In the 1891 and 1903 Gloucestershire licensing books the pub is referred to as the Black Horse Inn. The Inns of the Cotswolds Map published by Bartholomew and drawn and compiled by K.C. Jordan in the 1970’s also lists the Black Horse at Horsley. In March 2004 Mike Beacham emailed me and gave the information that, according the Victoria County History, in 1826 there was a Black Horse Mill which has long since vanished.
The old inn sign used to depict six pairs of hands, with just one larger than life hand held palm upwards. In the palm is a coin – the old table game of ‘tipputs’ is being played. This is a game based on bluff where participants guess whether the coin is concealed in the right or left hand. A pub called the Tiltups Inn is known to have been serving travellers as long ago as 1769. It is likely that ‘tipputs’ is a simple, and probably deliberate, corruption of ‘Tiltups’.
Stroud Journal, Saturday 1st November 1862 – Court Leet: The Anual Court Leet and Court Baron for the Manor of Horsley was on Tuesday last held at the Black Horse, Tiltups End. The usual business having been disposed of, a very respectable company, numbering about thirty, sat down to an excellent repast, the management of which reflected great credit on the landlord, Mr John F. Tuffley.
Gloucester Citizen, Friday 5th June 1903: George Williams (18). Bertie Allan (17), labourer, and Francis Brain, schoolboy, were brought up in custody charged with having feloniously broken into the dwelling house of William Neville, the Black Horse Inn, Horsley, on the night of 31st May, and stolen therefrom a bottle of whisky, a tobbaco pipe, and about 8lbs of cheese, value 7s.6d.
Gloucestershire Echo, Wednesday 7th August 1912 – Showman sent to gaol: At Nailsworth Police-court on Wednesday, William Stephens, showman, of Plymouth, was charged with being disorderly and refusing to quit the Black Horse lnn, Horsley, on Tuesday. He was further charged with assaulting Richard Stephens, the licensee.
The evidence was to the effect that prisoner visited the inn and ordered half a pint of ale. He became very abusive to Mrs.Neville (the landlord’s mother-in-law) and was ordered to leave. He refused, and was ejected. Outside prisoner took a running kick at the landlord, injuring his leg. A tussle ensued, during which Mrs. Stephens and another woman went to prisoner’s assistance, the landlord having a very rough time of it. He managed to get away, and cycled in the direction of Kingseote, and the police, who had earlier anticipated trouble, arrived, P.C.’s Dance and Tennant taking the prisoner into custody. Prisoner was also charged with camping out on the highway at Horsley.—P.C. Dance gave evidence, and Sergt. Brotheridge said the man’s conduct had been very bad, and had received complaints about him beating his horse in Stroud Road.—The Bench characterised prisoner’s conduct as very bad, and he was sent to prison with hard labour for 14 days.
Above: Chris Heaven took this photograph of the Tipputs Inn pub sign in 1986
In 2002 Nick Beardsley and Christophe Colquin bought the Tipputs and it opened for business on 14th September. The official opening ceremony was conducted by Stroud’s MP David Drew. During the renovation the interior of the 17th century coaching inn was ‘stripped back to expose the beauty of the original structure’ and modern lighting and furnishings were added. In 2003 the Tipputs Inn won the Greene King National Marketing Business of the Year. The press release said: “Until last year the Tipputs was a run down, run-of-the-mill pub, with a sparse wet trade based on locals alone and an extremely basic food offering.”
Above – Stroud News & Journal, Wednesday 6th August 2014
Stroud News & Journal, 15th October 2014 – Applause as campaign to save pub victorious. (by Kate Wilson): Cheers and applause greeted a decision to throw out controversial plans to convert the Tipputs Inn into a cafe, shop and bakery.
At a meeting on Monday the council’s development control committee unanimously voted to refuse a change of use application submitted by Ruskin Mill College to convert the property and use it for vocational training. Since the plans came to light the district council has received 73 letters of objection and only one letter of support.
A campaign to save the Horsley pub was launched earlier this year with the intention of finding a buyer who wants to keep the Tipputs as a pub or raising the money within the community in order to purchase it as a community share. The Tipputs has also been registered as a Community Asset, however it was was explained at the meeting that this only gives the opportunity to bid on the property when it eventually goes on sale – it doesn’t guarantee its protection as a pub.
