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Tuesday, 5 May 2020

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.



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