At the tip of the sweeping ox-bow bend of the River Severn to the west of Arlingham, an inn named The Passage House stood here from at least the C17th, possibly earlier, forming part of the Arlingham Court Estate. In 1802 it was renamed as The Three Mitres, and continued to thrive on the coaching routes (evidenced in Paterson’s Roads) and livestock droving route across the river here. At that time the site had coach houses and livery with the equivalent at Newnham on Severn, which is 400 metres away on the opposite bank of the river, with passengers changing stage coaches and crossing by ferry.
In the late 1840s The Three Mitres was demolished and a slightly smaller replacement inn was built on the site resulting in it being given the name of The New Inn.
In the 1850s the Arlingham Court Estate was sold to the wealthy Robert Stayner Holford of Westonbirt estate who created the arboretum there (see also Hare & Hounds, Westonbirt). In 1919 when Sir George Holford sold the Arlingham Court Estate in lots. The pub became known as the Old Passage Inn in 1968.
Thank you to Jon Shaw for supplying me with information on the history of the Old Passage Inn.
Stroud Journal, Saturday 5th February 1876 – Daring rescue at Arlingham: On Friday evening last the usual rent feast to the tenants of Mr Holford took place at the New Inn, Arlingham. After the usual business of the day had been transacted, Mr Charles Browning, of Overton, rose for the purpose of leaving. Upon leaving the inn, by some means unexplained, probably owing to the darkness of the night, he accidentally fell over the Pill bank, a distance of some 20 feet, into the water beneath. His cries for assistance soon brought to the spot Captain Markey, of the Red Lion Inn, who, seeing the state of affairs, bravely descended, and by the joint efforts of several who by this time had gathered to the spot, the exhaused man was brought to the shore in safety. The spot where the accident occurred is an exceedingly dangerous one, and being situated so near the road ought to have some better fencing to prevent like accidents.
Stroud News & Gloucestershire Advertiser, Friday 21st October 1904 – Hunting: Captain Darell’s Beagles had on Friday the best run yet experienced in their short year. They met at the New Inn, Arlingham, when a good included the Master, Mrs Darell, the Misses Darell (2), Captain Venner, Dr Weller and Mr Barling. A hare was put up quite near the meet, and after a run that lasted an hour and a half, was killed in Mr Butt’s field near to the starting point. Some ten to twelve must have been covered in the chase. This makes the fourth hare killed in the seven days on which hunting has taken place.
Stroud News & Gloucestershire Advertiser, Friday 29th September 1905 – It is with deep regret we have to record the painfully sudden death of Mrs Frederick Burroughs, of the New Inn, Arlingham. The deceased lady, aged 38, had only been ill about a fortnight. Much symphathy is felt for the bereaved husband (who is left with a family of seven young children.
Gloucester Journal, Saturday 10th March 1928 – Bertram King, of the New Inn, Arlingham, was summoned for having, between February 13th and 15th, thrown into the river Severn the carcass of a calf which had died of disease. The defendant was fined £2.
The proposed works will consist of (a) an open piled concrete pier extending to the low water matk on the easr side of the river, (b) a bridge across Passage Pill near the New Inn, Arlingham, to carry an approach road to the pier, (c) the removal of rock on the west side of the river to form the western landing, and (d) the laying of ferry chains across the bed of the river.
Above: ‘Bygones’ feature in the Gloucester Citizen, 7nd February 2001 – “Eyes down and look in”: Although the eyes of everyone in this picture are focused on a game of dominoes our readers will no doubt find that the lamb on the rght supping Guinness its most eye-catching feature. The photograph was taken at the end of the 1960’s at the Old Passage Inn in Arlingham and we believe the young lady providing the animal with its alcoholic treat is the landlady Pauline Phillips.
Public Notice. Proposed development at The Passage Inn, Arlingham. ‘Notice is hereby given that application is being made to the Stroud District Council by Mr. Jones for planning permission in respect of a Skittle Alley at the Passage Inn, Arlingham’. Date 14th August 1974.
Advertisement: Citizen. Monday 21st January, 1985. A New Look for the Old Passage Inn, Arlingham. Jan and Graham Pockett, and their daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Mick Feegrade, have recently bought the Old Passage Inn at Arlingham. They formerly ran a pub in Hillingdon, Middlesex, for eight and a half years. The Old Passage Inn is situated on the River Severn opposite Newnham and the Forest of Dean and sells a wide variety of ales.
