About The Old Bear Inn

General Information

The Old Bear Inn is a friendly local pub conveniently located in delightful Cricklade, the first town on the Thames and close to all the local amenities that Swindon has to offer.

Back in the 17th century it was named "The Saracens Head", but later in the 18th century it was changed to "The Old Bear Inn" where you could stable your horse and as a Travelling Russian Circus did, stable the dancing bear and it's trainer in the stable which can be seen today exactly how it was then. Ideal resting place for walking the Thames path.

The Old Bear's Blooming Marvellous

Landlords at The Old Bear in Cricklade, Steve and Teresa Cleverley, are celebrating a treble success.

Not only have they won Cricklade Town Council's 'Cricklade in Bloom' competition for two years in a row with their wonderful flower displays at the front and back of the pub, but this year they've also won the Council's award for 'Best Business' too.

For a pub that doesn't do food and doesn't open at lunchtimes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays this might be a bit of a surprise.

But Steve and Teresa have remembered what many businesses across the UK seem to have forgotten: Do what you do well, get a good reputation and the business will come. Too much diversification and you might forget what you're really there for and your customers might forget what you're good at too and go elsewhere.

With a lot of competition in this small Wiltshire town, it's a brave decision for Steve and Teresa to have made, but they say their Arkell's owned pub is a small, traditional oasis in the busy town of Cricklade.

Steve said: "We've got a great set of regulars and we make sure our beer is good. Some of our customers say that they actually don't want to sit in amongst people who are eating and prefer to visit us to chat and catch up on latest events. We are a traditional town pub and that seems to work for us.

"We are delighted to have won the accolades from those who know our business best, and we raise our glasses to our local Council."

George Arkell, at Arkell's Brewery, said: "This is a wonderful achievement by Steve and Teresa and a ringing endorsement of the traditional British pub."

Original Article here...