Gloucestershire Pubs 

JULY 2006

WEST COUNTRY ALES CERAMIC PLAQUES

Listed below are pubs, ex-pubs, and off-licences that still have a ‘West Country Ales – Best in the West’ ceramic plaque still in situ. These colourful brewery plaques are still quite a common sight in Gloucestershire and are taken very much for granted. However, they deserve far more recognition as these West Country Ales plaques are a reminder of Gloucestershire’s once proud brewing heritage.

West Country Breweries were established in 1958 when the Stroud Brewery merged with the Cheltenham Brewery. By coincidence both the Stroud Brewery and the Cheltenham Brewery first started brewing in the same year – 1760. The date is recorded in the ceramic plaques. West Country Breweries were a large regional company with tied houses extending into Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and parts of Wales. As a result these colourful ‘castle’ plaques can still be seen as far away as Presteigne in Wales and Marlborough in Wiltshire.

The distinctive ‘castle’ or ‘tower’ design was first used by the Cheltenham Original Brewery and ceramic brewery plaques once graced the outside of their tied houses with the words ‘Cheltenham Ales’. After the Second World War the Cheltenham Brewery acquired the Hereford and Tredegar Breweries. As a result the company changed its name to Cheltenham & Hereford Breweries and the old plaques were replaced with the new, but similar,   ‘Cheltenham & Hereford Ales’ design. The old Foxhill Inn near Guiting Power still has such a plaque inlaid into the wall.

The ‘West Country Ales’ plaques were placed in pub walls from 1958 until c.1967. Whitbread took over West Country Breweries in 1963 but for a few years after the acquisition Whitbread still used the West Country Ales ‘castle’ logo. There are two sizes and some slight colour differences in the glaze.

The study and distribution of the surviving ceramic plaques has never been undertaken before. There are more plaques out there waiting to be ‘discovered.’ Please let me know if you find any plaques still in situ that I have not yet put on the list: plaques@gloucestershirepubs.co.uk

Acton Turville

Fox and Hounds

Alderton

Gardeners Arms

Ampney Crucis

Butchers Arms (pub closed)

Ampney St. Peter

Red Lion

Apperley

Coal House Inn

Arlingham

Red Lion

Ashleworth

Queens Arms

Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire

Plough Inn (pub closed)

White Hart

Ashperton, Herefordshire

Hopton Arms

Avening

Bell Inn

Cross Inn

Axford, Wiltshire

Red Lion

Aylburton

Cross Inn

Travellers Rest (pub closed)

Bagwyllydiart, Herefordshire

New Inn (pub closed)

Berkeley

Boars Head Inn, Lynch Lane

George Inn (pub closed – now Berkeley Pharmacy)

Berry Hill, Nr Coleford

Pike House Tavern

Bewdley, Worcestershire

Red Lion

Birdlip

Royal George (when last seen the plaque was obscured by vegetation)

Birdwood

Kings Head

Bisley

Bear Inn (partly obscured by Pubmaster sign)

Stirrup Cup – was New Inn

Bishops Cleeve

Kings Head, Cheltenham Road

Swallow Inn, Bishops Drive (Two Plaques)

Bishops Frome, Herefordshire

Chase Inn

Blakeney

Cock Inn, Nibley

Yew Tree Inn

Bourton on the Water

Coach & Horses, Fosse Way

Bosbury, Herefordshire

Bell

Bradenstoke, Wiltshire

Cross Keys

Bream

Rising Sun

Winding Wheel (was Miners Arms – pub closed)

Bredon, Worcestershire

Royal Oak

Bridge Sollars, Herefordshire

Lord Nelson

Brimscombe

Kings Arms, Bourne Lane (pub closed)

Brinkworth, Wiltshire

Three Crowns

Broad Oak, Herefordshire

Broad Oak Inn (pub closed)

Broadoak, Nr Newnham on Severn

White Hart

Broadwell, Nr Coleford

Rising Sun Inn (pub closed)

Bromyard, Herefordshire

Crown and Sceptre

Railway Inn (pub closed)

White Horse (pub closed)

Brookthorpe

Four Mile Inn

Burleigh, Nr. Minchinhampton

Yew Tree, Walls Quarry (pub closed)

Calne, Wiltshire

Holley’s Brewhouse (was London Road Inn)

