The Old Courthouse, Cheltenham

This conversion used to be the old courthouse building ( the clue is in the name ) and is a Brunning and Price establishment. The main ground floor bar room, which was the former public waiting room apparently, is well described in the initial review below and is a very comfortable and decorative space to sit and have a pint or a bite to eat. This functions as the main bar and dining area and then off of this space are two side rooms, labelled on the doors as the original Clerks office and Counsel room and Solicitors room, which now function as a snug room and a private dining room. Also, although I didn’t take the opportunity to go and take a look, the former court chamber room is upstairs and retains the original benches of the dock as part of the seating plan. The bar supports 7 ale hand pumps and six were on the go for my visit dispensing St. Austell Tribute, two from the local Battledown Brewing Co., Judge and Jury Pale Ale and West Coast IPA, Prescott Ales Cotswold Craft Pale Ale, Goffs Brewery Cheltenham Gold and then a Lilly’s Cider on the last one. I tried a half of each of the Battledown brews and they were pleasant enough and well kept. Like a lot of Brunning and Price establishments this one doesn’t really know if it is a pub or a restaurant and tries to be both. Like Blackthorn, I too wasn’t really getting a pub experience, but have to say I preferred it here a lot more than the Green King establishment next door.

Grand old building that retains it’s grand interior. 3 real ales on during my visit.

A relatively recent opening in a good sized corner plot just off of Cheltenham’s High Street, it’s an imposing, stone built building and was presumably an old court house at one time, but has more recently been a branch of Jamie’s Italian. Internally it’s one large, open-plan room with high ceilings and quite an elegant feel. Flooring is predominantly parquet wood with a number of rugs covering this, and some colourful mosaic tiling by the bar. Natural wood panelling was on the lower part of the walls, with pale blue plasterwork above. A large fitted book case covered most of one wall, with a small tiled fireplace at the base of it, although it’s a shame that even during the current cold spell, all it contained was an unlit church candle. A bit of a missed opportunity there. The walls were liberally plastered with an assortment of old drawings and photographs, some of the town, others portraits, and of course some of the nearby racecourse. Large windows let in plenty of natural light, and these were adorned with drapes. Seating along this front wall was fitted button back benches, with regular tables and chairs elsewhere. Beers on tap were Milestone Honey Porter, Digital Reboot, Bespoke Golden Rule and Prescott Grand Prix. A further pump for St. Austell’s B&P appeared to have run out. Ciders meanwhile were Aspall’s Suffolk and Dunkerton’s Organic, whilst the Lilley’s Rhubarb had also run out. Overall, this didn’t quite do it for me, although it’s difficult to pin down exactly why. They’ve clearly done a decent refurbishment job and made an effort with the beer selection. Perhaps it all just felt a bit too much like an elegant hotel instead of a proper pub.

Official site of The Old Courthouse - www.brunningandprice.co.uk