Since moving to the pub in November last year, the new owners have made a start on the exterior decoration, and there are plans to refurbish the main bar in the near future. The restaurant, with seating for 28, re-opens tomorrow with an a ‘la carte menu, presented by the chef, who was formerly head chef at one of the best hotels in the area.
The new owners are in the process of making alterations to the garden. This will include a children’s play are for the spring and summer.
Jan, Graham, Jane and Mick look forward to meeting you in the near future.
Above: Advertisement for the Old Passage Inn, The Citizen, 21st January 1985
The Citizen, Friday 24th May 1991 – Cellar gigs: The Old Passage Inn, Arlingham, reopens its cellar bar today for gigs by bands. The pub, set in picturesque countryside on the banks of the Severn, is undergoing further redevelopment.
Planning application: Stroud District Council – The Old Passage Inn, Arlingham – Mr T Buckley. The Old Passage Inn, Arlingham. Change of use from Public House to residential. (June 1999)
Planning application: Stroud District Council – The Old Passage Inn, Arlingham – Change of use from public house to restaurant / seasonal cafe. Change of use of old pub lounge bar to residential (November 1999)
The Citizen, Monday 2nd December 2002 – Pub scales heights of sea cuisine: They sell seafood far from the seashore – and it has brought them national recogntion and a prestigous award. The Old Passage Inn at Arlingham has been named Seafood Pub of the Year in the 2002 Publican Pub Food Awards. Although is in a remote location on the banks of the River Severn, in just over two years the restaurant and hotel has been able to cast its net wide to capture enthusiastic diners.
The award, presented at a glittering ceremony at an hotel in London, made the pub the king prawn of seafood – despite miles from the sea. In a glowing tribute to the high culinary standards of the young owners – Josephine Moore, 29, her brother Raoul, 22, and chf Patrick Le Mesurier, 30 – judges could hardly conceal their delight.
Their verdict was: “The Old Passage Inn in Gloucestershire provides an inspirational example of how an innovative approach seafood combined with friendly and efficient service can attract customers from many miles around to a pub in an isolated location.”
When Josephine and Raoul’s parents, Somerset and Helen Moore, bought it, their intention was to turn it into a house – they used to drink there and loved its picturesque and peaceful setting, But after a fortuitous meeting with chef Patrick Le Mesurier, who has worked with the Roux brothers and was selling his Woodchester pub, the decision was taken to open as a pub and The Old Passage Inn was opened in June 2000.
Josephine and Raoul, together with Patrick, now rent the building off Mr and Mrs Moore and are watching the customers, and awards, pour in.
Above: Josephine Moore of the Old Passage Inn with a Cornish lobster
The Old Passage Inn was purchased in 2022 by Easton and Alison Hogben of the Quality Inns Group and it is currently undergoing refurbishment ahead of a reopening.
Map Reference: SO 696113
Licensing Details:
Rateable Value in 1891: £22.10s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1891: Robert Stayner Holford Esq. (leased to Arnold Perrett & Co., Wickwar Brewery)
Rateable Value in 1903: £10.10s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: George L. Holford., Esq. (leased to Arnold Perrett & Co., Wickwar Brewery)
Closing time in 1903: 10 pm
Landlords at the Three Mitres / New Inn / Old Passage Inn include:
1698 Thomas Fryer
1728 Charles Aldridge
1839 John Saunders
1850 John Phipps
1856 S. Hayward (Jnr.)
1860,1885 Samuel Hayward
1885,1891 John Dee
1894 Nicholas Stick
1894 Jeremy Hyett
1900-1910 Frederick Burroughs
1919,1928 Bertram King
1937,1939 Ronald Geo. Prout
1939 Basil Trout
1953 William (Bill) Twynning
1968 George and Pauline Phillips
1972,1984 Stuart Jones
1984 (November) Jan and Graham Pockett, and their daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Mick Feegrade
1985 Stan Pockett
1987 Colin Higgins
1991 Guy Coleman
1995,1998 Mike Hargreaves
2007 Somerset Moore
2002 Josephine (Jo) Moore
2007 Sally Pearce