Arkell’s home page – pub accommodation, food and drink in the south of England
  • Host:
  • Mrs Catherine Kelly and John Bristow
  • Where:
  • Beechcroft Road
  • Upper Stratton
  • Swindon
  • Wiltshire SN2 6RE
  • Telephone:
  • (01793) 832227
  • Facilities:
  • Car Park
  • Garden Or Patio
  • Pub Food
  • Map:
  • Click Here for a Map to The Bakers Arms, Upper Stratton

The Bakers Arms, Upper Stratton

The Bakers Arms, Upper Stratton - Click to enlarge The Bakers Arms, Upper Stratton - Click to enlarge The Bakers Arms, Upper Stratton - Click to enlarge The Bakers Arms, Upper Stratton - Click to enlarge The Bakers Arms, Upper Stratton - Click to enlarge The Bakers Arms, Upper Stratton - Click to enlarge

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'The Bakers' celebrated a century of ownership by Arkell's in 1996, but it was built back in 1847 by William Slade of Moredon. He also owned The Red Lion (now renamed The Boundary House) even though by trade he was a butcher!

The butcher sold it to a baker and in 1866 the proprietor was William Perrin. He - like many Victoria bakers - offered a valuable service to the local community who would take along their own bread to bake in his oven.

Unfortunately, Mr Perrin also sold them beer to drink with their Sunday dinners which landed him with a hefty fine. The local constable solved the crime when he discovered beer mugs hidden in the oven! It is not recorded when The Bakers finally stopped making bread.

It was surely only a matter of time before John Arkell bought the pub as only the Kingsdown Inn is closer to the brewery and Arkell's also own a row of cottages adjacent to the pub.

A major renovation in 1956 and an extension in 1984 have brought the Bakers Arms up-to-date - but not too up-to-date. This is a no-frills pub and as such belongs to a rare breed of traditional British locals that you will find nowhere else in the world.