The Little Thatch must be one of the oldest buildings in the Gloucester area in use as a pub. The core of the building dates from 1351. At the time of its construction Quedgeley was a small hamlet with a population of just 20. King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn are reputed to have visited the property in 1535 on their way to visit the fleet in Bristol. (Apparently, they were also seen at the Air Balloon in Birdlip on their visit!)
The Little Thatch became a hotel in 1971. The Anne Boleyn restaurant is a later addition to the building and the original part is called the King Henry VII bar. The Little Thatch was put on the market in June 2008 with an asking price of £1.2 million.
The Citizen: 2nd April, 1971 – Quedgeley club gets full licence – Despite objection from the Licensed Victuallers Association and the brewery company, Whitbread Flowers, a full on licence was granted yesterday for the Little Thatch Club, Quedgeley. Gloucester County licensing justices decided there was a need for it, and also granted a special hours certificate and transferred the music and dancing licence to Mr Brian McDougall, who jointly owns the club with his brother Douglas. The police had no objection.
For the applicant, Mr Alan Johnson said that with a club licence Mr McDougall could sell drink to members only. Even with a justices’ licence, he did not intend to run the premises in any way like a pub.
Mr Brian McDougall told the justices that he had now 103 members, mostly professional people. During the six months he had been running the club there had been an increasing demand from passing motorists for meals with drinks at lunchtimes, and from organisations and various parties for special functions. Because of the restrictions, he had to turn a lot of business away.
For the L.V.A. Mr Derek Evans said it was admitted that the Little Thatch was a first-class club, very well run, be he questioned the demand for full on licence facilities and said a restaurant licence would suffice. It was the first case of its kind he had known where no evidence of demand was brought. He called as witnesses two local publicans, Mr Peter Still, licensee of the Plough Inn, Quedgeley, and Mr William Church, of the Cross Keys Inn, Hardwicke, who told the justices about their businesses, and meal facilities.
For the brewery, Mr Martin Jones supported what Mr Evans said and added that the present intention of the applicant was no guarantee for the future.
