Thetownend.com

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/wiltshire/swindon.html

I know this is a touchy subject.  Pubs close for a variety of reasons, including the exorbitant duties now levied on a pint of beer.  But the main reason most pubs shut is that they're rubbish...as a lot of names on that list prove.  If you don't provide something that people want, you'll go to the wall.

Very true.

Take the Beehive as an example. A small pub, tucked away, beer is probably more expensive than anywhere else in the world, but it's always packed whenever I venture in there, so they're doing something right.

I've only ever been in two of those (although some may have opened after I left)

The Whitehouse got smashed to fuck by Bmuff during a kick up in e 80s.

Easy to forget the new bars and pubs that open. I make it four or five in Old Town alone over the last 20 years, with a number of others being substantially refurbished. Probably even more than that down the bottom of town.

The real problem is that it's cheaper and easier to stay at home and have a night in. There wasn't as much to do 20 years ago; only a few TV channels, games consoles were shit, takeaway food wasn't as popular and supermarkets weren't practically giving away beer.

How long has the Greyhound been shut for, i went past the other day & it didn't look shut. I wonder if they meant the ship opposite.

The Ship is Bar 12 isn't it?

anyone know anything about the Park Hotel on William street ? My nan used to live on that road, I cant say I ever remember seeing a pub or hotel there. Certainly not at the Kingshill end :sherlock:

It is now.

The Greyhound is still going

What's the Rolleston like? Always wondered (as I drive by).

For me the main purpose of going to a pub, has always been to meet people, get a bit of banter going and generally put the world to rights...

It still continues to be the case...

It does though seem to be a bit of a generational thing....aside from the Vic, young people who use a pub in a traditiomnal way seem to have gone...I would imagine it's highly likely there'll be very few boozers left in Swindon by say 2020.

Rolleston is ok, especially for a lunchtime drink or snack.  I do remember the Park Hotel, on the corner of Cambria Bridge Road (?), the Cross Keys is now called Baker Street - or was!!  The Whitehouse was sold in a very expensive property deal and is now that block of flats on the corner - I do believe the lady that sold it has now bought the Morris Street Club in Rodbourne.

Isn't the Litten Tree now called Big Fish or Groove?

I miss the old locals pub.  In my early drinking years frequented an old boys pub. On a Monday night the old men playing cards, darts and dommies. They used to spin a yarn that would scare the yoof of today to death and cause the pc brigade heart attacks.
They were splendid men and fantastic times.
Of the pubs above, I really only drank in the Frome and that was only the last five years of its life.

Surely there are more closed pubs in Swindon missing from that list. Like The Bedroom (or whatever its called now) and the one that was called Bar Me then Rush, and The Broadwalk.

I didn't see the "Lady Margeret" either.

The Worthy
The British Legion
Cock Robin
The Falcon
The Covingham Hen?

Just a few more that have not been mentioned

Never heard of the 'Lady Margaret' where was that?

Edit: The cock robin is on that list.

Oxford Rd if my memory serves me right.

The Cock Robin seemed more like a private members club than a pub...

Became the Sandgate I believe, now shut up!!  Drove by the Worthington the other day, or at least where it used to be - demolished!

Ha ha, you had to be a local or very brave to go in there!!

Not being one who's able to nurse a pint for a few hours I simply cant afford to drink in pubs anymore . I do miss the sociability side of it,nothing better than finishing work on a Friday and heading straight to the local for a wind down.I probably only venture in a Pub 4 or 5 times a year now.

Just seems sad to see them go for whatever reason.

Most of the pubs that i grew up with have gone too :-(

http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/wiltshire/purton.html

I think there are only 2 pubs and 2 clubs now.

turned to flats. The last landlord of the place got done for selling cheap spirits as premium brands i seem to remember.

There are pubs listed that have had their names changed etc. Still a pub there so shouldn't count

Next door to Purton, Minety now down to two pubs from four - used to have four shops as well, none now!!

They probably meant the Grapes, which was shut for a few months

It was the opposite side of Kingshill on the cross road of Cambria bridge

You're from Purton?

The Greyhound was my dad's regular until he moved away from the village. It was probably him that was keeping it afloat.

Spent many moons in The Greyhound :-)

Whats ur dads name, prob know him or by sight.

Bob.

You're a (former) Purtonian then?

Yep... 27 years.

Great, we can start a new clique.

Sweet :-)

What did they provide for the previous 300 odd years then?
Seemed to do ok then

Community spirit, beer is about all................Supermarkets killed the pub with cheap beer ....along with half of our high streets.
Also Twatter Facebook and of course things like the TEF killed it.........you can drink at home now while talking bollox instead of in the pub drinking and talking bollox.

