King's Head, Littledean

The old Kings Head has only recently been converted into residential use after years of neglect. In November 2011 the structure of the old pub was in such a perilous condition that it was in real danger of collapsing – thieves had even stolen tiles from the roof. Planning permission was protracted because of access for residents parking on the premises, it being located on a bend on the main road through the village. Forest of Dean District Council threatened action against the owner to make it safe. Eventually it was agreed to knock down the adjoining butchers shop to facilitate parking. Under new owners, renovation work started after planning approval in February 2017. Remarkably a ‘Best in the West – ‘West Country Ales’ ceramic plaque survived the period of dereliction.

Originally the Kings Head was owned by the Alton Court Brewery of Ross-on-Wye, their Golden Hop beer was advertised on the front façade. After takeover in 1956 by Stroud Brewery the Kings Head sold their Cotswold Ales until amalgamation with the Cheltenham brewery to form West Country. In more recent times the pub was tied to Whitbread before eventually becoming a free house. The Kings Head closed down for a number of years in the early 1990’s. The 1996 publication ‘Real Ale in Gloucestershire’ noted that the Kings Head, ‘a local corner pub, re-opened summer 1995 after being shut for two years. Trade now building up and entertainment, including live music, is being increasingly offered.’ At the time Crown Buckley ales from Wales were on tap. Banks’s from Wolverhampton supplied the free house in its last years of trading. The first application for change of use was submitted in October 2006.