Home > News By Simon Hacker | 2nd May 2025 They had 26 seats and effectively enjoyed control for 20 years the Conservatives at Shire Hall are decimated their representation down to just six divisions The numbers don't lie: Reform UK has eaten into the traditional right's support cutting through to the electorate on immigration energy policy and national sovereignty and its populist message has resonated with traditional Tory voters but also those who lent their vote to Sir Keir Starmer whose office will note that its representation has crumbled to just one councillor The final numbers for Shire Hall are:  Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: "The message to Kemi Badenoch is which some may mistakenly perceive as a mere corner of Gloucestershire life dissatisfaction and plain fear over wage increases National Insurance hikes and new employment rights have combined to be an excellent reason to reject the current government and thereby more than doubling their previous numbers We now therefore expect the Lib Dems and Greens to strike a collaborative deal which will comfortably see the two parties over the line for a ruling administration.  Is the old two-party system of government over With Reform gaining 425 seats nationally so far the obituaries are already being signed off Nothing in Gloucestershire is suggesting that verdict is fundamentally wrong the Liberal Democrats were the big winners not least due to their coups in previous Tory strongholds from Highnam and Winchcombe to Woodmancote and Tetbury Though their final count fell just short of one councillor to take overall control Reform's haul of seats means it is now the official opposition In a statement to welcome her party's victory said: "We are delighted that voters in Gloucestershire have recognised hard working local Liberal Democrats councillors and rewarded us with our best ever results "Our message of change has clearly resonated and we are looking forward to delivering for residents." Meanwhile Conservative group leader Stephen Davies re-elected in the Hardwicke and Severn seat voiced his disappointment "to see the loss of so many hard working Conservative Councillors" and added that the council would be "an interesting place with some very inexperienced councillors who will now have to make some tough decisions." A statement from Reform UK said: "In Gloucestershire we're seeing the disintegration of the two-party system "The public have sent a clear message that they are fed up with years of betrayal and mismanagement from Labour and the Conservatives." Tewkesbury Borough Council also held a by-election for a seat representing Innsworth with Rojina Rai winning with a devilish 666 votes – enough to beat the only other significant vote which was for.. The emerging picture is looking like a Labour rout with the party of government seeing its share depressed yet further than the modest representation it had before May 1 there is just ONE Labour councillors readying to take a seat at Shire Hall for the coming administration marking a voting trend that will send shivers down the spines of even the most seasoned left-wing MPs FRIDAY 1.30PM UPDATE: Lib Dems almost Petrie-fied in early result Hesters Way and Springbank has been held onto by the Liberal Democrats in the first result issued in Gloucestershire County Council's elections today – but the results are stark illustration of a surge for Reform UK who are tipped to be in the wings for several successes as the day rolls on Cllr Suzanne Williams was elected with 997 votes with Reform's candidate Iain Petrie polling 746 in second position His tally dwarfed Labour's poll of just 84 votes while the Conservatives' final count was 307 though their gain rate is matched by Reform UK who as yet now have three seats on the council – all taken from the Conservatives who now inevitably stand to lose the measure of control they had Battledown and Charlton Kings – Lib Dem GAIN from Conservative Grange and Kingsway – Reform UK GAIN from Conservative Hempsted and Westgate – Lib Dem GAIN from Conservative Leckhampton and Warden Hill – Lib Dem GAIN from Conservative Longlevens – Lib Dem GAIN from Conservative Prestbury and Swindon Village – Green Party WIN Quedgeley - Reform UK GAIN  from Conservative Tuffley and Moreland - Reform UK GAIN from Conservative As the count gets under way to see which party/parties have a hand on the tiller at Shire Hall Punchline-Gloucester.com will bring you updates on this page for the final results.  If you are reading this in our free lunchtime news bulletin – what's that, you haven't subscribed? – we may know more on the way the authority is heading but no clear confirmation is expected before 4pm Can the Conservatives maintain their minority administration the weekend weather may appear sunnier so far than for those remaining Labour and Conservative voters while onlookers from the Lib Dems and Green Party may Full results will not be known until after 4pm but it seems likely we will will see big changes If – as these moments inevitably are – this election is about tapping into resentment over Sir Keir Starmer's first year of power or agnosticism for Kemi Badenoch's troubled leadership of the Tories serves as a lightning rod for public sentiment That political reality has to be deeply frustrating for candidates in our county's poll who want the debate to be predicated upon the grown-up important local issues that matter to us specifically but such is politics: the right to vote is enshrined for adults; the right to use it as an adult So the backdrop for Shire Hall's elections is that the results look likely to see a celebratory Friday for Reform UK crowned by the addition of a sixth MP to Westminster after Sarah Pochin romped home with a majority of six votes to take the constituency of Runcorn and Helsby Mayoral elections are also being held in places across the country and with a 10% swing from the Conservatives to Reform UK being hailed by pundits the prospects for a Conservative consolidation in Gloucester appear as likely as the A417 missing link being finished by Monday Perhaps the Lib Dems will emerge unscathed from the crossfire take more than their previous seat count and be the dark horse(s) here the Liberal Democrats had 16 and Labour and the Greens four apiece while two former Tories had become Independents Punchline has also been aware of an increasing level of momentum for the Green party in parts of the county a failure of Reform UK to upset the final numbers seems incredibly unlikely Northumberland County Council saw Reform gain 23 seats overnight leaving the authority's direction with no overall control while Reform took the mayoral crown in Greater Lincolnshire and the party's veteran Arron Banks came close to toppling the leadership of the West of England Combined Authority Labour's Helen Godwin holding on by just a lead of two per cent has also been held and Punchline will report on this result as soon as it is known John Fisher is recognised for his exceptional leadership and contribution to the technology industry Watchdogs' tracker nudges down in wake of Trump's tarrifs The recipients of The King’s Awards for Enterprise have been announced today (May 6) The project has been more than a decade in the making and could see 620 acres of greenbelt transformed into a new town Reproduction of any content is strictly forbidden without prior permission We use cookies to help make our