In the 1500s and 1600s, Bisley was a much busier place - at the height of the medieval wool trade, which then accounted for half of England's wealth, it was an important link in the chain between Gloucester and the sea to the west, and Cirencester, and on south to London.
Merchants and drovers passed through daily, and there were nine thriving pubs and inns in the village to quench their thirst.
By 1870, with wool supplanted by more practical cloths, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales was describing Bisley as 'a decayed small town', and most of the pubs were closing.
Today we are left with only two - The Stirrup Cup and The Bear Inn.
The Stirrup Cup was originally known as The New Inn, and has changed outwardly very little since the 1800s, as the photograph above shows.
The Bear Inn is a sixteenth-century building which was originally the village court house and assembly room. It was originally recorded as a pub in 1631 and has been in service ever since. It has a priest hole above the fireplace, and is reputedly haunted.
Merchants and drovers passed through daily, and there were nine thriving pubs and inns in the village to quench their thirst.
By 1870, with wool supplanted by more practical cloths, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales was describing Bisley as 'a decayed small town', and most of the pubs were closing.
Today we are left with only two - The Stirrup Cup and The Bear Inn.
The Stirrup Cup was originally known as The New Inn, and has changed outwardly very little since the 1800s, as the photograph above shows.
The Bear Inn is a sixteenth-century building which was originally the village court house and assembly room. It was originally recorded as a pub in 1631 and has been in service ever since. It has a priest hole above the fireplace, and is reputedly haunted.
The Stirrup Cup
The Stirrup Cup is a friendly local pub serving real ales (Wadworth 6X, Butcombe Original, and sometimes a guest beer), lagers, ciders, wines and spirits, as well as a range of good, home-cooked food. Original paintings by Gloucestershire artists are exhbited in and sold from the pub, too.
DOGS ARE WELCOME.
Landlord: Julian Partridge
Address: Cheltenham Road Bisley GL6 7BL
Telephone: 01452 770007
email: stirrupcup.bisley@gmail.com
The Stirrup Cup's website
The Sirrup Cup's instagram page
The Stirrup Cup on TripAdvisor
JULIAN HAS KEPT THE STIRRUP CUP GOING THROUGHOUT THIS STRANGE AND DISTRESSING YEAR, AND IS CURRENTLY (AS OF DECEMBER 6, 2020) OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND ALSO OFFERING TAKEAWAY MEALS.
DOGS ARE WELCOME.
Landlord: Julian Partridge
Address: Cheltenham Road Bisley GL6 7BL
Telephone: 01452 770007
email: stirrupcup.bisley@gmail.com
The Stirrup Cup's website
The Sirrup Cup's instagram page
The Stirrup Cup on TripAdvisor
JULIAN HAS KEPT THE STIRRUP CUP GOING THROUGHOUT THIS STRANGE AND DISTRESSING YEAR, AND IS CURRENTLY (AS OF DECEMBER 6, 2020) OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND ALSO OFFERING TAKEAWAY MEALS.
The Bear Inn
It's a cliché, but The Bear Inn really is the quintessential old English village pub, as the photograph below shows.
Unfortunately, it was run in recent years by a landlord who did not see eye to eye with many people in the village, to the point that a number of locals felt disinclined to give him their trade.
Around Christmas 2019, though, and somewhat unexpectedly, that landlord left the pub, and the village, and indeed the country, and since then The Bear has been closed.
Uunfortunately, some of the beautiful and ancient furniture which added so much to the character of the place was removed over the summer.
However, the owner - Punch Taverns - is currently (December 2020) undertaking a renovation, with the kitchen in particular being completely replaced, and is intending to instal a new landlord as soon as possible.
Watch this space!
Unfortunately, it was run in recent years by a landlord who did not see eye to eye with many people in the village, to the point that a number of locals felt disinclined to give him their trade.
Around Christmas 2019, though, and somewhat unexpectedly, that landlord left the pub, and the village, and indeed the country, and since then The Bear has been closed.
Uunfortunately, some of the beautiful and ancient furniture which added so much to the character of the place was removed over the summer.
However, the owner - Punch Taverns - is currently (December 2020) undertaking a renovation, with the kitchen in particular being completely replaced, and is intending to instal a new landlord as soon as possible.
Watch this space!
