The Hollow Bottom, a renowned pub nestled in the Cotswolds village of Temple Guiting, has closed its doors with immediate effect. Long celebrated among horse racing enthusiasts, the pub was especially notable for hosting celebrations for Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National winners over the years.
On Monday, an official notice on The Hollow Bottom’s website confirmed the closure, stating: “Dear customers, The Hollow Bottom has now closed with effect from Sunday 8th June 2025. We would like to thank the local community for your support over the last three years. We will be in contact directly with all customers who have future bookings with us.”
The announcement did not suggest any plans for reopening, and customers seeking further details are directed to contact Youngs Pubs via email.
READ MORE: Cheltenham’s Beloved Burger Joint Teams Up for One-Day Food and Music Festival
READ MORE: ‘Time for Excuses is Over’: Lib Dems Urged to Reopen Cheltenham’s Swindon Road Recycling Centre
This is not the first sudden closure in the pub’s history. In 2019, landlord Hugh Kelly ended his 18-year tenure, temporarily closing the 17th-century establishment. The pub later reopened under the Lucky Onion Group, spearheaded by Julian Dunkerton, before being sold to Youngs in 2022. Since the acquisition, the new owners, Innkeeping Ltd, have reportedly been searching for a tenant to operate the venue.
The Hollow Bottom has long been regarded as a focal point for racing enthusiasts, especially during the Cheltenham Festival, when it is famously packed with punters. Self-styled as “the best racing pub in the world,” it also frequently serves as a broadcast hub for racing coverage, including BBC Radio 5 Live and Racing TV.
In 2022, the pub hosted a prominent racing panel ahead of the Festival, featuring well-known personalities like Alex Steedman, jockey Sam Twiston Davies, and Grand National winner Carl Llewellyn.
The sudden closure marks the end of an era for this cherished racing institution that has been a cornerstone of the Cheltenham racing scene for decades.