What's On in Cowplain: 26 May 2026

Good Morning, Cowplain

It's that lovely stretch of late May when the weather's finally warming up properly and the whole village feels a bit more alive. We've got a Bank Holiday Monday coming, which means a four-day weekend for many of you—perfect excuse to get out into Queen's Inclosure or venture up to Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Let's see what's on.

This Week in Cowplain

• Spitfires Fly High: Huge congratulations to Cowplain Youth Spitfires, who've just claimed the Portsmouth Youth League Under-15 Cup. Brilliant achievement for the young lads—if you've got kids in football locally, this is the kind of success story that makes the club worth supporting.
• Bank Holiday Monday (27 May): Perfect opportunity for a long walk, a family outing, or simply a proper lazy morning at home before the week's chaos. Most local shops and services will operate normal hours, but worth checking ahead if you're heading further afield.
• Spring's at its Best: We're in that sweet spot where Queen's Inclosure and the wider Forest of Bere are absolutely gorgeous for walking. The ancient woodland's bursting with life—great for spotting wildlife or just getting some air.

This Weekend

You've got the whole long weekend, so no excuses not to get outside:

Walking: Head straight into Queen's Inclosure—it's right on your doorstep east of the village. Easy, well-maintained paths through proper old woodland. Takes 45 minutes to an hour depending on your route, and it's free. If you fancy something more ambitious, Queen Elizabeth Country Park is about 5 miles north on the A3—1,400 acres of downland and forest, proper spring hiking weather.

Local Pubs: The White Hart and The Red Lion both sit nicely on London Road if you fancy a proper sit-down lunch or an evening pint with a view. Both are proper neighbourhood joints where you'll likely bump into someone you know.

Shopping: If you need to stock up, the Co-op and Tesco Express on London Road are your quickest options. For a proper browse, Waterlooville's only 2 miles south and has decent high street shopping when you fancy a trip out.

Where to Eat and Drink

The White Hart on London Road is your classic local—solid pub food, good atmosphere, and they know their regulars. Ideal for a weekend lunch or evening with mates.

The Red Lion is worth a visit if you fancy a change of scenery but same village feel. Good for both food and a casual drink.

The Heroes if you're looking for something a bit different—friendly spot with decent options.

Worth Knowing

Getting Around: Bus routes 23 and 23A will get you to Havant or Portsmouth if you need them, though over Bank Holiday Monday services may run to adjusted timetables. Worth checking Stagecoach's website if you're planning a specific trip. Otherwise, the A3 is your main route out of the village whether you're driving north or south.

Keep an Eye Out: Local councillor news has been a bit quiet on our patch this week, but it's always worth staying tuned to Havant Borough updates if you care about planning or village developments. Nothing major on the horizon for Cowplain itself at the moment.

Enjoy the long weekend, and do get outside if you can—the weather's with us for now. See you around the village!

— Your friendly Cowplain.co editor