The Black Bear, Tewkesbury: Oldest Pub In Gloucestershire

The Black Bear in Tewkesbury, which dates back 700 years, is the oldest pub in Gloucestershire and said to be one of the most haunted in England.

The famous building has recently re-opened following six years of restoration work.

The public will get to see natural stone and wooden floors, restored beams and pastel walls of green, blue and terracotta clay.

They'll also be able to admire a glass covered secret staircase thought to have once led to a secret tunnel linking the pub to Tewkesbury Abbey.

The ancient building, dating from 1308, was previously known as Ye Olde Black Bear Inn as well as the Black Bear Inn.

The pub, which is now Grade 2 listed, has seen various changes in its 700 year history, therefore it’s no surprise that it is said to be haunted!

There were a set of medieval horseshoes that were found during earlier renovation works.

They were found in what was once the dining area.

They were hung on the wall in that room but there were witnesses who stated that these horseshoes were flung off the wall by an invisible force and would fly halfway across the room!

It has also been said that any landlord that has moved the horseshoes to another room, wasn’t successful in running the pub.

It is thought that the building was once a toll-house for travellers using St John’s Bridge.

It was also said to have been used as a hospital during the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.

The pub is open plan, with nooks and snug rooms instead of doors.

Each room is different and faithfully retains the building's traditional character – from the orange and blue rooms, to the games room and glass atrium, as well as the haunted cocktail bar.

The centrepiece is the middle of the bar for live music - you can stand anywhere in the pub, drink in hand, and still see the centrepiece.

The Black Bear says that they plan to champion independent drinks and serve novel brews that people might not have tried such as hard seltzers, unfiltered beers and unusual stouts.

Drinks will rotate every few weeks and customers will get a say on what is served. 

Someone who recently visited the pub said: “We visited the black bear again and the home cooked food was absolutely fantastic. We cannot recommend it enough.

”Wonderful value for money and a very friendly welcome. This has got to be the best place to eat with huge portions.”

The Black Bear under threat

Tewkesbury Council is holding a licence review after noise complaints were made about The Black Bear, which reopened in July (2023) after a seven-year renovation.

Within a month of reopening, the pub had noise complaints and the local council said a review of its licence is being sought.

In response to the threat of closure, a petition supporting the pub has been launched and it has been signed by more than 2,500 people.

The petition says: "We urge those reviewing its licence to consider not just legal factors but also the broader impact on our community if this vital institution were forced to close down."

The pub released a statement on Facebook saying: ‘Regarding the license review, some of you may already be aware of the decision from the council.

‘While the decision may not be ideal on the surface, there is potential for it to be workable.

’We are currently in the process of clarifying some issues through ongoing correspondences and background work.

’Similar to many aspects of life, it's not a straightforward black-and-white situation, and there is no singular moment where everything was agreed upon and defined. It's an ongoing process.

‘We want to express our appreciation for the support we've received from those who emailed and signed the petition in support of The Bear.

’Your contributions have made a difference, and for that, we thank you once again. We will continue to keep you informed as developments unfold.’

Reacting to the news on Facebook, someone commented: “"Such a shame people complain. Tewkesbury is so dead, it’s good to see a bit of life back in the town and to have somewhere nice to go.

”I don’t know how these people would have managed years ago when we had the Tavern, Black Bear, the rugby club, Brothers and the Riverside all at that end of town."

Another person added: "In a time where small businesses, the life blood of the economy are struggling, we have this? It's absolutely staggering."

Another replied: "Black bear brings money into Tewkesbury- lovely place! Enjoy quiz and live bands! A great place to take dogs too! Tewkesbury will die again without it!"

As of today (Thursday 25 January) More than 3,000 people have signed the petition - you can sign and read the petition HERE.

For regular updates, you can follow The Black Bear on social media, alternatively, you can check their website.

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