The Stratford, opposite Stroud Leisure Centre, was a public house that opened on 5th June 1997 on the premises of the old Alpine Lodge Hotel.
The Citizen, 5th February 1997 – Hotel revamp to create 10 jobs (by Jo Barber): A businessman has unveiled plans to spend £400,000 transforming and reopening a run-down Stroud hotel and provide new jobs into the bargain. Entrepreneur Jean-Marie Lauzier has revealed his scheme to refurbish and upgrade the closed Alpine Lodge in Stratford Road and offer about 10 full time jobs. But people will not be able to stay overnight. Mr Lauzier, whose company Harbour Hotels runs a hotel at Brixham, hopes to reopen the Alpine Lodge as The Stratford this spring.
Already builders have completely gutted the inside of the building. As soon as planners’ consent is gained for the changes, a start will be made on the internal redevelopment. Mr Lauzier, who over the years has owned prestigious Gloucestershire hotels including The Close at Tetbury, the nearby Petty France and also the De La Bere at Cheltenham, said he intended to offer a bar restaurant, with meetings and function rooms but not an overnight hotel service.
“I bought the Alpine some time ago and rented it out. In October, when the tenants left I decided to close it down completely and to change it into something very different,” said Mr Lauzier. “I am confident there is nothing like it already in Stroud.”
The Alpine Lodge, a hotel for many years, attracted complaints in 1995 when nearby residents objected to late-night noise when the building was used as a hostel for people on state benefits. The proprietor at the time said the complaints were unfair.
Stroud News & Journal, 11th June 1997 – Luxury pub. The fruits of a £250,000 refurbishment were presented to the Stroud public on Thursday when the doors of The Stratford were officially opened. The smart Stratford Road multi-facility restaurant-pub was formerly the site of the Alpine Lodge.
Stroud News & Journal, 23d February 1999 – New look pub: A pub near Stroud has reopened under new management and has a new sports bar. The Stratford in Stratford Road has been fully refurbished and now boasts a sports bar, called Q’s. The main bar has also been refurbished and one end has been converted into a non-smoking bar. New landlords Stuart and Alison Collett said they were delighted to be taking over the Stratford and welcome all guests, old and new.
Stroud News & Journal. 31st March, 1999 – The Stratford – A Pub for All Reasons: (by Andrew Cook): A friendly welcome and a warm atmosphere are just two of the ingredients that make eating and drinking at The Stratford a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Even on an ordinary mid-week evening the bar is alive with customers enjoying a quiet drink while in the dining area diners take advantage of the fantastic 7 Before 7 offer currently running at the pub.
Under the terms of the offer, customers who order one main course between 6pm and 7pm Monday to Friday, are given another one free. Standing at the bar, before sitting down to eat it was so clear to see that customers at the pub were relaxed and happy, either just sitting and chatting, reading one of the newspapers provided or watching the giant screen television. With extremely helpful bar staff, having a drink at the Stratford bar is a pleasure and the quality of service extends to the restaurant.
Licensees Stuart Elson and Alison Collett are on hand to ensure that customers always get the best service and the food is excellent – both in value and quality.
Stroud News & Journal, Wednesday June 30th 1999 – New Bowlero-ing alley: Stroud’s MP was bowling them over at the weekend when he officially opened a new bowling game in a Stroud pub. David Drew was at the opening of Bowlero, a ten pin bowling game played on a traditional skittle alley at The Stratford in Stratford Road. The game is the first of its kind in Stroud and owner of The Stratford, said he was excited about the possibilities.
“We have tried to be innovative in our recent development of The Stratford and I, along with manager Stuart Elson, made a special visit to Olympia in London to see what was new on the market,” he said. “It was there we spotted Bowlero. As soon as we saw it we knew it had possibilities.
The 30ft alley is made of traditional wood and the ten pins are fixed on rods. having completed a turn the pins will automatically re-set and the balls returned with a press of a button.
The Citizen, 3rd January 2005 – Ex-pub set to be flats: An old pub in Stroud looks likely to be used as a site for 21 flats. The forthcoming Stroud District Council development committee meeting is being recommended to permit the former Stratford Inn, in Stratford Road, to be demolished and to allow the homes to be built there instead.
Stroud News & Journal, 4th May 2005 – Pub flats plans unacceptable: Town leaders in Stroud have spoken out against developer’s plans to turn a former pub site into 20 flats. Royle Properties Ltd want to build a new housing development on the site of the demolished Stratford pub on Stratford Road. Instead of providing the required number of six social housing units the developer has offered £100,000 towards play facilities and affordable homes.
But at their meeting last Monday night Stroud Town Council voiced their opposition to the plans, saying developers had not put enough cash into the affordable housing pot. “This is totally inadequate,” said planning applications committee chairman Andy Reed. “The six units that this size of development requires should provide a sum of approximately £200,000. The developer here is only offering £100,000.
Planning councillors at Stroud District Council are set to decide on the application in the coming weeks.
Landlords:
1997 Jean-Marie Lauzier (owner, Harbour Hotels)
1999 Stuart Elson and Alison Collett (managers)
2002 Anthony Graham and Stephen Smart