website better. For more information on cookies and how to block them, visit https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies/ Three new superfast electric vehicle charging hubs offering 26 ultra rapid chargers across town are set to be installed at Cheltenham car parks in time for Christmas 2024 Marking 'substantial' investment in the town's EV infrastructure new state-of-the-art ultra rapid charging points are being installed at three Cheltenham car parks in 2024 Cheltenham Borough Council says the 26 new 300-kilowatt chargers which will be operated by national developer The EV Network will be able to deliver a full charge in around 20 to 40 minutes The hubs will be installed in time for the opening of Cheltenham's ice rink and the busy Christmas shopping period with charging scheduled to be online at the end of November 2024 Weekly lifestyle and business highlights straight to your inbox Being able to favourite articles is just one of a host of member exclusive benefits Being able to create your own lists is just one of a host of member exclusive benefits By David Wood | 10th April 2025 If you haven't registered by tomorrow (Friday Gloucestershire residents are being urged to register to vote in next month's local elections include the Gloucestershire County Council elections to determine who will represent the county for the next four years including one in Charlton Kings ward for Cheltenham Borough Council and two in the Forest of Dean for Cinderford East ward and Newent & Taynton ward Residents across the Forest of Dean District are being encouraged to make sure they are registered to vote and apply for photographic identification if needed deputy returning officer for Forest of Dean District Council said: "It is important that those who want to vote in the local elections make sure they are registered and have an accepted form of photo ID for voting in person at a polling station "If you are unable to go to a polling station to cast your vote you can apply to vote by post or appoint a proxy - a person trusted to vote on your behalf "Remember before you can apply for a postal vote or appoint a proxy you must be registered to vote "Residents who do not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for free ID either online or by calling 01594 812638 for assistance." you must be at least 18 years old and registered to vote in the area where you live meaning you won't be able to cast your vote if you have recently moved or are voting for the first time Residents can register to vote through the Government website, a process that takes around five minutes. The registration deadline is tomorrow and applications can be submitted at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote you must apply for a postal vote before 5pm on Monday Those applying for a postal vote must provide their National Insurance number as part of the application If you already have a postal vote in place appointing someone else to vote on your behalf The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday Proxy voters must show their own valid ID when voting Cheltenham residents can check whether they're registered to vote by calling 01242 262626 electoral registration officer at Cheltenham Borough Council said "Don't lose your chance to have your say at elections in May Local elections are an important opportunity to have your say on who represents you and makes decisions about issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Cheltenham "If you're in doubt about whether you need to register to vote, or have questions about how to apply for a postal or proxy vote, or free voter ID, you can contact the electoral services team on 01242 264132 or email elections@cheltenham.gov.uk." Opinion marks early verdict on Labour amid Shire Hall shakeup By Simon Hacker | 3rd October 2024 Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) has won a case over excessive noise against the construction company that built the town's third Lidl store Fuming neighbours to the site for the new Lidl on Cirencester Road in Charlton Kings went to CBC public and environmental health officers amid ongoing work from 2022-23 which was outside the agreed hours of construction – claiming the noise sometimes went on until the small hours CBC said that Bath-based Soldi Investments Ltd who signed up as the construction partner for Lidl was found guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court for failing to comply with a Control of Pollution Act notice to control noise during the construction of the third Lidl Cheltenham store in 2022 to 2023 The construction company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay compensation of £2,000 CBC received complaints that the construction was taking place on the site outside of the hours stipulated in the construction management plan and subsequent noise was disturbing residents "The council served notice on Soldi Investments Ltd that required works and other operations which could be heard at the boundary of the site were only to be carried out between 7.30am to 6pm the notice was ignored and activity causing noise was recorded outside of these times continued late into the evening and the early hours of the morning with 23 breaches observed between January and March 2023 A local resident explained that at times the noise was unbearable and unrelenting did not deny the contraventions of the notice and apologised for them citing health and safety and bad weather as reasons for the work outside approved working hours But CBC successfully argued that the failure to comply was a result of poor planning and management said: "It is unacceptable behaviour to ignore council set hours for construction operations causing much harm to residents in Charlton Kings This successful prosecution shows that where building firms fail to take proper measures "Our officers will use the full power of the law to protect neighbours from loss of sleep and disruption to their normal lives our officers were not put off by the site operator trying to shirk responsibility during and since the construction work "I would like to thank them for their determination and hard work on this case and I hope it provides a warning to others considering similar anti-social construction behaviour No stranger to unwanted attention, Cheltenham's third Lidl got a hostile reception from Cheltenham Civic Society when it was handed an Uncivic Award for 2023 The society said the store was "an example of where a much-needed local supermarket amenity could have done so much more for the local architectural landscape if it were more motivated by community and less by the need to shout about its brand."  