Listed below are pubs, ex-pubs, and off-licences that still have a ‘West Country Ales – Best in the West’ ceramic plaque still in situ. These colourful brewery plaques are still quite a common sight in Gloucestershire and are taken very much for granted. However, they deserve far more recognition as these West Country Ales plaques are a reminder of Gloucestershire’s once proud brewing heritage.
West Country Breweries were established in 1958 when the Stroud Brewery merged with the Cheltenham Brewery. By coincidence both the Stroud Brewery and the Cheltenham Brewery first started brewing in the same year – 1760. The date is recorded in the ceramic plaques. West Country Breweries were a large regional company with tied houses extending into Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and parts of Wales. As a result, these colourful ‘castle’ plaques can still be seen as far away as Presteigne in Wales and Marlborough in Wiltshire.
The distinctive ‘castle’ or ‘tower’ design was first used by the Cheltenham Original Brewery, and ceramic brewery plaques once graced the outside of their tied houses with the words ‘Cheltenham Ales’. After the Second World War the Cheltenham Brewery acquired the Hereford and Tredegar Breweries. As a result the company changed its name to Cheltenham & Hereford Breweries and the old plaques were replaced with the new, but similar, ‘Cheltenham & Hereford Ales’ design. The old Foxhill Inn near Guiting Power still has such a plaque inlaid into the wall. The ‘West Country Ales’ plaques were placed in pub walls from 1958 until c.1967. Whitbread took over West Country Breweries in 1963 but for a few years after the acquisition Whitbread still used the West Country Ales ‘castle’ logo. There are two sizes and some slight colour differences in the glaze.
The study and distribution of the surviving ceramic plaques has never been undertaken before. There are more plaques out there waiting to be ‘discovered.’ Please let me know if you find any plaques still in situ’ that I have not yet put on the list.
Gloucestershire
Acton Turville – Fox and Hounds
Alderton – Gardeners Arms
Ampney Crucis – Butchers Arms (Pub Closed)
Ampney St. Peter – Red Lion
Apperley – Coal House Inn
Arlingham – Red Lion
Ashleworth – Queens Arms
Avening – Bell Inn
Avening – Cross Inn (Queen Matilda)
Aylburton – Cross Inn, Travellers Rest (Pub Closed)
Aylburton Common – Travellers Rest (Besom Inn) (Pub Closed)
Berkeley – Boars Head
Berkeley – George Inn (Pub Closed – Now Berkeley Pharmacy)
Birdlip – Royal George
Birdwood – King Head
Bisley
Bear Inn (Partly obscured by Pubmaster sign,
Stirrup Cup (was the New Inn)
Bishops Cleeve
Kings Head, Cheltenham Road
Swallow Inn at Bishops Drive (Two Plaques)
Blakeney – Cock Inn at Nibley
Blakeney – Yew Tree Inn (Pub closed)
Bourton On The Water – Coach and Horses, Fosseway
Bream – Rising Sun, Winding Wheel (Pub Closed – was Miners Arms)
Brimscombe – Kings Arms at Bourne Lane (Pub Closed)
Broadoak Nr Newnham On Severn – White Hart
Broadwell Nr Coleford – Rising Sun Inn (Pub Closed)
Brookthorpe – Four Mile Inn
Cam, Dursley
Berkeley Arms,
Foresters Arms (Pub Closed – now a Bed and Breakfast)
