A short diatribe about Clutter!

One of the best purchases I have ever made, was my bicycle in 2018. To be honest I haven't used it as much as I should have, until the lock down was slightly adjusted to include unlimited exercise. I can't tell you how much I am appreciating this extra time that we have been given.

Today I have been out on my bike, with my “proper camera” for the first time this year. The main purpose was to photograph an estate pub, but the sun was in the wrong position, so I abandoned that plan. I did however, manage to photograph The Midland Hotel, which is a pub near Cheltenham Spa railway station. I have photographed this pub, many times before, but last year the pub's exterior, was given a facelift which includes a spectacular mural. You can find all kinds of murals around Cheltenham and Gloucester, they really enhance the surroundings.

The Midland is slightly difficult to photograph, because it is on a slant. I have always thought that the design of this pub, with it's set of steps in front, looks out of place in Cheltenham. It is the kind of architectural feature you would expect to find in somewhere like Bristol. I've noticed that they have installed an ugly telegraph pole next to an equally unattractive street lamp by the pub. Which brings me on to an annoyance often associated with pub photography and photography in general – street furniture, or clutter in other words.

“Picture” the scene, the weather is great, you've travelled quite a distance to photograph a subject, and you get in position. You spend a little while trying to get the best composition (or in my case ages, standing like a lemon until the conditions are right!) You take what you believe are a great set of photographs, you travel home and download the images from your camera. You are poised ready to start editing the photos, when you notice the following items – huge refuge bins or litter bins, lamp posts, telegraph poles with masses of cables – in one case electricity pylons (I know they are not street furniture, but they are still intrusive), and street signs Many a glorious composition has been ruined with these unsightly additions. Whilst it is true that I could always photograph the subject from a different position, the original one is more than often a better composition.

After I had finished photographing the Midland, I cycled along the Honeybourne cycle path which I haven't used in years, so all in all it was an enjoyable few hours in the sunshine.

The Midland Hotel in 2011

The Midland Hotel, May 2020

A close up of the mural

Note the clever way, in which 

the artist has incorporated

the vent on the side of the building, 

into the mural. 

His signature is also incorporated.

There is some information about the mural, in the following link.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-50331739

The Midland Hotel in 2017

The Midland Hotel May 2020

I did not want to publish this photo because of the recent addition of the telegraph pole, 

but it gives you an example of my issues with unsightly street furniture.

"Vintage" Photos

One of the activities my partner PJ and I have been doing during the lock down, is developing old camera films, dating from 1999-2001. Most of the photos were taken with a Minolta point and shoot, some were taken with a manual SLR. When the images were developed we discovered some hidden gems, unfortunately (or not) the film was so old, the images had to be developed in black and white. The last time I took some old films to be developed, the quality of the colour was terrible.

I have always enjoyed bus journeys to interesting places, sometimes I would seek out a Youth Hostel or B&B, so I would have more time to explore these locations. The following images, are from a trip to Salisbury back in 1999 or 2000. If I find any more vintage photos, I will try to publish them.

Avon Brewery Inn

75 Castle Street

A traditional looking 19th c pub, that was never a brewery despite the name!

Haunch of Venison

1 Minster Street

A well known Salisbury pub, 

with a classic interior. 

I went in the pub, many years later 

with PJ and his brother.

The Red Lion Hotel

4 Milford Street

An old coaching Inn, dating from the 13th c.

I did photograph the exterior of the hotel, 

but the quality of the photo was poor.

Duchess of Albany

3 Ox Row

This pub was previously known as 

The Elephant & Castle. 

It closed in 1973.

Pubs that are close to my heart

This is a section which will be part of an occasional series, about pubs that I have an emotional attachment to. Some of the featured pubs have closed, some of them remain open, but have changed beyond recognition. I have a tendency to be a little sentimental, so I am giving readers the option of skipping this section if they want to.

The Brandy Cask, Pershore

The Brandy Cask was one of the first pubs that I visited, as part of days out with my Partner's Brother and Mum. Every Saturday, the three of them would travel to all sorts of fascinating places, long before I came on the scene. I owe them a tremendous amount, for not only providing the transport to these locations, but introducing me to some really great pubs.

The Brandy Cask was situated along Bridge Street, in the delightful town of Pershore in Worcestershire, the pub opened in 1995. The interior décor, looked as though it hadn't been updated since the 1960's, but you soon looked beyond such unimportant detail. The furnishings were typical of a traditional pub – complete with the obligatory pub carpet! Another splendid feature of the pub, was the extensive beer garden that had moorings at the end of the garden, overlooking the river Avon. It was a busy, yet quiet pub,we did not visit it every Saturday, but we were regular enough to know the names of the landlord and his wife, Mr and Mrs Spencer – or Spencer (Spence) as the landlord preferred to be known. Brewing was done on the premises, firstly by Spencer and a partner, latterly by Trevor. According to my partner, they had the best range of beers, always variable, always gorgeous.

He brilliantly summed up the quality of one of the beers John Bakers Original, when he said -

“John Bakers original is the best readily available strong bitter that you can get. I cannot give a description of the beer, as it's never the same twice, yet it is instantly recognizable.”

Another factor that is worth mentioning was the food, it was good honest down to earth pub grub. We would often treat ourselves to Chicken Kiev and chips – or Chicken Kevins as they were affectionately known by everyone. The place mats were quite interesting, they dated from the 1960's or 70's depicting famous London landmarks. I can remember my family, owning a set of these back in the day. You were certainly made to feel at home, when you were a customer at The Brandy Cask.

Last orders at The Brandy Cask were called in 2016. Mr Spencer had tried to sell the pub as a going concern, but it wasn't to be, the pub was converted into flats. To this day, we all lament the closure of one of the finest pubs to exist.

