We left Oxford with glorious blue skies in the morning, so just typical that it began to rain as soon as we stepped out of the train station. So off we went, in search of the shelter of the first pub. Right in the centre of town, this was a busy place, with an entrance that didn't look especially pub-like...
The Ale House (9 John Street, Stroud, GL5 2HA - web)
It's still fairly un-pub-like when you head through the front door into a hallway with staircase to the left. You've got to head to the end of this to find the bar in a high-ceilinged room brightened by a skylight. We'd been beaten to the prime spot in front of the fireplace, so instead made ourselves at home in the adjoining second room.
The beer range was superb - Electric Bear won the funky modern pump clip award, with other ales coming from the likes of Oakham, Thornbridge and Arbor alongside cask ciders.
I chose the local that I'd never heard of - Tiley's Pale Ale, from a brewpub in Ham.
I was a big fan of the Ale House, but we spotted the rain had stopped and decided it was time to move on.
We headed away from the centre, making our way to the Bowbridge Arms on the edge of town. Google said 12 minutes. It seemed longer than that, but that could just be due to the amount of time I spent crossing the road and trying (and failing) to get a picture of the pub that wasn't scuppered by the roadworks in front of it.
Bowbridge Arms (London Road, Bowbridge, Stroud, GL5 2AY - web)
The Bowbridge was re-opened in 2016 after a spell closed and now has a bright modern airy feel to it.
Wye Valley 'Butty Bach', Butcombe 'Original' and St Austell 'Proper Job' were the beers on the bar. My Butty Bach had to be returned as undrinkable and was exchanged for a Butcombe. I took a swig of this, gave it the thumbs-up, and said "thanks, much better", because that's what I'd decided I was going to do in advance. Then it occurred that this was teetering on the brink too. And can you really take two pints back?
So, bad day for the beer quality.
Which is a shame because the place was comfy, the home-cooked food nice and the staff cheery and friendly.
Bet the Proper Job was great!
Crown and Sceptre (98 Horns Road, Stroud, GL5 1RG - web)
The pub was doing a good mid-afternoon trade. The last few available tables were reserved for the imminent arrival of the hockey team, leaving stools at the end of the bar our only seating option. Which was a fine vantage point, although we did feel a bit in the way.
Beers on offer were Uley 'Best Bitter' and 'Pigs Ear', Stroud 'Budding' and a guest from Bristol Beer Factory. I went with the Uley - a brewery I don't see very often - an enjoyable traditional beer.
Back downhill and onto the Thames and Severn canal towpath for the mile-and-a-bit walk to the local brewery.
Stroud Brewery Tap (Kingfisher Business Park, London Road, Thrupp, GL5 2BY - web)
Founded in 2006, the Stroud Brewery has moved a couple of times prior to settling into this industrial unit. I'm not going to try to describe it, as I can't beat the fine, detailed WhatPub description, including the line "somewhere between a diminutive Bavarian beer hall and Wagamama’s"
Ignore the fact that I managed to take a picture of the bar with two people and plenty of space around it. The place was busy, initially relegating us to the covered seating in little sheds outside by the canal. It was cold though, so nice to get the chance to bag a table indoors when a few folk moved on.
Four cask ales: Budding, Tom Long, O.P.A and Fall. I went for the Fall, not just because it was on a special offer at £3 a pint, but because it was a smoked bitter and I love my smoky beers. And this was a good'un, on great form as you'd hope from a bar next to the brewery.
There's no lights on towpaths and falling into the canal is bad news anywhere, let alone a couple of hours from home. So, as it was getting dusky very early, we set out to make our walk back before it got too dark.
We struck off on a footpath and found one of Stroud's hills, climbing to a good height above the town, then heading along some lanes until we reached the Prince Albert.
Prince Albert (Rodborough Hill, Stroud - web)
It's six nations time again, isn't it?
The Prince Albert was packed, every seat and perch taken as folks squeezed in to watch Scotland v England on the screens at either side of the bar. Even the back yard was busy with an outdoor screen although we managed to get a table that nobody wanted as it was at too tight an angle to see the oval ball antics.
The rugby does a great job of of filling pubs up, with the staff being kept busy steadily pouring the beers.
Doesn't mean I have to like it, though.
It's still fairly un-pub-like when you head through the front door into a hallway with staircase to the left. You've got to head to the end of this to find the bar in a high-ceilinged room brightened by a skylight. We'd been beaten to the prime spot in front of the fireplace, so instead made ourselves at home in the adjoining second room.
The beer range was superb - Electric Bear won the funky modern pump clip award, with other ales coming from the likes of Oakham, Thornbridge and Arbor alongside cask ciders.
I chose the local that I'd never heard of - Tiley's Pale Ale, from a brewpub in Ham.
A steady flow of folks came in, the tables filling up whilst the two excitable dogs at the next table tangled themselves together at frequent intervals.
