Simple Pleasures

Because of the recent resurgence of Covid-19, my partner and I have made a collective decision not to travel outside of Gloucestershire if we can help it. Instead we spent Saturday, enjoying our local surroundings and visiting a few pubs. We decided to walk to the Jolly Brewmaster, an excellent back street pub in Cheltenham. On our way, we stopped at a park and sat in the warm autumn sunshine, and chatted for a while. We spent several minutes watching the antics of a squirrel who was busy collecting nuts, gathering food for the winter no doubt.

We then continued our walk to the Jolly Brew, as we call it. When we arrived it was closed, but would be open in a couple of hours, so we walked in the direction of Bath Road to do a little shopping. On our way there we discovered an area called the Norwood Triangle, which was once a tram route. The area was improved in 2010, with the help of lottery funding. We also noticed a house with a plaque on the wall, on closer inspection we discovered that the house was once a pub called The Railway Inn. It has been converted into an HMO by the look of it, the original etched windows have been retained, which is a nice feature. The funny thing is, I have lived in and around Cheltenham for nigh on 40 odd years, and have only just discovered the existence of this former pub!

The former Railway Inn

We continued our walk to Bath Road, and stopped at The Exmouth Arms for an Arkells 3B, which was in excellent condition. After a little mooching around some charity shops, we headed towards The Jolly Brew. It was empty when we arrived, but by the time we left it was pretty busy. We sat in the beer garden which has been adapted for socially distanced drinking. The pub has won quite a few Camra local pub of the year awards over the years, and it is easy to see why. They always have an interesting selection of ales and ciders, served by friendly and knowledgeable people. It is good to see a back street pub that is still thriving in these difficult times.

The Jolly Brewmaster

Back Street Pubs

One type of pub, that is particularly at risk of being lost forever, is the back street pub especially after the pubs reopen. They used to be the heart of the community, but the days when there was a pub on every corner have long gone. I could compile a list of the back street pubs that are at risk of closing forever, some of them were hanging by a thread even before this crisis happened, I really fear for many of these hidden gems.

In this post I will begin by featuring a back street pub that was close to my heart.

The Cavern, New Street Cheltenham

The Cavern was one of the oldest pubs in Cheltenham, It was a coaching Inn when it originally opened as The Compasses in the 1820's. In more recent times it was a popular venue for live music, and was known as the place to go, to listen to Country and Western bands. It briefly went under the name of Nostalgia in the 1990's, but reverted back to The Cavern. My Mother was a a Country and Western music fan, and often attended various gigs that were held there, I would sometimes accompany her, but it wasn't my type of music. The proceedings were often hosted by Dancing Ken, a local celebrity who raised money for charity. He was also a member of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party, so Screaming Lord Sutch would make the odd appearance!
The Cavern closed for good in April 2010, one of the reasons why the pub closed, was it became a victim of the smoking ban. The pub lay empty for a number of years, but work began to convert it into flats in 2016. There was a painted sign advertising Cheltenham Ales on the side of the building, but that seems to have been plastered over. The building is now known as Compasses House – a reference to the original name of the pub.

The Cavern in 1999

You can't really tell because of the quality of this photo, 

but there is a young sapling planted next to the bench 

to the left of the photo. Keep an eye on that sapling.

The Cavern in 2011

The Cheltenham Ales sign

The Cavern in 2016

Compasses House 2020

Remember the sapling by the bench? 

It is now a splendid Silver birch.

The Sherborne Arms, Sherborne Street Cheltenham

I only visited this pub on a few occasions, it was a fairly down to earth back street boozer. I distinctly remember my last visit, because I was ill with food poisoning the next day. It was either the food or the beer! In 2011, the pub was notable for employing the youngest landlady in Cheltenham – she was only 21. Later in 2011, the pub closed for good. It remained empty until 2014 when work began to convert it into a flats, but the skittle alley was left standing. When I was photographing the pub a week ago, I noticed that houses are now being built on the site of the skittle alley. All I can say is whatever outside space they have, must be minuscule!

The Sherborne Arms in 2011

A view of the skittle Alley and the back of the pub, in 2014

The Sherborne Arms in 2014

33 Sherborne Street 2015

New builds on the former skittle Alley in 2020

21st June 2020

There is a backstreet pub that I would like to mention, which I am concerned about. But I will wait until July when the pubs reopen, before I make any further comment.