Railway Inn
Cambridge
Drovers Arms at Bristol Road (pub closed – plaque obscured from view by vegetation)
White Lion (pub closed)
Camp Nr Bisley – Fostons Ash Inn
Charfield – Pear Tree Inn at 6 Wotton Road (closed in Jan 2022)
Charfield – Plough Inn at 68 Wotton Road
Charlton Kings
Duke of York, East End, London Road (closed)
Merryfellow Inn in Church Street
Ryeworth Inn, Ryeworth Road (closed)
Reservoir Inn (pub closed)
Cheltenham
Beehive Inn at Montpellier Villas
Exmouth Arms at Bath Road
Dawn Run (was Bath Hotel) at Albion Street
Fiery Angel (was New Inn) at Hewlett Road
Hop Pole at Gloucester Road (two plaques)
Stable Bar (was Royal Clarence) at Clarence Street (two plaques)
Kings Arms at Gloucester Road
Russell Arms , Hales Road
Shakespeare Inn, (Shamrock Inn) Lower High Street (plaque chipped)
Sherborne Arms, Sherborne Street
Somerset Arms, Somerset Street
St. James Hotel, Ambrose Street
Sudeley Arms at Prestbury Road
Suffolk Arms at Suffolk Street
Vine (was Coopers Arms), Strand
Churcham (Oakle Street) – Silent Whistle (was Oakle Street Hotel – Pub Closed)
Churchdown – Hare and Hounds at Cheltenham Road
Cinderford
Globe Inn at High Street (pub closed)
Golden Lion, High Street
Mount Pleasant Inn, St Whites Road (slight damage)
Royal Foresters, Littledean Hill Road (pub closed)
Swan Inn (Fern Ticket), High Street (pub closed) Removed on refurbishment
White Hart, St Whites Road (also boasts a Stroud Brewery etched window)
Cirencester
Marlborough Arms
Nelson Inn, Gloucester Street (pub closed)
Oddfellows Arms, Chester Street (pub closed)
Clearwell – Wyndam Arms
Coaley
Old Fox (was Fox and Hounds
Swan Inn (Pub closed)
Coleford – Masons Arms at Boxbush Road (was Help Me Through the World – Pub Closed)
Coombe Hill – Swan Inn (Restored in 2004. Plaque had been painted over with white paint)
Corse – Prince of Wales at Snigs End
Cranham – Black Horse
Cranham – Royal William
Cromhall – Royal Oak
Drybrook – Hearts of Oak
Dursley
Cross Keys at Boulton Lane (Pub Closed)
Crown Inn at 39 Long Street (Pub Closed),
Kings Head at High Street,
New Inn at Woodmancote,
Old Spot Inn at Hill Road (was Fox and Hounds – two plaques)
Star Inn at 33 Silver Street (Pub Closed)
Dymock – Beauchamp Arms
Eastcombe – Lamb Inn
Eastington Nr Stonehouse –
Kings Head
Victoria Inn (Od Badger)
Ebley
Coach and Horses
Old Crown
Elmstone Hardwicke – Gloucester Old Spot at Piffs Elm (was White Swan)
Falfield – Huntsman
Frampton on Severn
Bell Inn at The Green
Three Horseshoes at The Green
Gloucester
45 Moreton Street, Tredworth (ex Off Licence)
‘Beaverprint’ at 18 Upton Street at Tredworth (was an off licence)
Beehive Inn (closed) at Millbrook Street
Blackfriars Inn (closed), Commercial Street
Black Swan at Southgate Street at Gloucester
Coach and Horses at St. Catherines Street at Gloucester
Cross Keys at Cross Keys Lane
Drinks Cabin (off licence) at 79-81 Tredworth Road at Gloucester
Duke of Wellington at Tredworth Road at Gloucester
Englands Glory (was New Inn) at London Road at Gloucester
Famous Pint Pot (was Locomotive Inn) at Bruton Way, Gloucester
Glevum Inn at Oxstalls Way, Longlevens
Golden Heart at High Street at Tredworth,
Hope Inn at Eastgate Street (pub closed)