Additional information provided by my partner.

There are some interesting photos of the interior of The Brandy Cask, on this blog.

http://nbhuffler.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-brandy-cask-pershore.html

A pub crawl along Bath Road, Cheltenham: Part one

Bath Road in Cheltenham, is not very far from Cheltenham town centre, yet it has it's own identity, with a variety of pubs that cater for every taste. The pubs in Bath Road, are also unique because they continue to survive whilst so many other pubs in Cheltenham and across the UK, have closed. They have adapted to change, and will hopefully continue to survive. My pub crawl starts at the beginning of Bath Road, apparently this section of the road was not originally part of the the main body.

10 Bath Road The Grape Escape

This establishment is a good example of adapting and surviving, it has had quite a few incarnations over the years. It used to be a traditional pub called The Crown and Cushion, I remember going in there quite a few, times it was quite narrow inside. It became The Old Amsterdam, then “G's” which was more of a nightclub than a traditional pub. It's present incarnation, is The Grape Escape – a wine Bar, I've never been there, it's not really my glass of Chablis!

10th February 2022

The Grape Escape closed in 2021, and a new venue called Botanica opened up quite a few months later.

G's Rock Bar 2011

The Grape Escape 2015

12-14 Bath Road The Miller

This establishment has also had a variety of incarnations, but I have not really kept up with all of them. It became the Bierkeller in 2016, I personally never believed that this venture could work in Cheltenham, but it was a popular place. It closed suddenly in 2018, only to reopen a while later with limited opening hours. The Bierkeller finally closed in 2019, and has become The Miller – a sports bar.

The Bierkeller 2016

The Miller 2019

16-28 Bath Road The Moon Under Water (Lloyds No. 1)

You have got to hand it to Wetherspoons, they know how to make a silk purse from a sows ear! Before this building was converted to a Wetherspoons in 1999, it was a rather uninspiring looking car showroom. I have enjoyed many a good meal and drinks in this place, with my partner and other's. If I am honest though, I prefer the other Wetherspoons in Cheltenham. Both places are popular and long established.

The Moon Under Water 2012

68 Bath Road The Bath Tavern

I first went into this pub in the 1990's, when it was still run by the Cheshire family who had run it for almost 130 years. I was lucky enough to be served by Phylis Cheshire who was the last member of the family to work there. The pub was quite old fashioned, I seem to remember Formica being part of the décor! Phylis left the pub in 1997 after serving behind the bar for 40 years, it was the end of an era. Along with new tenants, came a new name for the pub – Tavern in the Town, but it eventually reverted back to the original name. I didn't return to the pub for many years, until last year, of course thing have changed since my last visit, but it is still a friendly down to earth pub.

The Bath Tavern 2011

Etched windows

The Bath Tavern 2020

A more minimal exterior, no pub sign and where have all the aerials gone?

70 Bath Road The Bell Inn

I have only been in this pub once, the exterior has some lovely green tiles adorning the facade, it gives the pub a delightfully old fashioned appearance, it is deceptively modern inside though. One advantage to having such a delightful exterior to the pub is that it hasn't changed, therefore I have never needed to take many photos of it!

The Bell Inn 2013

A close up of the tiles

At this point in the crawl, the Bath Road reaches a junction, there are no pubs in this section, so it seems like a good place to end part one.

A pub crawl along Bath Road, Cheltenham: Part Two.

123-129 Bath Road Moran's Eating House

Although this establishment is not strictly a pub, it has a good reputation, and has been part of the community for many years. It is also another place I have never been to!

Moran's Eating House 2020

157 Bath Road Bath Road Beers

This establishment is the new kid on the block, and has only been around for a few years. It is a bottle shop which is well stocked, and proving to be quite popular amongst the townsfolk and casual visitors from elsewhere.

Bath Road Beers

167 Bath Road The Exmouth Arms

I remember visiting the Exmouth many years ago, it was a fairly basic down to earth pub, which was in need of some TLC. My next visit was in 2011, the pub had been completely renovated and had a fresh modern look. The Exmouth has an advantage over many of the pubs in the area, it has a large beer garden. It is an Arkell's pub, so plenty of 3B to go around! 

The Exmouth Arms 2011

The Exmouth Arms 2015

232 Bath Road The Five Alls

For many years, the Five Alls was a fairly down to earth pub. Although I have photographed it quite a few times, my partner and I visited it for the first time last year. Ironicly 2019 was the year that the Five Alls was completely transformed into an entirely different environment. It is an impressive refurbishment, but they might have gone a little too up market for some of the clientele including me!

The Five Alls 2011

A very distinctive pub sign

2016

2017 - Not the greatest choice of colours!

2019 - A brilliant refurbishment.

A new door was created to the side of the pub, 

and the sign was replaced.

242 Bath Road The Brown Jug

When I first visited The Brown Jug in 2011, it was one of the most down to earth and friendly pubs along the Bath Road. In 2016, the pub was refurbished into a more food orientated environment, and renamed The Sup & Chow. We did have a meal there when it was The Sup and Chow, but to be honest I preferred the pub before it was refurbished. The pub reverted back to the name of The Brown Jug in 2019, a revisit is required – hopefully in the not too distant future.

The Brown Jug 2013

The Sup & Chow 2016

The Brown Jug 2020

1 Leckhampton Road The Norwood Arms

Although the Norwood has a different address, it is a pub that sits at the top of Bath Road. It is a Greene King pub, so it is probably a good place to eat. I say probably, because It is many years since I have been there. 

The Norwood Arms 2015

And that concludes the pub crawl along Bath Road. I hope to include some more crawls in the near future.