The Post Office Inn was so named because the building housed Stroud’s first Post Office from 1857 to 1886. Access was gained to the pub from both George Street and Russell Street.
According to the Gloucestershire Guide of 1928 it was: “a popular calling house which caters for customers in an admirable manner.”
Its George Street frontage overlooked the Stroud Subscription Rooms. The Beatles performed there on 31st March 1962. George Strange said he shared a pint with them at the Post Office Inn.
The Citizen, Wednesday 6th June 2007: Former teddy boy George Strange, a welder aged 65 said: “A group of us used to go to the Post Office Inn across the road [from the Sub Rooms] for a few pints beforehand so we could build up the courage to chat up the girls.”
“That night we were in the snug at the back of the bar and four lads were about the same age as us came in. We started talking about this and that and played a few games of darts. We just talked about life in general, but when we went over to the dance and they came on stage, we recognised them from the pub. It was the Beatles. at the time I was more into Elvis and Gerry and the Pacemakers so I wasn’t particularly impressed but I was really sorry that I didn’t ask for their autographs.”
John Rogers contacted me in January 2008 and told me that he could remember that the Post Office Inn had a respectable bar facing the Subscription Rooms and a Public Bar on Russell Street. In the mid 1960’s ‘Stroudies’ used to gather in the public bar on Friday and Saturday nights and clash with Nailsworth lads who drank in the nearby Foresters Arms. It closed soon afterwards.
The original facade was replaced in 1999 by a new shop frontage (Britannic Assurance). The building is now occupied by Sawyers Estate Agents. The old metal bracket from which the pub sign hung is still in situ.
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: Stroud Brewery
Rateable value in 1891: £24.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: Stroud Brewery
Rateable value in 1903: £30.10s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Alehouse
Closing time in 1903: 11pm
Landlords at the Post Office Inn include:
1885,1891 Mrs Esther Smith
1902,1906 William Powell
1919 Joseph Mills
1927 Oliver Reginald Ward
1939 Oliver Reginald Cook
1955 Les Mauler (he kept pubs for 30 years in Stroud. This was his first pub before moving to the Crown & Sceptre where he retired in May 1975, aged 70. 1955 is an approx date. Les Mauler died in May 1985)
1974 Richard John Hodges (moved to the Wagon and Horses in Thrupp)