Kingsholm Inn at Kingsholm Road at Gloucester
Midland and Royal Hotel (closed) at Station Road at Gloucester (two plaques)
New Pilot Inn (closed), Southgate Street, Gloucester (two plaques)
One Eyed Jacks (was Victoria Inn) at Barton Street
Pig Inn the City (was Lower George Hotel), Westgate Street (now closed)
Plough Inn at Upton Street, Gloucester
Princes Plume (closed) at Barton Street (closed0
Queens Head, Tewkesbury Road, Longford
Seymour at Seymour Road at Gloucester (now closed)
Victory Hotel at High Street at Tredworth at Gloucester (now closed)
Wellington Arms at Wellington Street
Whitesmiths Arms at Southgate Street at Gloucester
Ye Olde India House at Barton Street at Gloucester
Gotherington – Shutters Inn at Malleson Road
Guiting Power – Foxhill Inn (pub closed – rare Cheltenham & Hereford Ales plaque)
Hawkesbury Upton – Fox Inn
Hillesley – Fleece Inn
Hucclecote – Royal Oak
Huntingford – Rose Inn (pub closed in 1965)
Hyde Nr Minchinhampton – Ragged Cot Inn
Iron Acton – Rose and Crown, High Street
Kilcot Nr Newent – Kilcot Inn
Kilkeney Nr Andoversford – Kilkeney Inn
Kings Stanley – Kings Head
Lechlade – Crown Inn, High Street
Leighterton – Royal Oak
Leonard Stanley – White Hart
Lightpill Nr. Stroud – Cyprus Inn (closed),
Fleece Inn / Kites Nest (closed. removed)
Littledean – Kings Head, Broad Street (pub closed)
Little Washbourne – Ye Old Hobnails Inn
Longfords Nr. Minchinhampton – Weighbridge Inn
Longhope – Yew Tree Inn
Lydney
Cross Keys, Church Roa
Fleece Inn (pub closed) at Newerne Street,
Greyhound Inn at Tuthill Street,
Railway Inn at Hill Street (pub closed)
Maisemore – White Hart
May Hill – Glasshouse Inn at Glasshouse
Mile End Nr Coleford – Royal Forest Inn
Minchinhampton
Crown Inn, Market Place
Ram Inn (pub closed),
Swan Inn at West End (pub closed),
Trumpet Inn at West End (pub closed)
Miserden – Carpenters Arms
Mitcheldean – Lamb Inn at New Road
Nailsworth – Britannia
Newent
Black Dog Inn
Red Lion, Broad Street (believed to be hidden behind signage)
Newmarket Nr Nailsworth – George Inn
Newport Nr Berkeley – Stagecoach Inn (pub closed in 2019)
Northleach – Wheatsheaf Inn, West End
North Nibley – Black Horse
Norton – Kings Head (now New Dawn inn)
Nympsfield – Rose and Crown
Oakridge Lynch – Butchers Arms
Painswick
Falcon Hotel,
Royal Oak
Parkend – Woodman Inn (was New Inn)
Prestbury
Beehive Inn, Bouncers Lane
Kings Arms,
Plough, Mill Street
Royal Oak at Burgage
Quedgeley – Friar Tucks (was Plough Inn)
Ruardean – Angel Inn,
Ruardean – Malt Shovel Inn at The Square
Selsley – Bell Inn
Sharpness
Pier View Hotel at Newtown,
Severn Bridge and Railway Hotel (pub closed),
Sharpness Hotel (now Sharpness Docks Social Club)
Sheepscombe – Butchers Arms (plaque in front entrance)
Shipton Moyne – Cat and Custard Pot
Shipton Oliffe – Frogmill Inn (plaque in rear entrance)
Shortstanding Nr Berry Hill – New Inn
Shurdington – Cheese Rollers (was New Inn)
Slad – Woolpack Inn
Soudley – White Horse (Upper Soudley)
South Cerney – Old George Inn
Staunton – Swan Inn, Ledbury Road
Staverton – Pheasant Inn, Plough Inn (pub closed)
Stonehouse – Spa Inn, Oldens Lane (pub closed)
Stow on the Wold
Bell Inn, The Green
