Whitbread Flowers held a competition in 1972 to rename their New Inn in Gretton. The name Bugatti Inn was chosen as the pub is in close proximity to the famous Prescott Hill Climb, home of the Bugatti Owners Club and museum. The magazine ‘Gloucestershire & Avon Life’ noted in October 1975 that the Bugatti sports the only inn sign of that name in the country and ‘is decked with gay umbrellas over tables in the continental manner one would expect of a pub catering for the internationals who stop for a breather and a pint after the thrills of nearby Prescott’s famous hill races.’ The style of writing is from a bygone age with innocent references to gay umbrellas and a relaxed attitude to drinking and driving.
The July 1978 edition of Real Ale in Gloucestershire gives details of Whitbread Pale Ale and Draught Bitter being drawn from handpump.
On Friday April 7th 2001 torrential rain caused flash flooding in Gretton. Alison Holden, then the landlady of the Bugatti Inn said: “I popped into the village at about 4pm and when I came back I had to wade through seven inches of water. The pub was like an island. I’ve never seen anything like it.” It was the fourth time in just two years that the villagers in Gretton had to put on their wellies, find buckets and sandbags to hastily prepare flood defences.
Landlord David McLean and his partner Janice Minett found an innovative way to get people to and from the Bugatti in November 2003. A dedicated minibus, emblazed with the pub name, logo and the slogan ‘serving great food 7 days a week’, offered customers a chance to enjoy a few drinks and return home without breaking the law by drink-driving or spending money hiring a taxi. The service was free of charge and continued over the festive season into the New Year. David said: “We’ve done about 30 trips so far and a lot of people have booked for Christmas and New Years’ Eve. “
David and Jan transformed the bar area with a terracotta tiled floor, white walls with glimpses of exposed stone, plants, stylish furniture and sumptuous brown leather sofas.
In 2006 the pub was trading as the Bugatti Inn & the Monza Country Restaurant, an advertisement noted that there were ’30 plus English and Italian dishes by our award-winning chef.
In 2007, following another refurbishment and transformation to a bright and modern food-led establishment, many of the pictures depicting the pubs link with motoring were removed by its new landlords Phil and Tina O’Hanlon. Phil explained that although they didn’t want to alter the name of the pub or erase its links with motor racing altogether, they thought that it would be better to gain a reputation for good food and drink. A food review in the Gloucestershire Echo note that “the main course was well-presented and it tasted as good as it looked.”
In 2012 the pub had yet another makeover and launched as an ‘authentic’ Indian Restaurant and takeaway in partnership with the Indian Lounge in Cheltenham.
The Bugatti has now closed, and has been converted to residential use.
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: Cheltenham Original Brewery
Rateable value in 1891: £12.15s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: Cheltenham Original Brewery
Rateable value in 1903: £12.15s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Alehouse
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Landlords at the New Inn / Bugatti Inn include:
1856,1861 William James
1885 Harry Cannon
1891,1903 Reuben Giles
1906 Thomas Sharpe
1919 William Thomas Trinder
1994,1997 Peter and Jean Grimes (from the House in the Tree, Hayden)
2001 Alison Holden
2004 Jan Minett and David McClean
2005 Neil and Sharon Stephens
2006 (November),2007 Phil and Tina O’Hanlon
2009 Peter Elliott
2010 Michael Elliott