In fact i have a bottle of Henry Westons with me as i talk bollox right now. :pint:

Recently went back up to Nottingham to visit family and was suprised to see a lot of the good old pubs shut down or now have new builds where the pubs once were.  Some of the pubs which i thought were closed down and have their windows boarded up are still actually open for any trade they can get ! The areas I once lived and wasn't too bad have become real slum areas so can't imagine apart from wino's many people having the money to spend in the pubs.

Did I see the Duke of Wellington closed down on Eastcott Hill. Don't know of any other Arkells pubs serving beer straight from the barrell.

One pub that I'm surprised is still open is the grot/real ale house in Rodbourne. Used to be really popular but just struggles on now sadly.

The Cock Robin was great fun  - a little bit like going away to Millwall in the 70's 9 , you never had a fucking clue if you were getting home.

Being turned into private accommodation.

That list is a bit out of date.  There's a few others I can think of including one which was reasonably local to me, The Rodbourne Arms was demolished last year.

Where do the 14 year olds go now?

I still drink in there, since 1981

He's talking about The New Greyhound, Purton which was turned into flats circa 2008. So, unless you live in one of said flats, you must be talking about a different pub.

Does that include Upper Minety?  I grew up in (Lower) Minety and only remember 2 pubs, a shop and a Post Office... Might have been before my time though!  ;-)
Shocking that there isn't even a shop there now, it's a real ball-ache just to "pop out" and get a paper/pint of milk etc. now!

Calne has lost quite a few pubs over the years, but still retains some wonderful hostelries.

Yeah, Upper and Lower Minety (or Silver Street as some call it!).  Used to be the Old Inn in Upper Minety, the White Horse, the old Red Lion (Station Yard) and the New Red Lion (now called the Turnpike).  As for shops there was the one in Upper Minety, and three in Lower Minety - which includes the post office.  Also three garages, two are built on and one is a double glazing concern now!

Correct, the two pubs left now are the Royal George (which has been shut at various times) and the Angel.

Plus the working men's club and the Red House. Although I suppose they're technically not pubs, but they are drinking establishments.

There's a petition here worth signing.  When the government stops thinking of pub locals as cash cows, the trade will stand a better chance of survival.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29664

The same could be said about the motorist though, would be interesting if they dropped the fuel duty by about 10p would we see the economy pick up?

That would give me about an extra £20 a month, which I could then spend on beer  :)

Food prices would probably come down as it would cost less to fill the lorries up.

Good work fella. Have been meaning to whack that up on here for a while now. Get signing people. If you don't sign then you can't moan about the price (or something like that)

Is there one about fuel duty on there?

Oooh, don't remember the Station Yard one at all! Remember the shop, PO and garage on the corner where the new houses are... The rest must predate me!  :-)

Didn't Purton have the Ghost train?

It did indeed, great old pub.

Again, sadly no more, just more flats.

http://www.mouseprice.com/property-for-rent/ref-10758558/ghost+train+purton+wiltshire

I had my first ever underage pint in the Ghost Train.

No spirits?

What is that god forsaken industrial estate in Purton that a cyclist would have trouble getting into let alone a lorry......little car garage there over a diddy stream :hmmm:

New Road?

Thats it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meF7NmfnXZ0

Don't remember Alan Chester in the Station Yard?  Was in there late one night when it got raided, several of us were out the back windows and down the sidings!!!  Used to be the shop by the printing works (where I worked for seven years!), then another just up the road that used to be owned by Viv Sutton - that'll stir a few memories for Reg and co - the original moonraker, predates Ray Howell.  Viv was also the village baker which was all done on the premises - still taste and smell those lardy cakes! Further on up was the post ofice. 

ohh Ben Thompsons.....

Ha ha. I thought he was talking about the one in town ::)

Uhh, Purton that one I believe!!  We're talking Minety at the mo!!

Doh.. i do remember the garage in Minety though, on the crossroads. My nan lived in Silver St, many moons ago.

Cor blimey, I think that is before my time then - definitely don't remember a village baker! Although if there was one I might have been too young to register that info...
Know where the printing works used to be though, and I do remember the shop, PO and garage on the corner... And of course the two existing pubs.
Very sad that most of the services have disappeared, the village just seems a bit soulless every time I visit my folks!

Not everyone is a crusty old cunt seeking fellow crusty old cunts to have a chinwag with Reginald, some of us young pups just want a few sherberts ;)