The Northfield Hotel was opened on 6th October 1932 by the Stroud Brewery Co. The red bricked hotel was supposed to have been strategically located on the Gloucester ring road but the by-pass was constructed a few yards away from the pub – as a result the Northfield Hotel was never destined to benefit from the patronage of passing customers. The Northfield was a popular local community pub that had darts and sports teams.
Citizen: Tuesday 6th March 1990: Pub Reopens. A Gloucester pub is set to reopen after a £250,000 facelift. The Northfield pub on Southfield Road was completely rebuilt inside in the refurbishment. Publicans Pam and Tony Fitzsimmons are holding an official reopening on March 15th with management from brewers Whitbread joining the fun.
The Northfield Hotel changed its name to the Retreat in 2000. In 2003 the owners, the Laurel Pub Company, sold the Retreat to a property developer. Despite no formal planning application being submitted to Gloucester City Council it was announced that the hotel was to be demolished and replaced by housing. The Retreat closed in August 2003 and, despite a petition of 800 signatures, the bulldozers had demolished the old Northfield Hotel by the end of the month.
A planning application was submitted to build 18 two bed-roomed houses on the site. Regular Bill Turner, then aged 83, who lived opposite the pub said: “My heart is breaking watching them take it down. I have supported this pub for 60 years, along with many other pensioners in the area, and now it is gone, and we have nowhere to go. It’s ridiculous that companies are allowed to do this to a community.”
Laurel Pub Company were also responsible for selling the Crown & Harp in Bishop’s Cleeve to a property developer. The popular Crown & Harp was also demolished despite protests and petitions from regulars. How can this be right?
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1932: Stroud Brewery Company
Owner in 2003: Laurel Pub Company
Landlords at the Northfield Hotel include:
1986 Brian & Alice Dobson
1990 Pam and Tony Fitzsimmons
1997 Geoff Davison
1998 Tony James and Sue Cattermole (pub manageress)
2003 James Cassels