My beer was spot-on, going down a treat, as I began to contemplate whether going back for a second would be detrimental to our pub-crawling plans for the rest of the day.
My beer was spot-on, going down a treat, as I began to contemplate whether going back for a second would be detrimental to our pub-crawling plans for the rest of the day.
The Bowbridge was re-opened in 2016 after a spell closed and now has a bright modern airy feel to it.
Wye Valley 'Butty Bach', Butcombe 'Original' and St Austell 'Proper Job' were the beers on the bar. My Butty Bach had to be returned as undrinkable and was exchanged for a Butcombe. I took a swig of this, gave it the thumbs-up, and said "thanks, much better", because that's what I'd decided I was going to do in advance. Then it occurred that this was teetering on the brink too. And can you really take two pints back?
So, bad day for the beer quality.
Bet the Proper Job was great!
Heading straight up the hill opposite the Bowbridge Arms, the sun briefly emerged to light up Crown and Sceptre pub.
The pub was doing a good mid-afternoon trade. The last few available tables were reserved for the imminent arrival of the hockey team, leaving stools at the end of the bar our only seating option. Which was a fine vantage point, although we did feel a bit in the way.
Beers on offer were Uley 'Best Bitter' and 'Pigs Ear', Stroud 'Budding' and a guest from Bristol Beer Factory. I went with the Uley - a brewery I don't see very often - an enjoyable traditional beer.
There were pump clips stuck on the ceiling, movie posters covering the walls of the gents, (long dead) spiders in display cases hanging next to the entrance, and lots of motorcycle memorabilia. It was fantastically cluttered with all sorts of oddities...
And here's a picture of a chap showing off his skills at the Ringing the Bull game. I think the only other place I've come across this is in the Trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham.
And you always know you're in a good pub when there's a tray of cobs on the bar!
We left by the side door...
Founded in 2006, the Stroud Brewery has moved a couple of times prior to settling into this industrial unit. I'm not going to try to describe it, as I can't beat the fine, detailed WhatPub description, including the line "somewhere between a diminutive Bavarian beer hall and Wagamama’s"
Ignore the fact that I managed to take a picture of the bar with two people and plenty of space around it. The place was busy, initially relegating us to the covered seating in little sheds outside by the canal. It was cold though, so nice to get the chance to bag a table indoors when a few folk moved on.
Four cask ales: Budding, Tom Long, O.P.A and Fall. I went for the Fall, not just because it was on a special offer at £3 a pint, but because it was a smoked bitter and I love my smoky beers. And this was a good'un, on great form as you'd hope from a bar next to the brewery.
We struck off on a footpath and found one of Stroud's hills, climbing to a good height above the town, then heading along some lanes until we reached the Prince Albert.
It's six nations time again, isn't it?
The Prince Albert was packed, every seat and perch taken as folks squeezed in to watch Scotland v England on the screens at either side of the bar. Even the back yard was busy with an outdoor screen although we managed to get a table that nobody wanted as it was at too tight an angle to see the oval ball antics.
The rugby does a great job of of filling pubs up, with the staff being kept busy steadily pouring the beers.
Doesn't mean I have to like it, though.
I really need to revisit the Prince Albert another time to fully appreciate it.
My pint of Stroud Organic Pale Ale was in great condition, but quaffed rather too quickly as we calculated how fast we could walk down the hill and get the most direct homebound train.
Stroud was one of those 'how come I've never been here before' kind of destinations. Nice Saturday street market, good views, Forest Green Rovers nearby and enough good pubs to see us surprisingly not ending up in Wetherspoons. Next time hopefully we'll get some sunshine and avoid the rugby in the Prince Albert.
My pint of Stroud Organic Pale Ale was in great condition, but quaffed rather too quickly as we calculated how fast we could walk down the hill and get the most direct homebound train.
Stroud was one of those 'how come I've never been here before' kind of destinations. Nice Saturday street market, good views, Forest Green Rovers nearby and enough good pubs to see us surprisingly not ending up in Wetherspoons. Next time hopefully we'll get some sunshine and avoid the rugby in the Prince Albert.
A certain Chicago radio broadcaster would be appreciative of a brewery artifact from this outfit. Has it any? ;=)#
ReplyDeleteFull marks for saying "Boo!" to rugby. It ruins a certain sort of southern pub in February.
ReplyDeleteI like greater Stroud a lot, the villages tumbling either side of the town and down to Forest Green Rovers, but the centre itself looked a little faded (though honey hued) on my last visit and I can't see it as a great pub town.
I DID like the Ale House though, 6 years ago, when it had EIGHT pumps on.
https://retiredmartin.com/2016/08/19/bedminster-comes-to-stroud/
Cheers, Martin!
DeleteWas your post the one that the CAMRA folk in Stroud analysed in detail to work out if you were being rude about their town?!
Hopefully I'll get out to the villages in that area when the days get longer and the weather a bit nicer.