Eagle & Child
Roman Court Hotel (was Farmers Arms on junction of A429/A424)
Stroud
Bell Inn at Wallbridge
Bisley House Inn at Middle Street
British Oak at Bowbridge
Crown & Sceptre, Horns Road
Fountain Inn at Slad Road
Golden Fleece at Nelson Street
Greyhound at Gloucester Street
Horse and Groom, Upper Leazes (pub closed)
Linton Inn at Bath Road – was Anchor Inn (pub closed)
Olde Painswick Inn at Gloucester Street (pub closed)
Tetbury
Crown Inn (pub closed) (also broken plaque on rear gateway)
Greyhound at Hampton Street
Talbot Hotel at Market Place (pub closed – plaque was painted over)
Tewkesbury
Anchor, High Street
Berkeley Arms at Church Street
Gupshill at Gloucester Road,
Kings Head, Barton Street (pub closed)
White Bear at Bredon Road (castle emblem in sign bracket)
Ye Old Black Bear
Thrupp – Waggon & Horses
Twyning – Fleet Inn
Wainlode Hill – Red Lion
Walls Quarry Nr Brimscombe – Yew Tree (Pub Closed)
Wanswell Nr Sharpness – Salmon Inn
Whiteshill – Star Inn
Wickwar – Buthay – was New Inn
Winchcombe
White Hart
Corner Cupboard Inn, Gloucester Street
Witcombe – Twelve Bells
Woodchester – Old Fleece
Wotton-Under-Edge
Royal Oak 3-5 Haw Street
Salutation Inn, 7 Coombe Road (pub closed in 1974)
Shearmans Arms (pub closed in 1975)
Star Inn at 21 Market Street
White Lion at Long Street (pub closed)
Yorkley
Bailey Inn
Nags Head (plaque chipped, pub closed)
Herefordshire
Ashperton – Hopton Arms
Bagwyllydiart – New Inn (pub closed)
Bishops Frome – Chase Inn
Bosbury – Bell
Bridge Sollars – Lord Nelson
Broad Oak – Broad Oak Inn (Pub Closed)
Bromyard
Crown and Sceptre
Railway Inn (Pub Closed)
White Horse (Pub Closed)
Clehonger – Seven Stars
Colwall – Chase Inn, Upper Colwall
Colwall – Yew Tree
Dilwyn – Crown Inn
Docklow – Kings Head (also with castle emblem on pub sign)
Garway Common – Garway Moon
Gorsley – Roadmaker Inn
Harewood End – Harewood End Inn
Hereford –
Bay Horse at 236 Kings Acre Road
Black Lion at 31 Bridge Street,
Britannia Inn at 7 Cotterell Street,
Broad Leys at 93 Ross Road,
Buckingham at 141 Whitecross Road,
Commercial Hotel at 44 Commercial Street,
Cotterell Arms at 65 – 67 Cotterell Street,
Golden Fleece, 1 St. Owen Street,
Golden Lion at 36 Grandstand Road,
Imperial at 31 Widemarsh Street,
Lamb Hotel (now ‘Barrels’) at 69 St Owen Street,
Merton Hotel at 28 Commercial Road,
Moorfield Inn at 33 Moorfield Street,
Moss Cottage Inn at Foley Street (now Hum Ming Garden),
New Harp at 32 Union Street (now called Bar Spirit),
Olde Harp (now called Herdsman) at 54 Widemarsh Street,
Oxford Arms at 111 Widemarsh Street,
Plough at 86 Whitecross Road,
Queens Arms Hotel at 4 Broad Street,
Rose and Crown at Ledbury Road,
Salmon Inn at Hampton Park Road,
Saracens Head at1 St. Martins Street,
Sawyers Rest at Brecon Road?(pub closed. Also retains West Country Ales sign bracket),
Ship Inn at Cross Street, Greyfriars Bridge, Sportsman (see Sawyers Rest),
Sun Inn at 71 St Owen Street (now Archways Health & Fitness),
Treacle Mine (was Crown Inn) at 85 St. Martins Street,
Victory at 88 St Owen Street,
Volunteer Inn at 21 Harold Street (West Country Breweries Castle in ironwork on pub sign),
Wye Inn at Holme Lacy Road, HR2 6EF.
