The Golden Ball has been selling Donnington Ales for well over a century.
https://www.thegoldenball.co.uk/
Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 12th June 1909 – To sell by auction: On Thursday next, June 17th 1909, at 2.30 sharp. At the Golden Ball, Lower Swell. A portion of useful household furniture and various effects, compising fenders and fireirons, capital meat safe, Deal kitchen tables, Chairs, Grandfathers Clock in long case with brass dial, Cottage pianoforte in rosewood frame, 4ft 6in. Iron French bedsteads, bedding, wash-stands, dressing tables, large chest of drawers, carpets; also Hencoops and quantity of Fagots, the property of Mr. Samuel Knight. No Catalogues.
Golden Ball Inn, Lower Swell – one mile from Stow-on-the-Wold. Tayler, Fletcher & Villar have received instructions from Mr W. Storey, to sell by auction on Saturday, June 20th 1931 – The whole of his superior household furniture (removed for convenience of sale) including Pianoforte in Rosewood Case, and in good condition. Further details appear on posters.
Gloucestershire Echo, 1st January 1932 – Licence ban removed: Walter Henry Newman, of the Golden Ball, Lower Swell, applied at Stow Pety Sessions yesterday for the removal of the suspension of his motor-driving licence was which suspended on 24th June. Since the suspension, Seargeant Hallam stated, Mr Newman’ conduct had been entirely satisfactory, and he was instructed to offer no objection to the application. The Bench granted the application on payment of court costs.
Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 2nd December 1939: For sale – 1938 Ferguson Wireless. All-mains 6-valve, nearly new, unable to use having no electric; £6 or offer – Groves, Golden Ball, Lower Swell.
Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard, 16th December 1997 – ‘Down your local by Bill Charlton’: An unusual coincidence has taken place at the Golden Ball Inn in the vllage of Lower Swell, near Stow-on-the-Wold. While the licensees of long standing have moved out to work in a golf club, newcomers have arrived from a similar business venture to take over.
Peter and Pat Heads took over the traditional Cotswold pub – part of the Donnington Brewery pub chain – just six months ago. Yet already they report of building up a local trade, while coping at the same time with the important tourist market. They see the premises as playing a vital role in community life. So while they foster interests in darts, crib and Aunt Sally, they concentrate on developing the centuries old inn into an active centre for the community – a place where locals pop in to chat in comfort as they mix with casual visitors. Strength of the pub’s appeal, they feel, is its continual recognition as a typical country pub.
Both being trained chefs is an advantage to Peter and Pat’s ambitions of attracting clients, with a menu which changes daily, depending on what is available at market. Their young sons, aged nine and ten, have alreay enthusistically welcomed an Aunt Sally in the garden. Although only recently moved in, the boys’ parents have built up a reputation which attracts customers from a wide range of surrounding local villages, taking in Condicot, Blockley and Evenlode.
Members of Cotswold Hills Golf Club, Ullenwood, where Peter and Pat previously worked, have also lost no time in finding them in their new home to renew friendships. “We have always wanted to run our own pub, somewhere we can do our own thing,” explained Pat. Until now the couple, from Newcastle, have worked in a variety of golf clubs, from Cumbria to Sussex, but have soon settled into their new routine.
Home cooking is the strength of the catering, with food varying from steaks to fresh fish, spare ribs, almon fish cakes, traditional pork sausages with apple and ginger, English puddings such as treacle tart, crumble and apple pie. Strong reliance is put on fresh vegetables. The menu has been laid out in such a way thar can “mix and match” the variety of sauces available. Sunday roasts feature two roasts and a fish dish.
“The Golden Ball will never lose its atmosphere of a traditional English pub,” promise Peter and Pat. A policy which is proving popular with local clients, or those from as far afield as Japan and America.
Map Reference: SP 175255
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: Alfred Sartoris (free from brewery tie)
Rateable value in 1891: £8.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Beerhouse
Owner in 1903: Mark Fenwick (leased Richard Iles Arkell, Donnington Brewery)
Rateable value in 1903: £16.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Beerhouse
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Landlords at the Golden Ball include:
1883 (Oct) ‘The licence of the Golden Ball, Lower Swell, was transferred from Mrs Arthurs to Charles Forty’
1891 Charles Forty
1902 Mr J.F. Nichols (son-in-law of the late Mrs Forty)
1903 Henry Halford
1904 (Feb) ‘The licence of the Golden Ball, Lower Swell, was temporarily transferred from Henry Halford to Samuel Knight’
1911, 1921 William Butler
1931,1932 Walter Henry Newman (charged with being under the influence of drink whilst driving a motor car. He was fined £5, ordered to pay £2.2s. doctor’s fee, and his driving licence was suspended for twelve months.)
1939 Tom Whitehouse
. William H. Groves
1987 Steve Aldridge
1997 (June) Peter and Pat Heads
2001,2006 Daniel Loton and Maureen Heath
2008 Steve Heath
2010 Steven Bowler
2010 (June), 2013 Ed and Dominque Simpson