form, and position in The Square. Its Grade II heritage status distinguishes the setting from a purpose-built modern bar, although the listed description notes that the building has been substantially modernized.

1. 1The Eclipse Innen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official websitethe-eclipse-winchester.co.uk