The wooden spoon judgement added: "This is not a site where you need three-metre square signage at a high level from every vantage point to announce the store The massive brick façade extensions and tower serve only one purpose – to accommodate highly lit and intrusive signage in relation to everything that surrounds it destroying a gateway to the town in the process." By Laura Enfield | 25th November 2024 An ambitious redevelopment is being planned for Charlton Kings Hotel to boost visitors and increase use by businesses Owners of the modest- sized property in London Road want to more than triple its capacity from 12 to 44 bedrooms and double their full-time staff They have submitted plans to Cheltenham Borough Council for one and two storey extensions to the existing building and a new three- storey annex The 0.95 acre hotel site sits within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is one of the first buildings people see as they enter the town on the A40 from Oxford It is currently surrounded by open fields and the application said a  "sensitive approach" has been developed in response to this A previous application was submitted for 40 new bedrooms but the revised plans reduce this to 32 previous "ad-hoc" extensions will be removed and replaced by "more formalised and sympathetic" building work The new annex will be contemporary in form but "take cues" from the existing building Total floor space would be increased from 636 sqm to 1,658 sqm and car parking spaces from nine to 37 The application by Mr Mannan from A B Brasserie Ltd said the development would result in the number of full-time employees being boosted from five to 10 to cope with the extra guests A statement by Coombes Everitt Architects Limited on the applicants behalf said: "The proposals seek to improve the hotel's business structure which is currently based around a 12 bedroom capacity The proposals look to address this with a renewed approach that will help ensure this local business asset is improved and sustained long term "The proposed scheme looks to refurbish and extend the existing hotel building as well as providing new development to improve the quality and capacity of facilities This aims to provide additional high standard visitor accommodation and cater for visiting and local business function uses." A decision is due to be made by the council by January 15 Boutique Hotelier A boutique hotel in the Cotswolds has submitted a planning application to more than double its number of bedrooms as part of a wider plan to upgrade its offering The Charlton Boutique Hotel in Charlton Kings is currently home to 12 bedrooms and is now seeking permission to build a three-storey annexe for an additional 32 bedrooms alongside a refurbishment A revised planning application has now been submitted to Cheltenham Borough Council reducing the proposed number of bedrooms down from 40 to 32 The complete project will also see a roll out of an upgrade to existing facilities with a change to the hotel’s layout whilst retaining as much of the external landscaping as possible The design and access statement says: “The owners intend to undertake a refurbishment and development of The Charlton Kings Hotel which provides visitor accommodation on the border of Cheltenham The proposals seek to improve the hotel’s business structure which is currently based around a 12 bedroom capacity “The proposals look to address this with a renewed approach that will help ensure this local business asset is improved and sustained long term The proposed scheme looks to refurbish and extend the existing hotel building as well as providing new development to improve the quality and capacity of facilities “This aims to provide additional high standard visitor accommodation and cater for visiting and local business function uses.” It looks like JavaScript is not enabled in your browser The Five Alls in Cheltenham is getting a sister venue in Charlton Kings as its owners take over popular pub The Royal this January 2024 The owners of popular Bath Road pub The Five Alls are taking over The Royal in Charlton Kings this January 2024.  which has been run by previous owners Mike and George for the last 14 years will now be run as a sister venue to the Fives The new owners are said to have 'absolutely fallen in love' with The Royal and will keep on all the current staff as well as ensuring customers receive the same great food and drink service and atmosphere locals expect.  They're planning to put their own stamp on The Royal while retaining its place at the heart of the Charlton Kings community with the pub staying open and all existing bookings and vouchers being honoured.  Find the best places to watch England's Euro 2024 matches in Gloucestershire this summer — including England vs Spain in the final From pubs serving cheap pints to the county's very own fan zones.. Football fever hits Gloucestershire this summer as the UEFA Euro tournament returns for 2024 — and it might actually be the year it comes home with England playing Spain in the final on Sunday 14 July 2024 Find the best places to watch England play from the group stages through to the final with SoGlos's round up of Gloucestershire venues to watch the Euro matches Showing all Euro 2024 games, Roxy Lanes offers two packages to watch the matches at its Cheltenham venue Secure your seat with two drinks tokens for £15; or pay £25 for a main meal food token thrown in For a live football stadium experience — with no international travel required! — Cheltenham Town FC is showing every England game of the tournament on a giant screen Entry is free — just book your place online Dunkertons is playing all the England games on the big screens at its buzzing taproom on the outskirts of town with crisp cider on tap and food from vendors like The Woozy Pig It's free to attend and there's no booking required but fans are encouraged to arrive early for a table Clavell & Hind microbrewery is showing every game on outdoor and indoor screens at its taproom on the outskirts of Cheltenham open from midday until 10pm every match day Catch all the England and Scotland Euro games at DEYA Brewing Company's vibrant taproom on Lansdown Estate Dubbed 'the best pub in Cheltenham to watch live sport', Tailors has a whopping 17 screens at its Cambray Place pub playing every match of the Euros this summer As well as showing all the Euro 2024 matches, Sandford Park Ale House promises Euro-themed real ales on tap throughout the tournament — kicking off with England vs Serbia on Sunday 16 June 2024 Another pub where you can catch all the Euros action, The Brown Jug on Bath Road is screening every game — a great spot to cheer on England with pints and pub grub Watch every Euro match at Hunters Hall Inn in Kingscote near Tetbury — one of Gloucestershire's many Greene King pubs showing the games Walk-ins are welcome but book ahead if you want to secure the best front row seats With a big screen for sports, The Swan Inn promises a summer packed with football action in its lively pub Head to Lydney Recreation Ground to join local footy club, Lydney Town AFC there's also burgers from The Grill Girls for every England game Cheer on the Three Lions with all of England's games being shown at the Nags Head Inn with three big screens and four-pint pitchers for £13 Village pub The Rising Sun is screening all home nation games throughout the tournament Keep an eye out for special offers during England matches Hosting a 'Summer of Sports', showing Wimbledon and the Olympics as well as the Euros, Gloucester Quays has a large outdoor screen outside Pillar and Lucy where football fans can catch all the action Kicking off with England's first game against Serbia on Sunday 16 June 2024, Gloucester Brewery is screening the football at its vibrant Warehouse 4 venue at Gloucester Docks City centre pub The Abbey is going all out for the Euros — not only showing every match but scoring big with its game-day grub offering a football-inspired Kaiser Burger and Jurgen Pizza 40p wings and discounted post-matchday bottomless brunch Catch all the big Euros games at The Three Oaks a community pub that's just south of the city centre Ten-pin alley Stroud Bowl at Five Valleys Shopping Centre is getting in on the Euros action showing the football on 'Stroud's biggest screen' — with four-pint pitchers £4 pints AND free chip butties at half time for every England game Creating 'the biggest beer garden in town' Tewkesbury Cricket Club's very own fan zone is a hot spot to watch big games on the big screen The historic Tudor House Hotel has a brand-new outdoor screen for football fans to watch England's opening fixtures alfresco By Sarah Wood | 2nd February 2024 The Merryfellow in Charlton Kings is reopening today (February 2) The Merryfellow was home to No. 3 Restaurants - the restaurant founded and co-owned by former international rugby player, Phil Vickery MBE. No. 3 Restaurants ceased trading on January 14.  