Google's assistant tells me


Came up for my "on this day", but with a "~" in front of it which is my flag for an approximate date.  Never done a trail (not thrilled with getting myself inebriated) but I will grab the odd pint at The Railway, The Rose and Crown or the Queen's Tap while awaiting my train.  With an improvement to our local trains up to an appropriate level for the line, there might be a negative effect on business at these places.

 
1. 

2.  Rose & Crown, Trowbridge (an excellent hostelry);

3.  Queen's Tap, Swindon (another excellent hostelry).

I can't quite place the first one.  Not The Railway Inn at Yatton, I assume? 

CfN. 

 

The Railway Inn at Westbury ... three hostelries at which I have partaken refreshment and met with fellow advocates for public transport whilst awaiting a timed happening - such as a train departure to Melksham or a meeting concerning said transport.     

I've not got a current close-to-station place to mention in Chippenham - Google Maps suggest the Old Road Tavern there, but meetings there tend to be at the Rivo Lounge which is a fair step from the station, or at the Hearty Hare at the station which is cafe rather than pub.

 
Salisbury to Exeter Rail Ale Trail

https://www.blackmorevaletrains.com/rail-ale-trail/

 
In a slightly different way, I concluded my day out yesterday with a mini "canal ale trail" before stumbling onto the train home at Stroud Railway station.  This comprised of:

The Ship Inn, Brimscombe.  Not yet quite back on the restored canal (until the forthcoming phase 2 restoration stage) but a popular place nonetheless with a pleasant beer garden and apparently a good reputation for food. 

The Stroud Brewery, Thrupp.  Situated at the current eastern extent of the restored section of the canal this is a modern industrial building successfully adapted to its combined brewery/cafe/bar purpose with beer garden next to the towpath and upstairs balcony overlooking the newly built "winding hole" where canal boats can turn around.  Very popular with an understandably good reputation.

Bowbridge Arms, Bowbridge.  Situated just above the canal lock.  Perhaps without the pulling power of the above two outlets, it nonetheless has a generous beer garden with the views of the valley above the canal. 

The restoration of the canal to the west is moving apace.  I managed to have a look at the impressive works going on west of Eastington including the deviation from the old route to get under the motorway, the completed channel running under the A38 roundabout and the pipeline diversion project near Occupation Bridge.

 
Good to have an account of the Ship at Brimscombe. I think I'm right in saying that the local authority bought the building and promoted its use as a pub - to safeguard it during the interim time before the navigation is re-established.

 

I hope the local authorities similarly protect the Red Lion in Chalford from the circling predatory developers.  Canal side pubs should be seen as an important component for maximizing the canal restoration's economic benefits for the area.....as with the Ship in Brimscombe.

 

I should have got that one, too: I have attended a few meetings there, over the years.