Swan Inn / Rene Descartes, Coombe Hill

The Swan Inn is located on the junction with the Gloucester to Tewkesbury road (A38) and the A4019 road leading to Cheltenham.

This ex Whitbread pub was refurbished in September 1996 by the Little Pub Company and reopened as Rene Descartes Vineyard. The bar ceiling was lined with thousands of wine bottles and the French theme dominated the pub – complete with French mechanical monkeys. The Little Pub Company was subsequently acquired by Ushers of Trowbridge.

The French theme came to an end in 2000 when the pub reverted to its original identity. A West Country Ales ceramic plaque, which had been painted over with white paint, was restored to its former glory.

Gloucester Journal, Saturday 18th February 1882 – County Police: Henry Roberts, of the Swan Inn, Coombe Hill, was summoned for having his house open during prohibited hours on Monday, the 23rd of January, last; and William Colwell and Charles Leech were charged with being on the premises. P.C. Sansome stated that he was on duty on the 23rd, and visited the Swan at ten o’clock, when the house was cleared of all persons except the defendants and two others, who the landlord stated were a private party. Witness asked the landlord where the refreshments were coming from , and was told they had been provided for before closing time. Witness again visited the house at eleven o’clock, when the party were dancing and singing, and also at two o’clock, when he found them just leaving. He saw no drink about on either occasion. Case dismissed, on payment of 5s.6d. costs each.

Gloucestershire Echo, Friday 25th May 1888 – An Unruly Tramp: A tramp named Thomas Johnstone was found guilty of maliciously breaking windows at the Swan Inn, Coombe Hill, and fined ten shillings with two shillings damage and seven shillings cost and in default sent to Gloucester gaol for a fortnight.

Gloucestershire Echo, Monday 7th March 1904 – Missing Cheltenham Publican. Body Found: The body of William Howell, landlord of the Albert Arms, Cheltenham, who has been missing since January 10th, has been found in a brook at Wainlode. It appears that a fisherman named William Church, of Tirley, was walking on the Commons, between Coombe Hill and Wainlode, and in a brook which lies between Apperley and Wainlode he discovered the body, and at once sent for P.C. Robinson, of Coombe Hill, who had it removed to the Swan Inn, Coombe Hill. The body was very much decomposed, and was found lying face downwards in about five feet of water. It is thought that the man must have been dead for some weeks, as owing to the floods it has been impossible to reach this particular spot for quite six weeks. The description of the dead man tallying with that of William Howell, the missing Cheltenham publican.

Mrs Howell was communicated with, and on Monday afternoon the body was identified as that of her husband. Howell, it will be remembered, got up very early on the morning of January 10th, and whilst his wife was lighting the fire went out into the street, and although diligent search was made no trace of his whereabouts could be found. His mind was at the time of his disappearance considerably unhinged by epileptic fits and other illness. The morning in question was one of the wildest experienced during the winter, and in his feeble state it was a matter of surprise that he reached such a distance from home as the point at which the body was found.

The case has been reported to the coroner, and an inquiry will be held.

Tewkesbury Register, Saturday 12th October 1918 – County Police Court: Amelia Davis, of the Swan Inn, Coombe Hill, was fined £1 for failing to close her premises at 8 o’clock in persuance of the Order, and £1 for selling cigarettes at a price exceeding the fixed maximum.

Tewkesbury Register, Saturday 12th February 1921 – County Police Court: On 30th December last, Albert Ernest Davis, licensee of the Swan Inn, Coombe Hill, was proceeded agaonst for selling spirits at a price exceeding the maximum (three cases) and was fined £2 in each case.

Gloucestershire Echo, Tuesday 30th August 1949 – Coombe Hill Skittles Debut: For the opening of the new skittles alley at the Swan Inn, Coombe Hill, yesterday, Cheltenham Conservative Club were the visitors and were beaten by 16 pins. T. Stratford (Coombe Hill) was the highest scorer with 50. Mr. and Mrs. F. Craggs were thanked for their hospitality.

Above: Inn Sign Society (courtesy Matthew Sproston, archivist)

Gloucestershire Echo, Tuesday 27th May 1997 – A Taste of France: (by Joyce McFarlane – edited)

If we’re set to embrace Europe with open arms, where better to start than le pub? Never let it be said that Gloucestershire isn’t doing its bit. In a quiet corner, not far from Cheltenham, thousands of vines have been planted and the local farming community is being wooed with French farmhouse cuisine. What was once the very traditional Swan pub at Coombe Hill traffic lights is now barely recognisable as Descartes Vineyard, a haven for Francophiles and curious English folk.

Pull into the car park and the first thing you notice is the newl-planted vineyard, stretching out into the distance. Thousands of vines have been planted which are due to mature in the year 2000 when the grapes will be harvested. Behind this revamp is The Little Pub Company, a name more familiar in the Midlands for its individual-style pubs. There’s a Pie Factory which specialises in pies and a Pudding Inn for dessert lovers. Now they’ve added a French flavour in the heart of rural Gloucestershire.

Rene Descartes, you’ll remember, was that French chap who stunned the world with the memorable words: “I think, therefore I am”. If philosophy is your thing, then this is the place to make your mark, lingering over a glass or two of French wine and perhaps a dish of moules and fries – mussels and chips to non-French speakers – (£5.25) or langoustines with garlic butter (£5.45).

The interior of the pub is stunning. First your eyes are drawn upwards at the entrance to the bar. Designed to look like a wine cellar, there are 4,000 wine bottles covering the curved ceiling. At one end are the dancing monkeys, a working model of three chimps in French-looking striped shirts who play and dance to the music, a must for any children. In the bar it’s hard to take in all the bric-a-brac. In fact new licensee Jennifer Mancini, who took over just a few weeks ago, is still finding new things to look at.

“I was talking to someone in the restaurant and had to look upwards because he was much taller than me. I suddenly noticed there was a door fixed to the ceiling that I’d never seen before,” she said. It’s not quite as daft as it sounds, at Descartes there is much to take in. There are French flags, French posters and signs, pictures, accordions and violins, statues, pots, barrels and an impressive grape press, to mention just a few of the bits and pieces. The bar leads to a little bistro-style restaurant where the tables are covered with neat red gingham tablecloths and the walls and ceilings full of more things French. For Jennifer, experienced in the catering trade, it’s a chance to run a hostelry with an individual character. French farmhouse fare is a priority but there is plenty for those with English tastes too.

Above – Between the door and the window to the left, painted over in white paint and hidden by the trellis, is a West Country Ales ‘Best in the West’ ceramic plaque.

A letter (18/9/98) in the local newspaper, the ‘Citizen’, remarked: “Tacky exterior fittings and high prices make the inn out of price and taste boundaries for local people. How can a brewery get away with defiling a Grade II listed building with concrete urns and non contemporary fixtures?”

The Swan Inn has its own vineyard, next door to the car park. It was planted several years ago and the grapes were once harvested and sent to the Three Choirs vineyard in Newent to produce wine. The vineyard at the Swan fell into disuse but the pub plans to harvest the grapes again. The management at the Swan were looking for someone to run the vineyard free of charge, providing they supplied the wine to the pub.