we're thrilled to announce the reopening of The Merryfellow We've missed you and can't wait to welcome you back." is back as executive chef and will be running the restaurant and bar with his wife The team continued: "The Merryfellow is not just a restaurant and bar; it's a community hub Join us as we create more unforgettable moments together." The Merryfellow promises more of the same great food with classic favourites and new additions to the menu By Sarah Wood | 22nd January 2024 The restaurant founded and co-owned by former international rugby player The last service at The Merryfellow - home of No 3 Restaurants - in Charlton Kings was on January 14 said: "We are very sad to have reached this point and to have had to decide to cease trading Like so many other establishments operating in the hospitality sector and a lack of support from the Government for the sector have had a devastating effect on trade "I would though like to thank our fantastic team of staff and loyal customers for all their support." While The Merryfellow is closed for the foreseeable future some of the existing team members are in discussions about the possibility of taking on the premises staff are contacting customers who have future bookings to advise them of the closure Whilst the intention from the outset was to open in Royal Crescent in Cheltenham the pandemic meant it initially operated out of Brickhampton Golf Club The business fully opened in Royal Crescent in July 2021 it moved from Royal Crescent to The Merryfellow in Charlton Kings Punchline-Gloucester.com said: "It's always sad to hear of a business closing the way the hosptiality trade is at the moment this won't be the last one we report on in this quarter.  "We believe the Government could have done more to support the hospitality sector during this difficult period Adding the burden of the rise of the minimum wage in April isn't one of them.  "We wish Phil and Tom and their crew all the very best." The Sunday TimesCharlton Kings may sound more like a cover band or the name of the darts team This is one of the smartest moves an affluent and upwardly mobile family can make The village is on the leafy western edge of the Cotswolds two miles southeast of the festival-focused Regency beauty of Cheltenham The poet laureate Cecil Day-Lewis lived in Bafford Lane in the 1930s and author Lewis Carroll was a frequent visitor with Alice finding inspiration — allegedly — in a mirror in a house in Cudnall Street But there are two words that sum up the principal appeal of CK: Balcarras School Even in an area with a stellar reputation for state In this Big Build episode DIY SOS is coming to: The Chapman family of Charlton Kings is an inspiring and loving family but through no fault of their own they are now living in difficult circumstances Mother, Sarah and daughter Suzanne have, at different stages of the condition, myotonic dystrophy, a long-term genetic disorder that which is a type of muscular dystrophy that affects muscle function Symptoms include gradually worsening muscle loss and weakness Muscles often contract and are unable to relax intellectual disability and heart conduction problems sadly died and is greatly missed by the entire family Peter (60) a former car mechanic and hospital porter at Cheltenham General but bravely works a couple of mornings a week in the nursery she attended as an infant Sarah (55) now has the early stages of the disease so walks short distance with aid of a walking frame The house is swamped with specialist equipment and their wheelchairs battle to negotiate the unhelpful house layout and narrow doorways care assistants attend the home to help and Peter never stops helping with the daily physiotherapy so he and Sarah took in his 64 year old autistic brother Steve who works part-time at a local launderette and also assists with care Peter started building an extension, to adapt the house to everyone’s needs but time and money has now run out, and the family’s future is in genuine jeopardy. Peter has now also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia something he did not even believe in before health continues to deteriorate and Steve’s needs expand Peter is struggling to finish work on the house and find the hours in the day to care for all his family They all desperately need their home finished and that’s where the generous DIY SOS volunteers to help this deserving and inspiring family We invite all our tradespeople and suppliers to the Big Reveal when the family return and we film the reaction as well as the introduction and end to the programme There will also be an opportunity on this day to take photographs with Nick and the team against one of the DIY SOS vans You will be able to use these photos for internal communications and on social media and are able to write about your involvement in the project on your website and social media pages and as such is subject to strict guidelines Its name and that of the programme DIY SOS: The Big Build cannot be used to endorse any products or services used on the show for any commercial purpose including promotions or publicity As we cannot give undue prominence to any commercial products or services we are unable to guarantee which footage will be included in the final programme or promise that we will verbally refer to or visually feature any products We are also unable to list any trades or suppliers in the end credits of the programme You must not refer to the BBC's use of your products or services in any advertising or promotion or give the impression that your products or services are in any way endorsed by the BBC This means that you cannot use the BBC or the DIY SOS logos on your website or social media or link to any clips/excerpts of the programme on websites such as YouTube We also request that you do not post or publish any photographs of the house or use photographs of the DIY SOS team on your website able to write about your involvement on your website and social media This should be in the context of donating products and services to help a deserving family who featured on the programme and not about your products or services appearing on television “X donated (X product) to a deserving family from X featured on the BBC One series 'DIY SOS: The Big Build' (X product) was used as part of a life changing transformation to their home.” “X donated X (for example the services of 5 electricians who provided 9 days free labour) to a deserving family from X featured on the BBC One series 'DIY SOS: The Big Build' to help transform their home.” but this should not appear on the homepage of your website as this could be seen as an endorsement by the BBC We apologise for