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Cheltenham Motor Club, Battledown, Cheltenham

Pub added by Steve of N21
Upper Park Street
Cheltenham
GL52 6SA

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Quinno _ left this review about Cheltenham Motor Club

In the backstreets and not obvious – you have to want to go there! But absolutely worth it as this is a really welcoming club; CAMRA members are welcome and you are signed-in at the bar promptly. A number of rooms inside, crisply decorated but with warmth and some homely touches including the inevitable motoring paraphernalia. Six Nations on the telly. A really friendly welcome from behind the bar, which sported six cask; I went for Loch Lomond Silkie which was an excellent choice (NBSS 4). There’s also a decent selection of Belgian bottles to be had. I really enjoyed my stay here and, if it wasn’t for a list of other virgin ticks to try before my train, would have stayed for another. I’ll certainly be heading back here next time I find myself in Cheltenham. GBG’23 listed, as it should be. 8.5

On 15th April 2023 - rating: 9
[User has posted 5043 recommendations about 5026 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about Cheltenham Motor Club

Technically the Cheltenham Motor Club should not be on this site, being a private members club. However the evidence to be presented to why it should is compelling.
Firstly the Cheltenham motor Club had been the local Gloucester CAMRA club of the year for 2006-2012 and South West regional finalist on five occasions and now, in 2013, awarded the National CAMRA Club of the Year, for “the small clubhouse’s excellent selection of quality real ale thanks to the high level of cellarmanship by Club Steward Neil Way.”
Secondly, although it is a club, all are welcome and you are signed in on the day by Neil or one of the other club members present.
Thirdly, there’s not many establishments providing quality real ale in Cheltenham, so this one should be highlighted so that other visitors can find it.
And lastly, in reality it’s still largely a traditional pub, being housed in the former Crown inn, which shut down a couple of years ago. It is divided into a bar/TV room and a games room with pool table separated by a folding partition. The bar is decorated with motoring paraphernalia and an extensive collection of pump clips.
The bar supports five Ale pumps, and one for a real cider. These usually dispense an interesting collection of ales from smaller local breweries. For my visit Salopian Oracle was available alongside the apply named Marble Brewery Pint, Harbour Brewing IPA, Stroud Brewery Tom Long and Revival from the Moor Beer company of Somerset. And the couple I tried were in excellent nick.
The place does not look that inviting from the outside but have the courage of your conviction and march right in. Then you will probably find the bar area hidden by club members sitting on the bar stools. But again just approach the bar and within seconds the guest book will be winging its way over the throng for you to sign and then pint glass will be at the ready to be filled. And be prepared to be engaged in conversation as the other members will be very interested in how you found the place, especially if you are from out of town.
This was one of the beer highlights of my trip to Cheltenham and I would recommend the effort to walk down the London Road to find it.
It can be approached by going down Upper Park Street, but there is also a footpath from London Road which if I remember correctly was called Crown Passage.

On 13th May 2013 - rating: 9
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]