The Citizen: Friday February 10th, 1984 – Inn’s Licence Renewed As Protests Fail:
Brewers Whitbread Flowers were yesterday granted a renewed licence for the 125-year-old Lamb Inn, near Stroud, despite strong protests to the justices from local residences. The pub at Leonard Stanley, mentioned as an ale house in historical records, was a noisy nuisance to its neighbours until it closed just over two years ago, objectors told the Whitminster general annual licensing meeting. They opposed the re-opening of the Lamb as an inn because they feared that their quiet village would be upset by noisy drinkers once more.
Mrs Margaret Clark, representing the Leonard Stanley Parish Council, said the village already had another pub, a private social club, and an off-licence. Local residents had been upset by past events at the Lamb, she said, adding that parking was difficult because the pub was on a dangerous corner junction. Mr Andrew Reeves, of Bath Road, Leonard Stanley, said litter used to be left in the area by Lamb customers, while Mr Michael Vincent, of Marsh Road, recalled that the juke box had disturbed him. In addition, customers had used his garden and driveway as a urinal. “Motorbike gangs used to meet there regularly,” he told the hearing. “We all appreciate the quiet which has returned to the village.”
Councillor Norman Kay, the district council representative, stressed that traffic problems might crop up if the inn was re-licensed.
For the brewery, Mr John Clarke pointed out that only two percent of Leonard Stanley’s population of over 1,200 adults had protested at his application. “The pub is meant to be a small, local village house,” he said. “Many of the protestors’ arguments are about days past. There is nothing to say that any such behaviour would arise from fresh tenants.”
The Lamb licence was at present held by Whitbread Flowers’ area manager, he said. The justices said they had sympathy with objections, but added they were bound by the record of the full “on” licence at the Lamb Inn. They renewed the licence, on condition that repairs to the premises should be inspected by the bench before the inn was re-opened to the public.
As far as I can ascertain, the Lamb did not re-open despite the application of the renewal of the licence from Whitbread Flowers. The pub was still operational in 1979, and seems to have closed c. 1981/1982. In September 1982 the pub had been boarded up.
In April 1984 a hearing was held at Whitminster Magistrates Court to determine the future licensing of the Lamb Inn. A signed petition of at least 25 neighbours was submitted to the court recommending permanent closure.
The Lamb Inn is now a private house called the Old Lamb. It has replacement windows and has been re-rendered.
Map Reference: SO 805037
Licensing Details:
Rateable Value in 1891: £11.5s.0d.
Owner in 1891: P.S. Burford (of Frocester) (leased to Messrs. Cook, Tetbury Brewery)
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Rateable Value in 1903: £15.0s.0d.
Owner in 1903: Messrs Cook, Tetbury Brewery
Type of licence in 1903: Beerhouse
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Landlords at the Lamb Inn include:
1885 Daniel Edwards
1891 George Smart
1902,1919 Myra Rachel Alder (previously Myra Rachel Smart)
1923, 1927 Sidney C. Jones (Myra’s son in law)
1939,1940’s Lilian M. Smart
