Western Daily Press – November 14th, 1979: Porkers In The Pub – Gloucestershire’s rare bread of pub, the Gloucester Old Spot, is being immortalised in a pub sign. For the name of the White Swan pub at Uckington, near Cheltenham, is to be changed later this month to the Gloucester Old Spot. It is the idea of Landlord Mr Martin Earl, and the Northern Area manager of Whitbreads, Mr Harry Moffatt. Farmer Charles Martell and his wife Monica, of Dymock, Gloucestershire, who specialise in breeding Gloucestershire’s own farm animals, have been invited to take some of their pigs along when the sign is unveiled on November 27th.
Martin Earle, landlord in the 1970’s, was the epitome of the obstinate but loveable mine host. I can recall visiting the pub to see if there was any traditional P.A. bitter on offer. On entering the pub I was very impressed by the homely atmosphere but when I looked at the bar there was no handpump. When I politely asked if there was any real ale Mr Earle carried on polishing a beer glass with a cloth and, looking down to a illuminated display of keg fonts, he wryly said: “It’s all real beer!” Martin seemed to relish in his reputation as Gloucestershire’s rudest landlord. It is said that he attracted customers from far and wide just to be insulted.
In 1997, landlord Craig Brown (then aged 23) walked 3,200 miles from Sydney to Perth in Australia in aid of the Imperial Cancer Research Trust. This was no mean feat as Craig had been bedridden with pneumonia just a few months earlier. Not content with this adventure, Craig gained notoriety in 1999 and 2000 by winning races in the madcap Cheese Rolling at Coopers Hill where participants run, trip and fall in pursuit of a cheese thrown down a one in four gradient.
The lease of the Gloucester Old Spot was purchased from Jean Phillips on 24th May 2010 by Simon and Kate Daws. It was then an Enterprise Inns pub. Simon and Kate were also running the Royal Oak in Prestbury. In August 2012 they purchased the Gloucester Old Spot from the Pub Co, and since then it has been run as a true free house which has been highly praised for the excellence of its food and beer selection.
https://www.thegloucesteroldspot.co.uk
This page will be updated with additional information.
Map Reference: SO 898261
Owner in 1891: Cheltenham Original Brewery
Rateable value in 1891:
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: Cheltenham Original Brewery
Rateable value in 1903: £28.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Alehouse
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Landlords at the Old White Swan / Gloucester Old Spot include:
1856 Miss J. Preston
1885,1919 Priscilla Harrison (Mrs Priscilla Harris in 1885)
1927 Alfred Sandells
1939 Charles Stuckley
c.1960 Mrs Stuckley
c.1970 Martin Earle (‘was landlord for 25 years’)
April 1994- Dec 2000 Craig Brown (moved to Halfway House, Kineton)
2001 (June),2004 Jean Phillips (moved from House in the Tree, Hayden
2010,2022 Simon and Kate Daws
