A fresh ‘Beacon’ of light offers new opportunities for Westside Community Association
The former Beacon pub on Kings Road, Basingstoke is about to undergo a £500k+ transformation to provide the Westside Community Association with a base to continue offering valuable community activities for residents in South Ham and the surrounding area.
SNG (Sovereign Network Group) will begin work in early 2026 to convert the empty building into a community hub - creating a space for local people to connect, learn, and access support by providing a welcoming and useful area for everyone.
The former pub was leased from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) by SNG, and its refurbishment is part of SNG’s wider ambitions to work with residents to improve the area and increase opportunities for everyone living and working in the neighbourhoods.
The community association plans to develop additional services for the new Westside Community Hub which could offer opportunities such as:
- Meeting spaces – for local groups, events, and activities
- Learning & skills sessions – including job support, training, and workshops
- Support services – help with housing, finances, employment, and wellbeing
- Community activities – social clubs, youth programmes, and creative events
- A place to grow – volunteering opportunities and community projects
Since the Westside Community Centre’s closure in September 2023, SNG and BDBC have collaborated with the community association to temporarily relocate many of its vital services to ensure continuity of operation, and to create this exciting new opportunity. Once works are completed on the Beacon, the community association will be able to expand its charitable activities, providing a different way to deliver essential services to local residents, alongside the King’s Café.
Sarah Fordham, SNG’s Head of Community Engagement, said:
“We have received many comments through our conversations with the community over the past two years about this much-loved community centre.
“It is clear how vital its services are to the community and how much local people value a space to meet. We are pleased to have worked with Westside, the local community, and the borough council to secure the former pub as a temporary community hub that works for the local community whilst longer-term options are explored.
“We hope that the new space provided by SNG will help the community association regain momentum and increase its income, enabling it to offer more services in South Ham to support residents of all ages.”
Cabinet Member for Communities, Partnerships and Inclusion Cllr John McKay, said:
“We know how invaluable Westside Community Association’s services are to residents in South Ham. Together, we have acted quickly to provide spaces that continue to bring this fantastic community together.
“Through the purchase and refurbishment of The Beacon, we have secured a hub in the heart of South Ham where residents can connect and thrive. This is the start of work to make sure people can keep enjoying vital community services. We are continuing to work with SNG to ensure that a new community centre for South Ham is a central part of the future plans for investment in the area, working with the local community.”
Deborah McDermott, Chair of Westside Community Association, said:
“We’re pleased that plans for our new space at the Beacon are now moving forward. Our goal is to create a fantastic, welcoming hub for everyone that reflects the needs of local residents and expands the services we’ve been able to offer since the closure of the Westside Community Centre, thanks to the extended support we’ve received from SNG and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. With SNG’s additional investment, we’re now planning a range of new facilities that will be delivered directly from the former Beacon pub until a permanent home for Westside Community Centre is agreed.”