Royal Standard, Swindon Road, Cheltenham

The Royal Standard was located in Swindon Road, approximately where the brick wall restricting access from Hereford Place to Swindon Road is located – just across from the Royal Mail Sorting Office. 

Owners of the Royal Standard in 1891: Stroud Brewery Co.

Owners of the Royal Standard in 1903: Nailsworth Brewery

The brewery owners of the Royal Standard are of interest as it appears to have been acquired by a rival company. Was this an agreed transaction between the Stroud and Nailsworth breweries, or were there devious tactics being employed? Perhaps the Stroud Brewery voluntarily relinquished the licence of the Royal Standard which they owned in 1891 and simply transferred the licence to another establishment, but usually that necessitates closure of the pub. Nailsworth Brewery are listed as the owners in 1903. Throughout this time span from late Victorian to early Edwardian periods the annual rateable value remained constant at £15.5s.0d. The Royal Standard was a licensed ale house.

Hereford Times, Saturday 13th May 1854: TO LET, with immediate possession, Free Public House, called the ROYAL STANDARD, situate at Cheltenham, doing a good ready money business, the rent very moderate, and the going-in will be light. For further particulars apply to Mr. Hodges, on the Premises, or to Mr. Edwards, Solicitor Ross.

Cheltenham Examiner, Wednesday, 30th October 1861 – In the matter of the Petition of John Prosser, of Cheltenham, sawyer, who is now and for the space of three months last past has been living in lodging at the Royal Standard lnn, in Cheltenham and out of employment, and for one year and two months next previously thereto occupying the said Royal Standard Inn, as tenant thereof, and carried on the business of an Innkeeper at such inn, and for one year and ten months next previously thereto residing at No. 5, Chester Walk, in Cheltenham aforesaid, and carried on the business of a green-grocer there, an Insolvent Debtor.
By Order of the Court. Thomas Malvern, High Bailiff, Cheltenham. October 25th, 1861.

DEATHS – William Young on September 19th 1925 at the Royal Standard, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, aged 91. 

Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 17th April 1937: Gloucestershire Licensing Committee on Monday confirmed the removal of the licence from the Royal Standard, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, to the Hop Pole Inn, Gloucester-road, Cheltenham. The applicant was Mr. Albert Mills Nairne, of the Hop Pole Inn, and he was represented by Mr. J. D. Lane.

Gloucestershire Echo, Thursday 11th March 1937:  Cheltenham Licensing Justices, at the adjourned licensing sessions this morning, agreed to the removal of a full licence from one local inn to another which previously was served only by a beer licence. The case was one in which Cheltenham Original Brewery Company, Ltd., applied for the removal of the full licence of the Royal Standard Inn, Swindon Road, the Hop Pole Inn, Gloucester Road, which has only a beer licence. Mr J. D. Lane, who represented the owners of the two houses and the licensees of the establishments, opened his case with a statement regarding the requirements of justices, the owners of the premises and the needs of the district. The application, he said, was for the removal of the licence of the Royal Standard Inn, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, to the Hop Pole Inn, in Gloucester-road. He explained that the Royal Standard licence was a full one, whereas that of the Hop Pole Inn was only a beer licence. Mr. Lane explained that the Cheltenham Original Brewery Co., Ltd., owned both houses, and that they, with the licensees, were all agreed to the removal. He then put in plans of the Hop Pole Inn, and remarked that if the removal was granted the company would give an undertaking to carry out improvements to the satisfaction of the justices.

The Hop Pole Inn, he went on, was situated near the Cheltenham Market, and the reasons for the application were many. . … He had strong evidence to show that there were really urgent needs that full licensed house should be where the Hop Pole Inn is now situated. “Your decision in this matter is unfettered,” he said to tho justices. ‘ You have the same powers to grant a removal as you have to grant a new licence. “Apart from that urgent need,” he went on, “there is one great advantage that will accrue, and it is this —whereas you at the present time have two licenses in Cheltenham, you will have one less. “The old Hop Pole beer licence will be surrendered by the brewery company, and it will go without any claim for compensation. ” The brewery company will give an undertaking that the licence will not be renewed when the time comes round for the renewal. Mr. Lane stated that if the removal was granted the company would also undertake to carry out extensive alterations and improvement at the Hop Pole Inn. He went on to enumerate the needs of the respective house districts. In the Royal Standard Inn area a lot of slum clearing was in progress, with a resultant reduction the population. There were also several other fully licensed houses in the vicinity. Mr. Lane spoke of the great increase in the business of the Cheltenham market with a consequent rise in the influx of buyers and salesmen, who required refreshments. Also the market staff now numbered over 30.

In closing, Mr. Lane again mentioned the demand for a fully licensed house in the vicinity of the market, where meals could be served.  “It sounds like a bargain, but I would remind you again,” said Mr. Lane, “that if this removal is granted there will be one less licence in Cheltenham.” Mr. William Eric Dow, architect, formally proved the plans, and said that at present the nearest fully licensed house from Cheltenham Market was 200 yards away, and if the application were granted the nearest, the Hop Pole, would be 20 yards away. Mr. Charles Cooper Castle, auctioneer, gave evidence of the need for a fully licensed house in the market district. The business at the market had grown very considerably, and there were not proper facilities for the many people who attended the market either for the drinks they required or for food. The buyers, he added, had not sufficient time to go to the licensed house 200 yards away.