Cam

Berkeley Arms

Foresters Arms (pub closed – now a B&B)

Railway Inn

Cambridge

White Lion

Camp, Nr. Bisley

Fostons Ash Inn

Cashes Green

Prince of Wales

Charfield

Pear Tree Inn, 6 Wotton Road

Plough Inn, 68 Wotton Road

Charlton, Wiltshire

Horse & Groom

Charlton Kings

Duke of York, East End, London Road

Merryfellow Inn, Church Street

Ryeworth Inn, Ryeworth Road

Waterside (was Reservoir Inn)

Cheltenham

Beehive Inn, Montpellier Villas

Burton Brewery Inn (pub closed), St. James Square

Exmouth Arms, Bath Road

Dawn Run (was Bath Hotel), Albion Street

Fiery Angel (was New Inn), Hewlett Road

Five Alls, Bath Road

Hop Pole, Gloucester Road (two plaques)

Jim Thompsons (was Royal Clarence), Clarence Street (two plaques)

New Penny (was New Inn), Gloucester Road (plaque chipped)

Royal Well Tavern, Royal Well

Russell Arms, Hales Road

Shakespeare Inn, Lower High Street (plaque chipped)

Sherborne Arms, Sherborne Street

Somerset Arms, Somerset Street, Leckhampton

St. James Hotel, Ambrose Street

Sudeley Arms, Prestbury Road

Suffolk Arms, Suffolk Street

Vine (was Coopers Arms), Strand

Churcham (Oakle Street)

Silent Whistle – was Oakle Street Hotel (pub closed)   

Churchdown

Hare and Hounds, Cheltenham Road

Cinderford

Bridge Inn, Valley Road

Globe Inn, High Street (pub closed)

Golden Lion, High Street

Heywood Inn, Heywood Road (pub closed)

Mount Pleasant Inn

Swan Inn, High Street

White Hart, St Whites Road

Cirencester

Marlborough Arms

Nelson Inn, Gloucester Street

Oddfellows Arms, Chester Street

Coaley

Fox and Hounds

Swan Inn (pub closed)

Coleford

Kings Head, Bank Street

Masons Arms, Boxbush Road (was Help me Through the World – pub closed)

Coleshill, Oxfordshire

Radnor Arms

Colwall, Herefordshire

Chase Inn, Upper Colwall

Yew Tree

Coombe Hill

Swan Inn (restored in 2004. It had been painted over with white paint)

Corse

Prince of Wales, Snigs End

Corston, Wiltshire

Radnor Arms

Cranham

Black Horse

Royal William

Cricklade, Wiltshire

Red Lion

Cromhall

Royal Oak

Crudwell, Wiltshire

Plough Inn

Dilwyn, Herefordshire

Crown Inn

Drybrook

Hearts of Oak

Dursley

Crown Inn, 39 Long Street (pub closed)

Kings Head, High Street

New Inn, Woodmancote

Old Spot Inn – was Fox and Hounds, Hill Road

Star Inn, 33 Silver Street (pub closed)

Dymock

Beauchamp Arms

Eastcombe

Lamb Inn

Eastington, Nr. Stonehouse

Victoria Inn

Ebley

Coach and Horses

Elmstone Hardwicke

Gloucester Old Spot, Piffs Elm (was White Swan)

Evesham

Angel Vaults (two plaques)

Northwick Arms Hotel

Falfield

Huntsman

Frampton on Severn

Bell Inn, The Green

Three Horseshoes, The Green

Garway Common, Herefordshire

Garway Moon

Gloucester

‘Beaverprint’ , 18 Upton Street, Tredworth (was an off licence)

Beehive Inn (closed), Millbrook Street, Gloucester

Blackfriars Inn (closed), Commercial Street, Gloucester

Black Swan, Southgate Street, Gloucester

Coach and Horses, St. Catherines Street, Gloucester

Cross Keys, Cross Keys Lane

Drinks Cabin (off licence), 79-81 Tredworth Road, Gloucester

Duke of Wellington, Tredworth Road, Gloucester

‘Eastgate Street’ (old off licence near ‘TNT’ – name not known)

