HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY COUNTY. No. 13 – GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Well, this will upset a few people, notably a ticker in Newmarket.

Picking five (5) pubs in Gloucestershire is tough, and not just because I started this post at 23:02 and need to complete it before midnight or Baa Baa turns into a cauliflower.

Don’t panic yet, Baa Baa.

Really, Bristol needs its own GBG chapter (bring back Avon !); then I could just point you to Boak and Bailey’s excellent (and just updated) guide.

Bristol – Swan with two necks (last visited 2022)

Like Jessica and Ray, I really rate the Swan, despite the antagonistic anti-Bass stance.

About as Bristol as Bristol gets; my notes say “range of folk”, “rockabilly”, “Genesis albums” and “superbly rich Vibrant Forest Oat & Coffee Stout”.

I think I’ll cheat a bit by calling Bedminster a different city, and perhaps it is, CAMRA plays fast and loose with geographic headings. Or possibly Bemmie is a micronation nowadays ?

Bedminster – The Old Bookshop (last visited 2023)

You ought to cross the river, anyway. In fact you ought to do loads of walking in Bristol and get very slightly lost on your visit.

The Bookshop’s picture is better than mine;

It is the very definition of “nice”, with wonderful staff and vegan loos,

and sensational Arbor, perhaps my best Bristol pint.

Let’s leave the big city for the small town with the silly name referenced in the John Cale song;

Chipping Sodbury – Horseshoe (last visited in 2018)

“Welcome back to Chipping Sodbury
You can have another chance
It must all seem like second nature
Chopping down the people where they stand”

You should visit because Sod, as the locals call it, is Cotswolds without pretension,

but more than that because the 6X is stunning, and you’ll feel like you’re in a pub rather than a tasting room.

My notes back then said “Wow”, “Lardy cake”, “6X mmm” and “barmaid given career advice by mansplainer”.  

My notes in the next one were also entertaining.

Gloucester – Imperial Inn (last visited in 2020)

Look, it’s not upmarket. But then neither is Gloucester, aside from the newish Docks areas and the stunning cathedral, one of the very best.

Perhaps the Imperial is a cathedral of Bass, or something.

“One roomer, Carling and Guinness drinkers in every corner, “The 39 Steps” competing with FA Cup highlights on multiple screens, Irish racegoers at the bar planning their day at Cheltenham” 

Which brings me hurriedly to;

Upper Soudley – White Horse (last visited 2018)

Frankly, you haven’t done Gloucestershire until you’ve been to the Forest of Dean. Just don’t take the wrong turn and end up in Cinderford. Or Wales (joking).

Gorgeous seating, lovely landlady (“Are you one of them tickers ?”), gorgeous chewy thoroughly pulled through Cotleigh beer.

And it’s still in the Guide, possibly the only Dean pub to survive the annual rotation.

Over to you for the sixth. I anticipate the words Slad and Sandford in your responses.

Phew, made it Baa Baa.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

16 thoughts on “HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY COUNTY. No. 13 – GLOUCESTERSHIRE”

  1. The Pelican in the Cathedral Quarter is one of the best in the country, never mind Glocs. It’s that rare thing, a Brewery Tap type pub but located in a proper local rather than a warehouse.

    The New Inn at Viney Hill is my Forest pub of choice, no real ale but a has a shrine to the local Quoits game, getting their priorities right I’d say…

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  2. I’ve very limited knowledge on Glos but a small shout out for the Beehive near Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham. A posh local but good beer and friendly in a reserved way. Passed the test of welcoming the single drinker.

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  3. A very varied county, especially now that Bristol has been reincorporated into it.

    No Donnington pubs? Regardless of your view of the beer, some of them are highly characterful.

    Two that get a lot of plaudits are the Salutation at Ham and the Old Spot at Dursley.

    Your heading for the Imperial actually reads “The Fountain”, btw. No Bass in the Imperial when I visited in the brief interregnum between lockdowns in 2020.

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      1. On that particular evening I also went to the Fountain, but they had decided to operate table service only (before it being made compulsory) and it wasn’t particularly welcoming.

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  4. I’m with Mudgie on the Donnington exclusion.

    I particularly like the comment, “Are you one of them tickers ?” But is it wise to reply “yes” in the Forest of Dean? (Lovely part of the country, btw.)

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  5. Old Bookshop is even better now. A regular pre-match pub for me. Horseshoe in Chipping Sodbury is under new management (although the new manager did previously work there). Still excellent and a POTY contender in my opinion.
    Cornubia missing from Bristol? And as for Cheltenham the Jolly Brewmaster is my favourite – on the way back to the station.

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      1. Wouldn’t know where to start choosing only one Bristol pub!

        We will be there at the end of this month. My pubs to revisit list is:

        Volunteer Tavern

        Llandoger Trow

        The Old Bookshop

        I’ll add the Swan to my list of 26 pubs to visit.

        Impossible city!

        The Sheffield of the South?

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      2. Bedminster is definitely a different city! Rotating food provider in Old Bookshop. All vegan. Was Indian curries. Now German style – excellent Currywurst and chips.

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    2. Agree about the Jolly, my Cheltenham favourite and I have a huge soft spot for it since it did garden table service during lockdown so well.

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