all the restrictions however there are certain things your company can do within the guidelines and if your contribution is deemed by the programme makers to be an integral part of the build and the story it is highly likely to be included in the programme I really hope that you will consider helping the family out of a desperate situation as reward enough Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information or clarification DIYSOScharltonkings@bbc.co.uk Credit: SMART Fish BarA popular fish and chip shop is set to reopen six months after a devastating fire swept through the building was gutted following the blaze in October last year Owner Rui Brazao said the past six months have been some of the hardest of his life but now he is "excited" for what the future has to hold He said they have been working seven days a week "to make sure everything is perfect for the reopening," and thanked the community for their support after the fire Mr Brazao said he was finishing off a large order of around 100 fish and chips when he noticed flames coming out of the frying range on 12 October 2023 He recalled: "Within about two to three minutes The fire service arrived pretty quickly and managed to put it out "It was just such a shock," Mr Brazao added "I was just looking at everything thinking right Work to rebuild the shop started straight away and now a new state-of-the-art kitchen has been installed which aims to prevent future fires and make the business more efficient "It was a lot of work," Mr Brazao said "We're talking about repairs from top to bottom of the shop - a new range Mr Brazao said he was a "coin-flip away from not being able to reopen the shop" due to the cost of the renovation and there were points when he "almost threw the towel in and called it a day." "We couldn't figure out how to make it work financially," he explained "But thanks to the support of the local community and local companies "The support from everyone has just been amazing," Mr Brazao added He said customers have been in touch from all over the world saying that they're sorry for what happened and sending messages of encouragement "I've had people from America messaging me saying that they can't wait to come back for their fish and chips," he explained "The support has just been absurd." Mr Brazao said is happy to be back and is now planning to expand the business by taking on online orders "We think we're good enough to compete with anyone in town," he said "And I think the people on the other side of town are missing out on some fantastic fish and chips." SMART Fish Bar is due to reopen on Thursday 2 May Three new food trucks have been launched at Dunkertons on the edge of Cheltenham paving the way for a fresh vision for the foodie destination - with two exciting new openings coming soon.. but now Dunkertons in Dowdeswell Park is boosting its offering for foodies who has her eponymous fashion HQ next door it is hoped that Dunkertons will become a shopping bar and dining experience all rolled in to one is stocked with British organic produce including cheeses By Bethany Winter | 28th February 2023 A public drop-in event is being held next week for people to find out more about essential repairs due to be carried out on the A435 Charlton Hill The road has suffered from ongoing cracking and movement for many years with landslips identified between Charlton Kings and the Seven Springs roundabout The most severely affected section needs to be stabilised to make it safe for use and it will be closed from March 2023 to the end of September 2023 to allow for this vital work to take place A public drop-in event will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Cirencester Road for residents and businesses to meet the contractors Montel after the Cheltenham Festival has finished to minimise any disruption and is due to be completed by the end of September The project will involve installing sheet piles to stabilise the embankment and carriageway previously used for slow moving traffic until it was closed for safety reasons will be used as a 'safe zone' for cyclists travelling uphill The work is estimated to cost £3.5million and is being funded from Gloucestershire County Council's highways capital programme and the Department for Transport Due to the construction activities required and for the safety of road users and construction staff it will be necessary to close the road for the duration of the works to all users said: "This project has been a long time in the making so it's great news that the work is about to be carried out "The drop-in event will provide an opportunity for people to find out more so I would encourage residents and businesses to attend if you have any questions "I appreciate the road closure will be inconvenient and apologise for any disruption it may cause but it is essential the work takes place to make the route safe for all road users." and proves that bigger is better with over 8000 sq ft of wonderful living space The photos really speak for themselves when it comes to this property The Georgian home has a timeless sophistication that is often attempted, but hard to achieve, with a property that dates from 1806. It is currently on the market with Knight Frank at a guide price of £3.8 million.  Thomas Billings is thought to have designed and built the property that is composed of brick under a slate pitched roof and sits back from a sweeping driveway that is accessed via large gates with two pillars either side of the entrance The lower ground floor is set up as an entertaining space Also joining the party downstairs is a laundry room — complete with a laundry chute (which sounds like a very efficient way of retrieving snacks from the kitchen whilst watching a movie...) a wine cellar plus an extra utility room and shower Seven really is the lucky number in this case — with seven bedrooms and seven reception rooms The downstairs space is distinguished between the 'formal' wing and the 'service' wing to the east with many of the downstairs rooms featuring period features — most notably the beautifully intricate ceiling moulds and large The large kitchen/breakfast room opens up to the dining room which boasts French doors out to the terrace and a magnificent fireplace Also with its own access out to the terrace is the drawing room with also boasts its own fireplace with a marbled surround The master bedroom is luxurious and spacious with a generous walk-in-dressing room and ensuite The remaining six bedrooms can be found on the same floor with the majority enjoying southerly views over the garden Langton Lodge sits in one acres of immaculately kept grounds which is set over various levels and terraces Located towards the end of the garden is a children's (but we won't judge any adults wishing to spend some time in there) "forest" play area striking a great balance between the more adult sundowner territory and children's play area Also within the grounds is a double garage Location: Charlton Kings is located a 10 minute drive from Cheltenham The nearest train station is Cheltenham Spa which offers a Great Western Railway service situated on the Bristol-Birmingham main line Atmosphere: Charlton Kings has a bustling high street with a post office a co-operative and several independent shops and restaurants Things to do: With Cheltenham just up the road offering art galleries there is something for everyone to enjoy here Schools: Cheltenham has