Englands Glory (was New Inn), London Road, Gloucester

Famous Pint Pot (was Locomotive Inn), Bruton Way, Gloucester

Glevum Inn, Oxstalls Way, Longlevens

Golden Heart, High Street, Tredworth

Kingsholm Inn, Kingsholm Road, Gloucester

Midland and Royal Hotel (closed), Station Road, Gloucester (two plaques)

New Pilot Inn (closed), Southgate Street, Gloucester (two plaques)

One Eyed Jacks (was Victoria Inn), Barton Street, Gloucester

Pig Inn the City (was Lower George Hotel), Westgate Street, Gloucester

Plough Inn, Upton Street, Gloucester

Prince of Wales, Station Road, Gloucester

Princes Plume (closed), Barton Street, Gloucester

Queens Head, Tewkesbury Road, Longford

Royal Oak, Hucclecote

Seymour, Seymour Road, Gloucester

Victory Hotel, High Street, Tredworth, Gloucester

Wellington Arms, Wellington Street

Whitesmiths Arms. Southgate Street, Gloucester

Ye Olde India House, Barton Street, Gloucester

Gorsley, Herefordshire

Roadmaker Inn (was New Inn)

Gotherington

Shutters Inn, Malleson Road

Great Somerford, Wiltshire

Volunteer

Greet

Harvest Home

Guiting Power

Foxhill Inn (pub closed - rare Cheltenham & Hereford Ales plaque)

Hanley Swan, Worcestershire

Swan

Hawkesbury Upton

Fox Inn

Hereford

‘Bar Spirit’, St Peters Square

Bay Horse, 236 Kings Acre Road

Black Lion, 31 Bridge Street

Britannia Inn, 7 Cotterell Street

Broad Leys, 93 Ross Road

Buckingham, 141 Whitecross Road

Commercial Hotel, 44 Commercial Street

Golden Fleece, 1 St. Owen Street

Golden Lion, 36 Grandstand Road

Lamb Hotel (now ‘Barrells’), 69 St Owen Street

Merton Hotel, 28 Commercial Road

Moorfield Inn, 33 Moorfield Street

Moss Cottage Inn, Foley Street (now Hum Ming Garden)

Olde Harp, 54 Widemarsh Street

Oxford Arms, 111 Widemarsh Street

Plough, 86 Whitecross Road

Queens Arms Hotel, 4 Broad Street

Salmon Inn, Hampton Park Road

Saracens Head, 1 St. Martins Street

Sawyers Rest (pub closed but retains WCA sign bracket)

Sun Inn, 71 St Owen Street (now Archways Health & Fitness)

Treacle Mine, 85 St. Martins Street

Victory, 88 St Owen Street

Volunteer Inn, 21 Harold Street (WCB castle in ironwork on pub sign)

Highworth, Wiltshire

White Horse

Hillesley

Fleece Inn

Horsley

Bell & Castle (two plaques)

Hullavington, Wiltshire

Queens Head (pub closed in 1998)

Star Inn

Huntingford

Rose Inn (pub closed in 1965)

Hyde, Nr. Minchinhampton

Ragged Cot Inn

Inchbrook, Nr. Nailsworth

Crown Inn (closed)

Iron Acton

Rose and Crown, High Street

Kempsey, Nr. Worcester

Walter De Cantilope Inn

Kilcot, Nr. Newent

Kilcot Inn

Kilkeney, Nr Andoversford

Kilkeney Inn

Kington, Herefordshire

Castle Inn, 31 Church Street (pub closed)

Queens Head, 51 Bridge Street

Kings Stanley

Kings Head

Knighton, Powys

George & Dragon

Red Lion Hotel

Lea, Herefordshire

Crown Inn

Lechlade

Crown Inn, High Street

Ledbury, Herefordshire

New Inn (pub closed)

Plough Hotel, The Homend (pub closed)

Seven Stars

Leighterton

Royal Oak

Leominster, Herefordshire

Barrons Cross Inn

Black Horse

‘Connolly’s’

‘Gingers’ (was the Dukes Arms)

Golden Lion (pub closed)

Queens Head, Bridge Street

Radnorshire Arms, Bargates

Three Horseshoes

Leonard Stanley

White Hart

Lightpill, Nr. Stroud

Cyprus Inn (closed)

Fleece Inn

Littledean

Kings Head, Broad Street

Little Somerford, Wiltshire

Saladin (was Three Crowns)