Kingstone – Bull Ring
Kington
Castle Inn at 31 Church Street (pub closed)
Queens Head at 51 Bridge Street
Ledbury
New Inn (pub closed)
Plough Hotel, The Homend (pub closed)
Prince of Wales
Seven Stars
Leominster – Barons Cross Inn at Barons Cross Road,
Black Horse at 74 South Street,
Bulls Head at 50 West Street (now ‘Connolly’s’),
Dukes Arms (now‘Gingers’),
Golden Lion (pub closed),
Queens Head at Bridge Street,
Radnorshire Arms at 85 Bargates,
Three Horseshoes at Corn Square (also castle emblem in pub sign bracket) ,
White Lion at Etnam Street
Little Birch – Castle Inn, Pendant Pitch (pub closed)
Little Dewchurch – Plough
Llangrove – Royal Arms
Mathon – Cliffe Arms (with West Country Breweries castle emblem in pub sign bracket)
Monkland Nr. Leominster – Monkland Arms
Much Birch – Axe and Cleaver
Newtown Cross – Newtown Inn
Norton Cannon – Three Horseshoes
Orcop – Fountain
Orleton – The Maidenhead
Pembridge
Kings Head (now Kings House restaurant)
New Inn (castle emblem in pub sign bracket)
Peterchurch – Nags Head
Peterstow – Yew Tree (castle emblem in pub sign bracket)
Preston on Wye – Yew Tree
Ross on Wye
Crown & Sceptre
Eagle Inn
Horse & Jockey
Man of Ross
Plough Inn (pub closed)
Vine Tree
Staplow – Oak (Castle sign has been reported there)
Stoke Prior – Lamb Inn
Sutton St. Nicholas – Golden Cross
Tarrington – Tarrington Arms
Weston under Penyard – Weston Cross Inn
Wigmore – Olde Oak Inn (Cheltenham & Hereford Ales plaque set into the pavement at the front. Also newer Best In West one at left of doorway)
Monmouthshire
Chepstow – Kings Head ,Welsh Street
Chepstow – Three Tuns Inn at Bridge Street
Chepstow – Old Bell Chambers (Cheltenham and Hereford sign)
Grosmont – Angel Inn
Monmouth – Robin Hood
Pandy – Old Pandy Inn
Shirenewton – Tredegar Arms
Oxfordshire
Coleshill – Radnor Arms
Shrivenham – Crown
Powys
Knighton – George & Dragon
Red Lion Hotel
Presteigne – Farmers Inn at Hereford Street
Walton – Crown Inn
South Gloucestershire
Iron Acton – Rose and Crown
Old Sodbury – Dog Inn
Bristol
Henleaze – Golden Bottle, Constable Road, Lockleaze, Bristol BS7 9YF
Old Market – Palace Hotel
Old Market – Stag and Hounds, 74 Old Market
Wiltshire
Acton Tourville – Fox and Hounds
Ashton Keynes– Plough Inn (pub closed)
Axford– Red Lion, White Hart
Bradenstoke– Cross Keys
Brinkworth– Three Crowns
Calne – Holley’s Brewhouse (was London Road Inn)
Charlton – Horse & Groom
Corston – Radnor Arms
Cricklade – Red Lion
Crudwell – Plough Inn
Great Somerford – Volunteer
Highworth – White Horse
Hullavington
Queens Head (pub closed in 1998)
Star Inn
Little Somerford – Saladin (was Three Crowns)
Malmesbury
Borough Arms
Duke of York
Kings Arms
Three Cups (pub closed)
White Lion (pub closed in 1967)
Marlborough – Queens Head, Wellington Arms (two plaques)
Minety – Turnpike
Oaksey – Wheatsheaf
Pinkney – Eagle Inn (closed in 1998)
Purton – New Greyhound
Quemeford Nr. Calne – Talbot Inn
Sherston – Angel Inn (pub closed in 1990), Carpenters Arms
Swindon
Castle Hotel
Frome Hotel (pub closed in 1978)”])
Upper Seagry – New Inn
Wanborough – Cross Keys
Harrow – New Calley Arms
West Overton – Bell Inn
Widcombe – White Hart
Winterbourne Monkton – New Inn
Wotton Bassett – Angel, Crown
Yatton Keynell – Bell Inn
Worcestershire
Bewdley – Red Lion
Bromsgrove – Crabtree Inn, Birmingham Road
Bredon – Royal Oak
Evesham – Angel Vaults (two plaques)
Northwick Arms Hotel
Hanley Swan – Swan
Honeybourne – The Gate Inn (Cheltenham & Hereford Ales)
Kempsey Nr. Worcester – Walter De Cantelope Inn
Malvern – Cross Keys at Belmont Road, North Malvern (with castle emblem in pub sign bracket)
Cavalry Arms at Clarence Road
Great Malvern, North Malvern House Hotel (pub closed)
Royal Oak at Malvern Link (pub closed)
Ombersley – Wing Fat Chinese Restaurant – name of old pub not known
Overbury – Star Inn (pub closed)
Pershore – Angel Inn and Posting House, Millers Arms, Talbot Inn
Stourport on Severn
Rock Tavern, Wilden Lane
Worcester – Berwick at 250 Bath Road,
Southfield Stores at 26 Southfield Street (closed)