Our Pubs

Arkell's

The Rat Trap, Stratton St Margaret

Stratton St Margaret

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Host

Jess Coles

Where

Highworth Road,
Stratton St Margaret,
Swindon,
Wiltshire
SN3 4QS

Tel

(01793) 823282

    SERVING GREAT PUB FOOD, 7-DAYS-A-WEEK

    NOTE: our menus are subject to change, so please see our facebook for the latest updates or call us.

    > FACEBOOK

    Food serving times:
    Monday to Saturday: 12-2pm & 5-9pm
    Sunday: 12-4pm

    May be subject to change.

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    Fanny Stroud, the landlady of the Speed the Plough pub in Highworth Road, had a foolproof method for ensuring her customers paid their accounts promptly. She simply locked her customers in the pub on pay day until they paid up!

    Pretty soon the locals were calling the pub The Rat Trap and this nickname became so interchangable with its official name (usually shortened to The Plough) that even court records referred to both in 1875.

    Things are different now, of course! But traditionally this is still a pub that concentrates on serving good beer and proper pub food.

    - pub food & Sunday lunch
    - NEW FUNCTION ROOM ideal for parties incl. BBQs
    - SKY Sports
    - two bars
    - pub garden

    The first beerhouse here probably opened in the 1840s but by 1859 a new building had been erected by the owner, Thomas Stroud, and stayed in the family for exactly 40 years.

    Arkell's bought the pub in 1899 and until 1974 it was still called The Plough.

    Then, following refurbishment and the building of an extension, Arkell's decided to officially endorse the nickname that had stayed with the pub for so long. The Rat Trap won the day at last.

    An unusual Pied Piper motif in the carpet of the lounge echoes the story.

    The Rat Trap has always retained its popularity with Stratton residents and, standing on the main road to Highworth from Swindon and close to the Stratton by-pass that links Swindon and the M4 with Cirencester, it is also a handy place for travellers to break their journeys.

    These days the landlord is under strict instructions to lock the doors only after the customers have left!

    Current vacancies

    "Being a Licensee is a fine and rewarding job", says Chris, and it helps that the Arkell’s directors are approachable. "We had a lot of help and they provide us with regular information, but ultimately it's up to us."

    Chris Manners is the Licensee of three Arkell’s pubs. The Rusty Bicycle, The Rickety Press and The Bottle of Sauce