a number of good schools Charlton King's Infant School and the notable Cheltenham Ladies College See more property for sale in the area. An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for the Cotswolds is arguably England's most famous region outside of London The answer will depend on what is more important to you and Some of the prettiest open spaces in the Cotswolds make the grade in Annunciata Elwes' series on Secret Britain By Matt Hall | 2nd March 2020 A building society office block in Charlton Kings has been given the green light to be converted into apartments Timbercombe House located just off the A435 Cirencester Road in Charlton Kings had been occupied by Yorkshire Building Society The offices provided administration desk space for 190 employees the property was put on the market in 2019 with a guide price of £4.69m but the owners have now been given permission to turn it into residential accommodation 41 two-bedroom apartments will be spread across its three-storeys Purpose-built in 2004 for Chelsea Building Society as a call centre the development consists of two separate buildings interlinked by an internal glass link bridge and is surrounded by 136 car parking spaces Yorkshire Building Society merged with Chelsea Building Society in 2010 and subsequently re-branded to YBS in 2016 In the following year they announced the phased closure of the offices Historically the site was a former railway station and has neighbours including Lilley Brook Golf Club and DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton By Laura Enfield and Mark Owen | 13th February 2023 A family cafe which has served Cheltenham for 16 years is working hard to ride the post-Covid wave Roasted Cafe is owned by former ice cream van man Richard Bamber who said cooking is in his family's blood whipping up dishes such as their popular breakfasts and his brother-in-law Daniel O'Neill helps out with the business side of things The cafe already underwent a major £80,000 refurbishment during the pandemic and is now introducing more events to keep the punters flowing through its doors Charlton Kings has expanded its Thursday Supper Clubs from fortnightly to weekly and launched an accompanying loyalty card Owner Richard Bamber is also adding a drinks event to the menu- taking place on the last Friday of every month with customers offered a glass of fizz or beer with free nibbles He has been able to branch out after taking a leap of faith during the pandemic and closing the cafe for five months in 2020 the venue underwent a major transformation taking it from a 16-seater venue to a 40-seater The kitchen was extended into the garden and the staircase moved to allow for more seating with the upstairs now available to hire for events The patio in the garden was overhauled and the entire building repainted It reopened in May 2021 as Roasted Café and is still run by Richard and his family said: "I was born in Westminster and grew up in Cheltenham and got into cooking as all the family are great cooks so it's in our blood." He previously owned an ice cream van and property maintenance company before stepping into the cafe business During lockdown the eaterie survived by selling items that were in high demand and short supply "Our best seller is our chicken bacon and avocado sandwich and I can't not mention our quarter or half rotisserie chicken wraps and salads and a few customer favourites such as the chilli 'Connor' carne There is a separate takeaway menu and orders can be made directly twitch the cafe or through Deliveroo and Just Eat A Gloucestershire restaurant opened by a former England Rugby star and TV celebrity has ceased trading 3 restaurant in Cheltenham said it has been forced to close due to soaring costs The restaurant moved to The Merryfellow in Charlton Kings near Cheltenham last summer Vickery was a celebrity Masterchef contestant and has also appeared on a number TV programmes A spokesman for The Merryfellow announced with “deep regret” that the business had ceased trading and is in the process of applying for insolvency The business blamed the cost-of-living crisis “astronomic increases” in energy bills and hit out at a lack of Government support Founder and co-owner Phil Vickery said: “We are very sad to have reached this point and to have had to decide to cease trading “Like so many other establishments operating in the hospitality sector and a lack of support from the Government for the sector have sector have had a devastating effect on trade.” He added: “I would though like to thank our fantastic team of staff and loyal customers for all their support.” The business was a co-venture between the owners chef Tom Rains and Phil Vickery who wore the number three rugby shirt that gave the restaurant its name Vickery also launched his own clothing line called Raging Bull By Sarah Wood | 30th June 2023 The restaurant co-owned by former international rugby player No. 3 Restaurants is set to move from its current location in Royal Crescent Cheltenham to the Merryfellow Pub in Charlton Kings The move is driven by the need to deliver a stronger food and drink offering in a larger and more adaptable setting 3 Restaurants will close after Sunday lunch service this Sunday (July 2) which will be named No.3 @ The Merryfellow will open on a date to be confirmed around the middle of July There will be a staggered opening of the new restaurant pub and lounges will open for Wednesday to Saturday and Sunday lunch The terrace kitchen will provide a menu of light bites This will be followed with the opening of the 55-cover restaurant in September It initially operated from Brickhampton Golf Club opening and closing as Covid restrictions dictated who wore the number 3 shirt (the inspiration behind the business name) and won Celebrity MasterChef in 2011 Tom Rains said: "Capacity has been an issue for us at Royal Crescent for some time The 36-cover restaurant is often full to capacity and the kitchen is small and doesn't do the team or business justice even gaining planning permission - but expansion costs spiralled and restrictions materialised with the building "This prompted the search for new premises and we are absolutely delighted to be moving to our new home at The Merryfellow 3 Restaurants is already busy on-site at The Merryfellow building a new open plan kitchen for the restaurant and Terrace Kitchen and re-decorating the building throughout No.3 Restaurants currently employs a small team who runs most of the behind-the-scenes operations and general manager Phil Vickery MBE said: "We are excited about embarking on this next Chapter for No We are delighted to have been able to find these new premises and we are very much looking forward to breathing a new lease of life into the Merryfellow and becoming part of the Charlton Kings community" For more information, go to https://www.no3restaurants.com. The business is currently recruiting for a junior chef, front of house, bar staff and servers. Anyone interested in applying, should email their CV and application to hello@no3restaurants.com The summary is that there are two grounds to seek review  The first is that the officers made an error in law in their treatment of the highway's impact of the application  The second concerns the lack of consideration given to the impact on a neighbouring grade 2 listed building (Langton Lodge) This is an opportunity to bring the whole application and design back into the