Stroud Journal, Friday 5th July 1889 – The annual picnic of the choir, teachers, and Mutual Improvement Society connected with France Chapel, Chalford, was held on Saturday last, Westonbirt being selected for a visit. The party, numbering upwards of sixty, were conveyed thither in brakes supplied by Messrs Soul and Eddles. The start was made at 9 o’clock, and the weather was all that could be desired. An interesting hour was spent in Malmesbury, the chief attraction of course being the fine old abbey. Tea was partaken in the grounds of the Hare and Hounds, Westonbirt, and the caterer, Mr Southgate, gave great satisfaction. After tea the beautiful gardens and private grounds which have made this place famous were visited. Games were entered into heartly up to the time for the return journey, 8.30. Home was reached about 11 o’clock. It was voted by all as one of the pleasantest excursions connected with the societies.
Courtesy Paul BestWilts and Gloucestershire Standard, Saturday 7th September 1895 – Refused to quit licensed premises: John Parker, of Westonbirt, was summoned by Mr. James Southgate, landlord of the Hare and Hounds for behaving in a disorderly and violent manner in his house on the 27th August, and refusing to leave when requested to do so. The defendant did not appear. Mr Southgate proved the case, and added that it was only out of regard for Parker’s parents, who were very respectable people, that he had not summoned him for a like offence before. Fined five shillings and costs.
Courtesy Paul BestDevizes and Wilts Advertiser, Thursday 19th December 1895 – A familiar name: At the Tetbury petty sessions last week, Eliza Weir, who is so well known at the Devizes police court, was sent to prison for seven days’ hard labour, for breaking a window at the Hare and Hounds Hotel, Westonbirt.
Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, Saturday 24th February 1934: The Duke of Beaufort’s Subscribers’ and Farmers’ Hunt Ball will take place at the Hare & Hounds Hotel, Westonbirt, on Friday, April 13th 1934. Subscribers’ tickets 10/- each. Farmers tickets 5/-each. Subscribers’ tickets can be obtained by The Lady Aspley, Petty France, Badminton.
Courtesy Paul BestGloucester Journal, Saturday 30th March 1935 – Tetbury Concert: Music lovers in the Tetbury district filled the ballroom at the Hare and Hounds Hotel, Westonbirt, for an afternoon concert given on behalf of the Tetbury Cottage Hospital. An excellent programme was provided by Miss Mercia Stotesbury (violinist), who was assisted by Mr. Salusbury Baker (baritone), with Mr. Bertram Harrison as accompanist. Lady Helena Gibbs, secretary to the Hospital, presented Miss Stotesbury with a bouquet of Westonbirt orchids, and Canon R. F. Wilson, chairman of the Hospital Committee, stated that all the costs of the concert had been defrayed by friends.
Courtesy Paul Best
Courtesy Paul Best
Courtesy Paul BestBirmingham Daily Post, Wednesday 16th March 1955. Advertisement: Easter in the Cotswolds. The Hare & Hounds, Westonbirt, nr Tetbury, Gloucestershire – Set amidst nine acres beautiful grounds, offers superb food and comfort. Delightful Lounge and Cocktail Bars, Dinner / Dancing. Tennis and Squash. Nearby Golf. Large Gamesroom. Ideal Point-to-Point Centre. Special inclusive Easter terms: 3 days – £6.0s; 4 days – £7.10s., 5 days – £8.15s. Illustrated brochure on request.
Courtesy Paul Best
Advertisement June 1978
Real Ale in Gloucestershire (CAMRA, 1996)
Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard, 29th November 2001 – Former coaching inn dates from 17th century: The Cirencester office of Knight Frank is pleased to be offring for sale Westonbirt Farmhouse at Westonbirt with a guide price inviting offers in excess of £900,000. Westonbirt Farmhouse was originally the Hare & Hounds coaching inn before being converted into a particularly attractive farmhouse by Robert Holford, founder of Westonbirt Arboretum. It is situated adjacent to Westonbirt Park and the Arboretum on the edge of the village with wonderful rural views. The property is thought to date from the middle part of the 17th century and now provides a wonderful family house.
The Citizen, 19th May 2005 – The Price is right for this generation game: The Hare and Hounds at Westonbirt marked a very special landmark on Friday when family and friends celebrated the arrival of Evie Alexandra Price, the fourth generation to become part of the hotel. Evie’s great-grandmother Joan Price originally bought the hotel back in 1953 and Friday’s bash was in honour of the 52 years of ownership since then. Today, the Hare and Hounds is run by Evie’s parents, Richard and Laura Price.
Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard, 29th November 2006 – Hotel expands with dozen new luxury suites costing £1m: The Hare and Hounds Hotel in Westonbirt has built 12 new luxury suites. Silkwood Court cost more than £1 million, and rooms have mini bars, seating areas, power showers and high definition TV’s. The development took eight months.
Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard, 3rd January 2008 – Hotel wins a princely green prize: A Cotswold hotel has scooped a prestigious green business award – thanks to Prince Charles. The Hare and Hounds at Westonbirt won a silver award rating at the Green Tourist Business awards, after the prince reported problems with a pipeline leading from the hotel.
Hotel director Laura Price explained: “We started to look into how green our business was when we installed our water treatment plant last year. Previously we had discharged our sewage into a treatment plant across the road but some years ago, without our knowledge, the pipe was diverted into a neighbouring field was polluting the watercourse.
“The land happened to be owned by Prince Charles, who reported it to the Environment Agency. As a result we installed a state-of-the-art bio-disk system and this is working extremely well now.”
To win the award the Hare and Hounds had to meet high standards of energy saving, recycling and water issues. Ms Price added: “Our gardens and grounds are full of wildlife which we actively encourage.”
Licensing records:
Owner of the Hare and Hounds in 1891: R.S. Holford
In 1891 it was free of brewery tie
The rateable value in 1891 was £24.0s.0d.
Owner of the Hare and Hounds in 1903: G.L.Holford., Esq.
In 1903 it was free of brewery tie
The rateable value in 1903 was £24.0s.0d.
Closing time in 1903 was 10pm.
The Hare and Hounds was licensed as an alehouse.
Owners in 2009: Cotswold Inns and Hotels
Landlords / Proprieters at the Hare and Hounds Hotel include:
1856,1869 J. Wells
1885,1919 James Southgate
1927 Cecil Smith
1939 Percy L. Holloway (he passed away in Feb 1939, aged 49)
1953 Joan Price (in 1953 it was bought by the Price family)
1955 N.V. Price (Director)
2005 Richard and Laura Price
2009 Michael and Pamela Horton (Cotswold Inns and Hotels)