At the meeting Horsley resident Alistair Thompson told the committee that back in July members of communnity had met with the owners of the pub, Nick Beardsleyand Christophe Coquoin of the Cotswold Food Club, and made an expression of interest to purchase. “We requested figures but were never given anything. The Tipputs has never been marketed as a pub but this week an interested party has come forward with an official offer.”
Cllr. Emma Simms (Con, Nailsworth) proposed to reject the proposal on the grounds that it would reduce the community asset to such an extent that the community benefits of the building are lost. Chris Stevens, chairman of the campaign group savetipputs, expressed his delight at the decision after the meeting on Monday.
A spokesman for Ruskin Mill Trust said: “We are disappointed about the decision as we had hoped that we could provide something exciting for the community and the students and we will be reviewing our options.”
Stroud Life, 22nd July 2015 -Campaigners’ delight as pub is saved: Campaigners who fought to save their local pub are delighted to learn that it has a new owner. The Tipputs Inn at Tilputs End in Horsley closed a year ago, but now its owners The Food Club have confirmed that it has been sold.
“We have sold the Tipputs Inn to a local buyer,” said a spokesman for The Food Club.
The Tipputs was at the heart of controversy in 2014 when Ruskin Mill College, which neighbours the pub, announced its intention to buy the property and applied for planning permission to convert it into classrooms. However, it is understood that the new owner intends to run The Tipputs as a pub.
Above. Social media post 29th March 2025
Stroud News and Journal online, 15th November 2025:
A new tenant is needed to save the Tipputs Inn, a historic coaching inn perched on the A46 at Tiltups End near Nailsworth. Dating back to around 1769, the Tipputs is known for its Cotswold stone architecture and boasts an interior of exposed stone and wood-beam ceilings. It was last run by Karri Chambers as a community-centred pub but has been closed for some time.
Cotswold Leisure, which owns the freeholder, is eager to find new landlord to ensure the venue remains in the hospitality sector. This building consists of a two-storey restaurant, a large bar area and a beer garden.
A spokesperson Cotswold Leisure for added: “It also has two self-contained apartments which would make brilliant Airbnb investments. Tipputs really is the perfect setting for a pub as it’s just south of the Cotswolds and stands on the A46 which links Stroud to the historic town of Bath, which means the location provides plenty of opportunities for passing trade. With its beautiful, traditional, stone-built exterior and welcoming indoor space, Tippets would make the perfect community hub and destination venue, welcoming locals and visitors alike. Indeed, the potential for development as a dining venue is considerable given the size of the trading areas and the catering facilities.”
Map Reference: ST 844972
Licensing details:
Owner in 1891: Stroud Brewery
Rateable value in 1891: £12.5s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: Stroud Brewery
Rateable value in 1903: £12.5s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Alehouse
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Owners in 2008: Pheasant Pluckers
Landlords include:
1856 Thomas Palmer
1861 (Oct) ‘The license of the Black Horse Inn, Tiltups End, Horsley, was transferred from Mr Thomas Palmer to John Fyfield Tuffley’.
1877 William Burn
1885,1891 John Maller
1902 Walter Stacey
1903 (May) – ‘The license of the Black Horse, Horsley, from Walter George Stacey to William Neville’
1903-1909 William Neville
[Gloucestershire Echo, Tuesday 9th March 1909 – Retired Policeman’s Death: Mr William Neville, licensee of the Black Horse Inn, Tiltups End, Horsley, died on Sunday. The deceased, who was 44 years of age, was formerly in the Gloucestershire Constabularly, having served at Cheltenham, Long Marston, and in the Chipping Campden division. He retired on pension a year or two ago.]
1909 Richard Stephens
1912 Richard Stephens
1919,1927 Alfred Dee
? Beverley Whitebread (Tipputs Inn)
1999 Kevin and Pat Bratchell (from Royal Oak, Leighterton)
2002,2004 Manager Chris Wright (owners Nick Beardsley and Christophe)