The Fleece Inn / Kites Nest was on the junction with Bath Road and Dudbridge Road. It is now in residential use.
Independent: 11th June 1998 – Pub regulars’ charity good cheer: Charity fundraisers clubbed together to raise over £2,000 for the Spring Centre at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. After staging a range of events throughout the year, the Fleece Inn, Lightpill, Stroud were able to hand over the cheque for £2,000. Locals clubbed together and, after coming runners-up with their float entered in Stroud Show last summer, started the ball rolling with just £25. A committee was formed and a sponsored cycle ride held in October was among the events which boosted the total.
Chris Pearson of The Fleece Inn said: “To our astonishment we raised a grand total of £2,000. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the supporters of the charity.”
The Citizen: 16th September 1998 – Landlady’s charity effort: A pub landlady has been presented with two awards for her efforts to help Gloucester-based children’s charity the Spring Centre. Licensee Christine Pearson from The Fleece at Lightpill, Stroud, raised £2,000 with a sponsored bike ride and by holding raffles. She decided to donate the money to the Spring Centre because she was impressed by the amount of work it did to help to help pre-school children with special needs.
“Although it is located in Gloucester it caters for children in our area,” said Christine. “The charity works very hard to provide youngsters with special equipment.”
Christine was awarded the Good Citizen Award and the Clive Marks shield at the recent Spring Centre annual meeting for her efforts.
Stroud News & Journal: September 2006- Bands get set to rock venue: Rock the Kitesnest, a new monthly night of rock featuring a regular selection of Stroud’s finest bands, kicks off in style this month with a quartet of noisy and exciting groups. “Each night will feature three or four live bands and the best mix of rock, punk and alternative tunes,” said Chris Scarle, drummer with Stroud band Mafiosi who is organising the night.
“The aim is to take the energy of live music and fuse it with the atmosphere of a club night. I find that gigs can be a bit boring at times, due to changeovers between bands where nothing’s really happening. The same is true when you’re watching bands play long sets that you don’t know well.”
“Rock the Kitesnest will not focus purely on the bands – each band will have a 30 minute set. This should keep things fresh. Also with the huge amount of talented bands throughout Gloucestershire, there’ll be no shortage of bands to book for the night.” Rock the Kitesnest launches on Saturday September 30th, with four Stroud bands – Brown Streak, Karmacoma, Parouisia and Mafiosi.
“Brown Streak will be kicking the night off with their unique blend of prog influenced rock,” added Chris. “Second band on, Parousia, are emerging local indie rock heroes. They have a really strong live set and a great frontman in Jamie Walker – really good voice. Karmacoma, on third, are one of my personal favourites, they’re really tight. We’re headlining, mostly because we’d booked it as a gig before I decided to turn it into a monthly rock night.”
The show runs at The Kitesnest pub on Stroud’s Bath Road on September 30th from 8pm to midnight. Entry is £3.
The Citizen: December 2007 – Stars set to perform: Up-and-coming songwriters Sam Isaac and Luke Leighfield will be starring in Stroud next week. The pair will each play with their bands at the Kites Nest, Lightpill, on December 21st 2007. Both are currently establishing themselves, with radio airplay from the likes of Jo Whiley of Radio 1. Both young stars played at this summer’s 2000 Trees Festival. Tickets to the show cost £4 and doors open at 8pm.
2nd April 2010: Bands to play at Kite’s Nest – The Upstarts are the Stroud band formerly known as Skadrenlin. They are playing at the Kite’s Nest, near Dudbridge, on Friday night, at 8 pm. Popgang and Inkerman Street are also playing and entry is £3.
Stroud News & Journal, 22nd March 2017: Homes scheme for disused pub (by Eddie Bisknell)
Plans have been submitted to turn the Kite’s Nest pub in Stroud into flats and houses. The disused pub sits on the corner of Bath Road and Dudbridge Road near the Daniels Industrial Estate. Estrans Developments (Stroud) has submitted a proposal to transform the pub into three flats and demolish the remaining buildings to build seven houses and ten parking spaces.
The developers sought pre-application advice from Stroud District Council, which stressed the importance of retaining the main pub building and a need to reduce the density of the development. A number of constraints on the site have also altered the layout of the development including several protected beech trees and the change of levels between Bath Road and Dudbridge Road. The total accommodation will comprise two one-bed flats, one two-be flat and seven two-bedroom houses. Estrans stated in its application: “The proposed building is considered to appropriately address the industrial heritage of the area, whilst maintaining a contemporary appearance. Traditional building materials are proposed which will help integrate the scheme with the character of the surrounding area whilst clearly being a contemporary addition and enhance this prominent site within the conservation area.” (ref: s.17/0503/FUL)
Stroud News & Journal, 30th August 2017: Plans approved for former pub (by Sam Evans)
Plans to turn the Kite’s Nest pub in Stroud into flats have been approved. The disused pub sits on the corner of Bath Road and Dudbridge Road near the Daniel’s Industrial Estate. Estrans Developments (Stroud) Ltd submitted a proposal in March to transform the pub into three flats and demolish remaining buildings on the site to build seven houses and 10 parking spaces. Several objections were lodged, mainly concerning damage to some old beech trees and about parking issues.
However Stroud District Council has now granted permission. In its original application, Estrans Developments said: “The proposed building is considered to appropriately address the industrial heritage of the area, whilst maintaining a contemporary appearance and a residential scale (sic). The proposed roof form will draw inspiration from industrial buildings, but also helps accentuate the individual units within the terrace. Traditional building materials are proposed which will help integrate the scheme with the character of the surrounding area whilst clearly being a contemporary addition and enhance this prominent site within the Conservation Area. A mix of a stone plinth with red brick above will be used on the Dudbridge Road elevation to help break up the massing of the building.” (application S.17/0503/FUL)
Map Reference: SO 840042
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: Stroud Brewery
Rateable value in 1891: £12.15s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: Stroud Brewery
Rateable value in 1903: £12.15s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Alehouse
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Landlords at the Fleece Inn / Kites Nest include:
1885,1891 Jane Hewlett
1902,1906 Samuel Richard Smith
1919,1927 Mrs Ethel J. Nicholls
1939 Walter W. Spencer
1998 Christine Pearson
2005 Nicholas Foster (Fleece Inn)