Little Washbourne

Ye Old Hobnails Inn

Longfords, Nr. Minchinhampton

Weighbridge Inn

Longhope

Yew Tree Inn

Lydney

Cross Keys, Church Road

Fleece Inn (pub closed), Newerne Street

Greyhound Inn, Tuthill Street

Railway Inn, Hill Street (pub closed)

Maisemore

White Hart

Malmesbury, Wiltshire

Borough Arms

Duke of York

Kings Arms

Three Cups

White Lion (pub closed in 1967)

Malvern, Worcestershire

Cavalry Arms, Clarence Road, Great Malvern

North Malvern House Hotel (pub closed)

Royal Oak, Malvern Link (pub closed)

Marlborough, Wiltshire

Queens Head

Wellington Arms (two plaques)

Mathon, Herefordshire

Cliffe Arms

May Hill

Glasshouse Inn, Glasshouse

Mile End, Nr Coleford

Royal Forest Inn

Minchinhampton

Crown Inn, Market Place

Ram Inn (pub closed)

Swan Inn, West End (pub closed)

Trumpet Inn, West End (pub closed)

Minety, Wiltshire

Turnpike

Miserden

Carpenters Arms

Mitcheldean

Lamb Inn, New Road

Monkland, nr Leominster, Herefordshire

Monkland Arms

Monmouth, Gwent

Robin Hood

Much Birch, Herefordshire

Axe and Cleaver

Nailsworth

Britannia

Newent

Black Dog Inn

Red Lion, Broad Street

Newmarket, Nr. Nailsworth

George Inn

Newport, Nr Berkeley

Stagecoach Inn

Newtown Cross, Herefordshire

Newtown Inn

Northleach

Wheatsheaf Inn, West End

North Nibley

Black Horse

Norton

Kings Head

Nympsfield

Rose and Crown

Oakridge Lynch

Butchers Arms

Oaksey, Wiltshire

Wheatsheaf

Ombersley, Worcestershire

Wing Fat Chinese Restaurant – name of old pub not known

Orcop, Herefordshire

Fountain

Overbury, Worcestershire

Star Inn (pub closed)

Painswick

Falcon Hotel

Royal Oak

Parkend

Woodman Inn (was New Inn)

Pinkney, Wiltshire

Eagle Inn (closed in 1998)

Pembridge, Herefordshire

Kings Head (now Kings House, restaurant)

Pershore, Worcestershire

Angel Inn and Posting House

Millers Arms

Talbot Inn

Prestbury

Beehive Inn, Bouncers Lane

Kings Arms

Plough, Mill Street

Royal Oak, Burgage

Presteigne, Powys

Farmers Inn, Hereford Street

Purton, Wiltshire

New Greyhound

Quedgeley

Friar Tucks (was Plough Inn)

Quemeford, Nr Calne, Wiltshire

Talbot Inn

Ross on Wye, Herefordshire

Crown & Sceptre

Eagle Inn

Horse & Jockey

Man of Ross

Plough Inn (pub closed)

Vine Tree

Ruardean

Angel Inn

Malt Shovel Inn, The Square

Selsley

Bell Inn

Sharpness

Pier View Hotel, Newtown

Severn Bridge and Railway Hotel (pub closed – now Nursing Home)

Sheepscombe

Butchers Arms (plaque in front entrance)

Sherston, Wiltshire

Angel Inn (pub closed in 1990)

Carpenters Arms

Shipton Moyne

Cat and Custard Pot

Shipton Oliffe

Frogmill Inn (plaque in rear entrance)

Shortstanding, Nr Berry Hill, Coleford

New Inn

Shrivenham, Oxfordshire

Crown

Shurdington

Cheese Rollers (was New Inn)

Slad

Woolpack Inn

South Cerney

Old George Inn

Staunton

Swan Inn, Ledbury Road

Staverton

Pheasant Inn

Plough Inn (pub closed)

Stoke Prior, Herefordshire

Lamb Inn

Stonehouse

Spa Inn, Oldens Lane

Stow on the Wold

Bell Inn, The Green

Eagle & Child

Roman Court Hotel (was Farmers Arms on junction of A429/A424)