planning stage and to preferably reduce the size of the proposed building to a more appropriate level We are taking a modular approach to the process to ensure each step is appropriate and to minimize cost and risk we are seeking to fund a Pre Application Protocol (PAP) letter setting out the position to the Council and then a legal opinion on the response to that letter We have a target of £3,600 to produce and serve the pre-application protocol and a stretch target of £5,000 which would cover the cost of the advice leading from the responses to the PAP  as well is designed to dominate the area; apparently to provide an impressive entrance into Cheltenham It does that at the expense of the community that lives here Thank you for reading this and thank you very much for contributing to this effort to protect our community There are no public comments on this case page Gloucestershire-based fashion brand Holland Cooper has launched a brand new boutique in Cheltenham Designer fashion brand Holland Cooper’s new Cheltenham boutique has finally been unveiled ahead of its opening this October 2021 – and the SoGlos team were some of the first invited guests to see the stunning retail space The Gloucestershire-born fashion house was launched by designer Jade Holland Cooper in 2008 and the new boutique on the outskirts of Cheltenham will be only the second Holland Cooper store – with the other being at Bicester Village shopping outlet the store officially launches on Thursday 14 October 2021 and will be open 10am to 6pm Wednesday to Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays The new fashion boutique will showcase the brand’s staples from equestrian wear to its luxurious Studio collection as well as a host of new launches – including the first ever official Holland Cooper Boot Room The boutique has been curated to allow shoppers to drift between collections With a luxurious design crafted with custom-made fittings and furnishings to complement Holland Cooper’s portfolio of lifestyle collections shoppers will also be able to pre-order Holland Cooper products at the boutique too The Holland Cooper Cheltenham boutique is located at Cotswold House and officially opens on Thursday 14 October 2021 By Matt Hall | 22nd September 2020 A well-known Gloucestershire forecourt operator has announced the purchase of a garage in Charlton Kings East End Services on London Road was previously operated as a Gulf garage but the forecourt and convenience store will be transformed into a BP site under Gardner Garages The store is undergoing refurbishment over the coming weeks in line with new branding to offer a complete range of hot food we are pleased to have completed on the deal today for East End Services Work has already begun on the sites conversion to BP "Paul Carr of Carr Stocktakers helped with the smooth takeover with the excellent stock take at 6am and Bowsher's were onsite early this morning to work their magic in transforming the shop "An exciting two weeks lie ahead in bringing this iconic site to life." By Richard Wright | 18th October 2021 There are calls for a road name next to a new £30 million school in Gloucestershire to be changed whose daughter is looking at going to the school next year says the new school opening could be a catalyst for residents to have a vote on a new name that is more suitable Paul McKenna said: "It occurred to me that Kidnappers' Lane is an outdated and unfortunate name for a main access road next to a school The new school creates the impetus for the lane to possibly re-brand and may also be a win-win for house prices." currently under construction to meet a shortfall in pupil places at secondary level particularly in the south of Cheltenham It had its first intake of 120 year seven pupils this September temporarily accommodated at the existing Balcarras school site in Charlton Kings but in September 2022 construction will be complete at the new purpose-built campus across town at the adjoining Farm Lane A total of 240 pupils year eight and year seven pupils will be the first to start in the new buildings in 2022 Most will be making their way to and from school along Kidnappers Lane Paul said: "It's quite a dark road in parts and calling it Kidnappers' Lane when there are secondary school kids walking down there He is imagining that other parents and residents might feel the same There is a minimum threshold to change a name but he's hoping there might be enough traction to lobby the council for a name change in advance of the latest pavement improvements and 2022 opening ceremony Renaming or renumbering streets will only be considered by the Council for a few specific reasons • A minimum of two thirds of the occupants of the street submit a request • In the interests of public or highway safety • If there is evidence of a serious problem due to similar names or the location of a property in a street Residents of a street who wish a name to be changed can petition the Council who will judge the case on its merits As to what it should be called the rules say that names should have a local connection Names of living or deceased people should be avoided and should not have a commercial connection or be duplicated in the same postcode district Details about renaming streets can be found at streetnaming@cheltenham.gov.uk Adding to the town's burgeoning restaurant scene is set to open in Charlton Kings this summer Charlton Kings will soon be home to an exciting new eatery a 40-seat restaurant that’s set to open in summer 2018 The Looking Glass is an exciting new venture from the husband and wife team behind Sixways Wine Bar who have paired up with chef and patron Leon Rook to open the new venue in the Sixways area Placing an emphasis on using quality produce from the Cotswolds The Looking Glass champions ‘Farm to Fork’ cooking local and foraged produce that will be prepared using traditional and modern cooking methods The Looking Glass team uncovered unusual features when converting the building into a restaurant; unveiling old butchers tiles hooks and other quirky elements that have been creatively integrated into the restaurant’s design Inspiration for the name came through researching Charlton Kings’ history and finding out that Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s story was written when he was staying in Cudnall Street the owners said: ‘This perfectly reflected our vision and concept for the restaurant which traces the journey of our food to then be inventively and responsibly transformed into delicious dishes for the table.’ The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response I have spoken to senior Severn Trent Water today about this serious incident It is very concerning that children have had to be sent home from school and so many local residents' lives seriously disrupted STW assured me that 95% of schools and households now have water again and several local heads I have contacted have confirmed that their schools have indeed been reconnected I have made clear to Severn Trent that there needs to be an *urgent investigation* into what led to this burst trunk main what will be done to stop this happening again I have been assured I will be provided with a full explanation shortly We are happy to confirm that whilst the repair is ongoing all customers should now see their water supply slowly returning to normal Our team will continue to work hard at repairing this issue We'll update this page when the repair is complete Thank you again for your patience whilst we worked on resolving this issue Your supply could be back on earlier than we originally expected although it may be intermittent for a time You may find that your water is slightly discoloured at first If you run your cold kitchen tap gently for about twenty minutes Our team are continuing to work hard on the repair whilst the repair is underway we will be moving water around our network to ensure as many customers as possible are on supply Most customers should now find their water supplies has returned to normal We will be working as quickly as possible to have all our customers back on supply Thank you for your continued patience whilst we get the repair fixed Repairs are underway and some customers in this area should notice their water supply is slowly returning to normal Our team are working hard to get everyone back on supply as soon as possible Whilst repairs are ongoing some customers may experience discoloured water due to the works being carried out. This is nothing to worry about. However, for more information about this please see the following link: https://bit.ly/2JUgzOV School closed today due to water supply issues Our team have located the burst pipe on Brookfield Road The team are on site and are already hard at work with the repairs and are hoping to have everybody back on supply as soon as possible Thank you for your patience whilst we get this sorted We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause No water supply - burst water main locally The school is closed due to no water supply Update (9:04): We have been informed the water supply may return by 13:00 so the school will remain closed for the remainder of Thursday 30th September Our engineers are in your area and have identified an issue that needs fixing We may need to isolate the water in your area for a short period of time whilst we carry out the repair Unfortunately due to a water supply issue in the local area the school has had to close for today (Thursday Work for your child will be set for the day via We will update you during the course of the day We are aware some customers living within the GL53 area of Cheltenham may be experiencing poor or no supply currently This is due to a burst water pipe on our network Our teams are on site now working hard to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible We are sorry for any disruption this may cause We are aware of a burst in Cheltenham affecting customers It appears there is an issue with low water pressure in our postcode at the moment Severn Trent are aware and say 'engineers are on their way' to resolve this we have water in school but the pressure is low we just wanted to let you know we've identified an issue in your area which may be impacting your water supply at the moment Our engineers are on the way and we are working really hard to resolve this We will send you further updates as soon as we can We'll also make sure there are regular updates on www.stwater.co.uk 30 SEP 2021BookmarkVideo LoadingVideo UnavailableClick to playTap to playThe video will auto-play soon8CancelPlay nowThe water supply has returned to homes across Cheltenham after a huge leak cut supplies this morning (Thursday The taps started to run dry shortly after 7.30am with some schools closing in Charlton Kings and around Warden Hill and Up Hatherley The source of problem was located in a field in Churchdown where a 24-inch water mains burst Water was seen bubbling up through the ground and pouring down towards the M5 as Severn Trent workers arrived on the scene Most people got their water back from around noon Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk has called for an 'urgent investigation' by Severn Trent into the cause of the leak that caused schools to close Get the best stories about the things you love most curated by us and delivered to your inbox every day. Choose what you love here The Cheltenham MP wants a full explanation after water leak causes schools to close An alternative view of the water leak has just been uploaded to the top of this article a leak in a field off Brookfield Road left 7,000 homes without running water You can see our report from the time here Top tips from Severn Trent here about what happens after water returns A resident of the GL51 area has tweeted to say that his water supply has returned which Severn Trent Water said was "great to hear" Supply is still expected to return to the area around 1pm Taps are flowing once again in parts of Up Hatherley Whilst repairs are ongoing some customers may experience discoloured water due to the works being carried out. This is nothing to worry about. However, for more information about this please see the following link: https://bit.ly/2JUgzOV Here is everything we know about the water supply issues affecting Cheltenham this morning Text from seven Trent hopefully repaired and back to normal by 1pm People have been heading to Morrisons in Up Hatherley to stock up on bottled water Bettridge School in Warden Hill Road is also shut: Cheltenham Campus is OPEN today and our water is currently running as normal.Keep an eye on the website and social media channels for updates.#Cheltenham pic.twitter.com/5evyggV0vl This message is on the school's website Longstanding Gloucestershire estate agency is now under the ownership of Alexander & Co – with wider marketing exposure and upgraded digital systems some of the improvements local customers can expect one of the biggest estate agents in the south east has taken over ownership of prominent Gloucestershire estate agency Peter Ball & Co Set up by husband-and-wife Peter Ball and Linda Ball 25 years ago the well-known estate agency has five branches across Bishops Cleeve which will now all form part of the Alexander & Co family staff and contact details will all be retained and customers can still expect great face-to-face service at each of the local offices Alexander & Co currently employs over 120 staff and represents over 3,500 buyers and sellers In the last 18 months it has sold 500 homes at a value of £165 million and generated £21 million in rental income the acquisition of Peter Ball sees the company expand into Gloucestershire for the first time in its 50th anniversary year Paul Broomham said: ‘This is a great opportunity for us to build on the reputation that Peter Ball has established over more than two decades and help the business in the Cheltenham area to flourish and grow ‘It was the great people and reputation that attracted us to Peter Ball and having the agency as part of our wider estate agent family gives us a physical footprint in the Gloucestershire area ‘It will allow us to offer customers in the region access to Alexander & Co’s established network and systems as well as expanding the range of services available to them ‘We’ve now upgraded the digital systems and so customers will be able to access more online support and facilities as well as additional services that will help ease their property journey.’ Peter Ball said: ‘In a world where modern technology is on the rise we’ve never lost sight of the fact that it’s real people with real families and real lives ‘Working with a company like Alexander & Co who shares our ethos will only enhance the ways that we can serve our clients and enable us to become stronger together.’ For more information, visit peterball.co.uk and alexanderandco.co.uk