Mr. John Bryan Till, outside manager of the Cheltenham Original Brewery, said that the removal of the licence from the Royal Standard would not affect the district there. The Brewery Company had received many applications for improved facilities at the Hop Pole. The licensee of the Hop Pole, Mr. Albert Mills Nairne, Mr. Thomas George Underhill, manager of the Gloucestershire Marketing Society, and Mr. Sidney Hill, a buyer from Pontypridd, also spoke of the demand for facilities for obtaining food and other drinks by users of the market. No one present in court offered any objection to the application. Supt. Wayman, who did not object to the application, pointed out that it would be an improvement if the Royal Standard Inn licence was removed. The Chairman announced that the application would be granted subject to a guarantee of substantial improvement being made in the premises, giving facilities for meals and adequate sanitary accommodation. 

Hi Geoff,

 
Just to the east of the Postal sorting office in Poole Way, Cheltenham is the West End car park behind a brick wall. On the east side of the car park is Nailsworth Terrace. This used to be the name of the terrace of houses and the street itself was called Hereford Place. Now, Milsom Street curves westward at its northern end to join up with Nailsworth Terrace, but in the past, Hereford Place used to join up with Swindon Road across from where the eastern end of Popes Court is now (formerly St. Paul’s Maternity Hospital, and before that a large house next to the Union Work House, where the children were housed: it was called The Elms, and the land where the Work House was built west of it was part of The Elms estate (where St. Paul’s Health Centre is now).
 
Any way, the building on the junction of Hereford Place (now Nailsworth Terrace) and Swindon Road, on the east side, was a pub – the Royal Standard aka as the Standard. As you say, this certainly existed by 1844 when T. Hodges was the landlord, but it wasn’t listed in the 1830 Pigot’s Directory, so must have opened between 1830 and 1844.
 
In the 1847 Hunt & Co. Directory it is listed under “Inns and Public Houses” as the Royal Standard with Thomas Hodges still as landlord, and the address actually given as “Elms.”
 
In the 1848 Edwards Directory it is also listed under “Inns and Public Houses” as the Royal Standard, but there with H.T. Elmes as landlord and no address given
 
1850, 1851 & 1852 Edwards Directories see it listed under “Inns and Public Houses” but as the Standard, and once again with T. Hodges as the landlord, and the address given as “Swindon road.”
 
It does actually get listed in the 1853 & 1854 Annuaires – but under “Resident Tradespeople” as the Royal Standard Inn still with T. Hodges, but now with the address shown as “Back street”
 
In the 1855 Annuaire everything is the same as above, except the landlord is listed as H. Mayo.
 
1856 – 1858 Annuaires the only difference is the landlord – E. Raven
 
1859 & 1860 Annuaires have it listed the same as above, but with J.P. Sinclair as landlord
 
1861 & 1862 Annuaires likewise, but with J.P. Prosser as landlord
 
1863 Annuaire the same, but with J. Morrell as landlord
 
You have James Potter as landlord in 1870, and he was also listed in the 1872-3 Royal Directory – pub recorded as the Royal Standard listed under “BACK STREET”
 
In the 1876 Royal Directory it is listed as the “Royal Standard, Mrs. A. Barr” under “BACK STREET” but the listing for “Hereford Place” describes that as “(Back-street, near the Royal Standard Inn, opposite the Elms.)” 
 
Although you have Mrs. Barr recorded as landlady in 1878, in the 1878 Royal Directory it lists John Bradshaw and the Royal Standard is listed under Swindon Road (but the bracketed description of where Hereford Place is located remains as above
 
The 1880-1 Post Office Directory repeats the above.
 
The 1883-4 Post Office Directory lists the Royal Standard, Miss E. Albino under Swindon Road, and the 1891-2 edition is the same except it lists it as the Royal Standard Inn
 
The 1901 Annuaire lists the “Royal Standard Inn, Mr. W. Young” under Swindon Road, and that’s the case in various directories through to the 1926 Kelly’s – so a tenure of at least 25 years.
 
In 1927 you have Mrs. E. M. Young, but in that year’s Kelly’s Directory it lists “Royal Standard P.H. Misses E & E. Young” whereas the Built-Leonard lists the “Royal Standard inn – Mrs. Young.”
 
The Kelly’s Directory persists in recording its listing as above through to 1937, and in 1929 the Built-Leonard Directory switches to “Royal Standard Inn – Miss E. Young.” Repeating in 1931 – 1934 and 1937.
 
In the 1938 Kelly’s Directory Young Miss Edith is listed for 82 Swindon Road in the “Private Residents” listings, and in the street listings, Hereford Place is described as “from 82 Swindon Road to Roebuck Cottages & 211 High Street.” So I assume the Royal Standard closed in 1937.
 
Since, the building has been demolished and the curve in Milsom Street and perimeter wall built where it used to stand.
 
But now it has a lifespan of 90+ years and quite well documented landlords/landladies for a large part of that time.
 
Hope that’s useful,
 
Alan Jones
 
 
Landlords at the Royal Standard include:
 

1844 T. Hodges

1856 S. Raven

1870 James Potter

1878 Mrs Barr

1883,1891 Elizabeth Albino

1902,1926 William Young

1927 Mrs E.M. Young

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