Stroud

Bell Inn, Wallbridge

Bisley House Inn, Middle Street

British Oak, Bowbridge

Fountain Inn, Slad Road

Golden Fleece, Nelson Street

Greyhound, Gloucester Street

Horse and Groom, Upper Leazes (pub closed)

Linton Inn, Bath Road – was Anchor Inn (pub closed)

Ye Olde Painswick Inn, Gloucester Street (pub closed)

Sutton St. Nicholas, Herefordshire

Golden Cross

Swindon, Wiltshire

Castle Hotel

Cock Robin, Parks Estate (five WCB plaques!! – pub closed 2003)

Frome Hotel (pub closed in 1978)

Tarrington, Herefordshire

Tarrington Arms

Tetbury

Crown Inn, Tetbury (also broken plaque on rear gateway)

Greyhound, Hampton Street

Talbot Hotel, Market Place  (pub closed – plaque painted over)

Tewkesbury

Anchor, High Street

Berkeley Arms, Church Street (plaque recently revealed)

Gupshill, Gloucester Road

Kings Head, Barton Street

White Bear, Bredon Road (castle emblem in sign bracket)

Ye Old Black Bear

Thrupp

Waggon & Horses

Twyning

Fleet Inn

Upper Seagry, Wiltshire

New Inn

Upper Soudley

White Horse

Viney Hill

New Inn

Wainlode Hill, Norton, Nr. Gloucester

Red Lion

Walton, Powys

Crown Inn

Wanborough, Wiltshire

Cross Keys

Harrow

New Calley Arms

Wanswell, Nr. Sharpness

Salmon Inn

West Overton, Wiltshire

Bell Inn

Westbury on Severn

Red Lion

Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire

Weston Cross Inn

Westrip

Carpenters Arms

Whiteshill

Star Inn

Wickwar

Buthay  - was New Inn, 15 The Buthay

Wigmore, Herefordshire

Olde Oak Inn

Willersley

Bell Inn

Winchcombe

Corner Cupboard Inn, Gloucester Street

White Hart

Winterbourne Monkton, Wiltshire

New Inn

Witcombe

Twelve Bells

Woodchester

Old Fleece

Woolhope, Herefordshire

Crown

Worcester

Berwick, 250 Bath Road

Southfield Stores, 26 Southfield Street (closed)

Wotton Bassett, Wiltshire

Angel

Crown

Wotton-Under-Edge

Full Moon, Synwell

Royal Oak, 3-4 Haw Street

Salutation Inn, 7 Coombe Road (pub closed in 1974)

Shearmans Arms, The Steep (pub closed in 1975)

Star Inn, 21 Market Place

White Lion, Long Street

Yatton Keynell, Wiltshire

Bell Inn

Yorkley

Bailey Inn

Nags Head, Yorkley Slad

 LOST PLAQUES

 Many of these fine West Country Ales plaques have disappeared in recent years. Some have been stolen, others vandalised and a few ‘lost’ in pub refurbishments.

If you can add to this list of ‘missing’ plaques please let me know.

Brockworth

Flying Machine, Brockworth (vandalised in attempted theft – two plaques)

Cheltenham

Calcutta Inn, Gloucester Road, (plaque stolen)

Hanover Inn, Hanover Street, St. Pauls, (pub closed) - removed

Hereford Arms, Winchcombe Street (removed on refurbishment)

Leckhampton Inn, Shurdington Road (plaque stolen)

Mitre Inn, Sandford Street, Cheltenham (removed)

Victoria Wine and Spirit Stores, Fairview Road (closed - plaque stolen)

West Country Brewery, (Flowers Brewery) Henrietta Street - rare Cheltenham & Hereford Ales plaque removed, presumed stolen.

Crudwell, Wiltshire

Wheatsheaf

Gloucester

Lamprey, Westgate Street (removed on refurbishment)

Prince Arthur (pub closed - removed April 2004)

Red Lion, Barton Street (Demolished)

Hook, Wiltshire

Bolingbroke Arms (now an Arkell’s pub)

Marlborough, Wiltshire

Cricketers Arms (now Cole’s bar and restaurant)

Northleach

Union Hotel, The Square (pub closed)

Painswick

Star Inn (closed – plaque removed – slate with house name in its place)

Stonehouse

Royal Arms, Burdett Road (permission to remove before demolition)