The Kings Head in Bishop’s Cleeve, a charming thatched pub near Cheltenham, has just had its roof re-thatched for the first time in 35 years. Remarkably, the roof was restored by the same two men who originally carried out the work in 1991.
The pub, one of only six thatched establishments in Gloucestershire and among around 500 across the UK, dates back to the 15th century. It has been under the dedicated stewardship of landlady Rachel Baird since February 2007.
The thatched roof remains a defining feature of the family-friendly pub, and its recent renovation has drawn significant attention. The two craftsmen responsible, Bill Taylor and Simon Holloway, returned to the Kings Head to refresh their previous handiwork. Notably, Simon, who is now 67 and had retired from thatching eight years ago, came out of retirement to oversee the project.
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Back in 1991, both Bill and Simon were in their 30s when they last worked on the roof. Simon, who had planned to enjoy retirement with travel, was persuaded to return after a chance encounter with Rachel’s father, Andrew. Reflecting on his return, Simon said: “It seemed like a good idea at the time! I’ve really enjoyed myself, so I’m glad I did it. You just wonder where the years have gone. You never think you’ve got old, but 35 years is a long time.”
Bill, now 60, added: “It’s been good fun, reminiscing on stories. And it’s been a lovely summer. We haven’t had a single day off since April 1 due to bad weather. It hasn’t rained once.”
The pair, who have worked together on thatching projects since 1989, have spent the past two months at the Kings Head, working seven days a week to restore the roof to its former glory. Bill remarked on their return: “The building hasn’t really changed structurally, so it was easy to come back to it. It’s just got a nicer landlady this time,” he joked.
Between them, Bill and Simon have amassed a total of 95 years of thatching experience. Simon added: “We’ve worked together since 1989, so we know each other’s work inside-out. I don’t have to look across and think about what he’s doing.”
Simon has one final thatching job to complete at a cottage in Chipping Campden before fully retiring. He praised the hospitality at the Kings Head, saying: “We’ve been really well looked after by the team here, it’s been fun. I’d recommend coming to visit the pub, it’s really good.”
Landlady Rachel, 47, praised the craftsmanship: “It’s a work of art, what they’ve done. It’s absolutely fascinating. It’s created a lot of interest, the number of people who have stopped and watched and been entertained by it. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback, people have nothing but good things to say. It’s the heart of the community, at the end of the day, so it needed to look right.”
Rachel was thrilled to learn that Simon was coming out of retirement to help with the re-thatching. She explained: “I was absolutely over the moon to hear that Simon was coming back. It was just amazing. It’s history, really. I had quite a few people come out to quote, and then I found Bill and desperately wanted him to do it, but he needed somebody to help him. Simon knew my dad and they bumped into each other, and that’s how he got involved. I got the people that I wanted. They’ve been absolutely fantastic, they’re both now part of the family. They’re really nice chaps, very polite, we’ve had a lot of giggles, and they work extremely hard. It looks amazing.”
Looking ahead, Rachel reflects on her approaching 20-year anniversary at the pub next February: “Lots of things have changed, but I think we’ve moved with the times. I’d like to think that we’ve kept our finger on the pulse a little bit and kept it interesting. The village has changed, it’s got a lot bigger, which is good. We’ve still got the same customers here from 20 years ago, though. Everyone is very loyal.”
She added: “I personally love the community feel of it all, all the customers and staff. I wouldn’t still be here if they weren’t so lovely. It’s a really nice family atmosphere. There’s so much negativity around hospitality, all you hear about is pubs shutting. But I wouldn’t have invested if I wasn’t 150% sure that it was going to be worth doing. You’re not getting rid of me anytime soon, I’m not going anywhere.”
The Kings Head remains open daily from 9am to 11pm, continuing to serve as a beloved community hub with a beautifully restored thatched roof.