Pub News: December 2007
- Filos, 1 Balustrade, Bath
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It is understood that Australian landlords Melina Salzone and Brett Aveyard, who had only taken over Filos in the summer, have recently left the pub, which is now under new management.
- Golden Fleece, 1-3 Avon Buildings, Lower Bristol Road, Bath
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Now has two beers on gravity as well as two on handpump. Range includes beers from Matthew’s and Newman’s.
- Griffin Inn, Monmouth Street, Bath
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Against all expectations re-opened around November. No further detailed information is available at present but it is understood that this pub will remain open for the foreseeable future.
- Olde Farmhouse, 1 Lansdown Road, Bath
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Following a four-month period of closure this favourite jazz venue re-opened shortly before Christmas. Jazz lover John Bradshaw ran the pub for 30 years before retiring towards the end of 2006. The Olde Farmhouse was then refurbished and re-opened by brothers Matthew and Mark Warburton. But last August they unexpectedly announced that they were to leave the Wadworth’s owned pub.
The pub has now re-opened under landlord Barry Thomas, who also runs the Robin Hood pub on St Michael's Hill, Bristol. Mr Thomas intends to run the Olde Farmhouse as a traditional pub and live music venue. The 51-year-old said "This will be a music pub as opposed to a pub that puts music on. It won't be a purely jazz music venue and we will be hosting up-and-coming bands and trios." The venue will offer a live music line-up of jam sessions on Mondays, bands, duos and trios on Wednesdays, an open mike night on Thursdays and more bands, duos and trios playing on Friday nights. Mr Thomas also intends to offer a wireless internet connection for customers and to launch an official website. He said: "We are taking a traditional pub and marrying it with modern technology."
- Rose & Crown, 6-8 Brougham Place, Larkhall, Bath
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Following the recent departure of the former landlord this pub is now under new management.
- Royal Oak, Lower Bristol Road, Bath
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Now an annual fixture, the Royal Oak’s Organic Beer Week was held over the week beginning Monday 10 December, with a selection of around fifty beers and live music every night.
- Foresters Arms, Goose Street. Beckington, near Frome
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Has been acquired by Abbey Ales and becomes the third pub, along with historic Bath pubs the Star and the Coeur de Lion, in the brewery’s estate. The pub closed for a few weeks for the start of an ongoing refurbishment but re-opened shortly before Christmas under new manager Mike Grieve. Refurbishment of the bar has been completed whilst a new kitchen is to be installed and the letting accommodation completely redecorated.
- Bear Inn, 26 Silver Street, Bradford-on-Avon
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This pub remains closed. Planning permission is being sought to convert this former Usher’s house into retail and residential accommodation. I have asked the relevant authority, West Wiltshire District, whether it has a pub preservation policy. I have not yet had a response but am aware that the council has a severe shortage of planning officers at the moment.
- Three Horseshoes, Chapmanslade
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This pub is currently closed for an extensive refurbishment under its new owner, and former owner of the Westbury Hotel, Ashley Hunt.
- Tollgate, Holt
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Has received a Gold Dining Pub Award in the Taste of the West 2007 competition. Anonymous judges visit establishments across six counties in the region and assess businesses on their quality of food, cooking and service, ambience, staff knowledge and local sourcing. It is the fourth time that the pub’s owners Alison Ward-Baptiste Alex Venables have won the gold award since taking over the Tollgate in 1999. The pub was visited by the branch during a very well attended social on 5 December, during which Julie Patterson of the Alzheimer’s Society was presented with the branch’s donation for £230 raised at this year’s Bath beer festival. The pub’s policy of sourcing local food is reflected in the beer range, which during our visit comprised Sharp’s Doom Bar and Atlantic IPA and Ramsbury’s Flint Knapper, all of which were in excellent condition.
- Rose & Crown, on A36, Limpley Stoke
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Harry Patch, the 109 year-old last surviving veteran of the trenches of the Western Front, was guest of honour at the re-opening of this recently revamped roadside inn. The pub has been completely refurbished and redecorated in the last few months with two new bars and new furniture installed and new carpets fitted. The re-opening night included a jazz band and free buffet. Meanwhile Mr Patch, who fought at the Battle of Passchendaele, sat by the fire and signed copies of his autobiography The Last Fighting Tommy. For new landlord Bill Fawdry, who had previously had run the Bear in Melksham and the Crown Hotel in Trowbridge before more recently moving to Pontefract, the Rose & Crown represents something of a home-coming.
- Seven Stars, Winsley, near Bradford-on-Avon
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The new landlord, who has been at this pub for around six months, is a real ale enthusiast and keen to try out different beers at the pub. He is planning a mini beer festival for the summer. His range consists of two regular beers, Butcombe and 6X, and two guests, which in recent weeks have included Sharp’s Doom Bar, Cotleigh Reinbeer and RCH Pitchfork.
