Memories Drivers mourn loss of Air Balloon pub at crash hotspot
DRIVERS everywhere are mourning the loss of the Air Balloon pub, which was demolished to make way for a major road redevelopment.
The landmark pub, which motorists say they stopped in on their way up and down the country, closed at the start of the year after the Missing Link project to build a dual carriageway between the M4 at Swindon and the M5 at Brockworth was given the go-ahead.
The pub, which stood at the roundabout where the A417 and A436 meet, was flattened over the weekend to much sadness from both locals and travellers alike.
To many, the historic pub signified the return home to Gloucestershire, while others say it marked the start of their holidays as they arrived in the county to visit.
Taking to social media, people shared their sadness over the loss of the pub, thought to be around 200 years old, and their memories visiting.
Hundreds of people responded to Gloucestershire Live’s post on Facebook last Saturday, including one person who said it had been “sad” to see the “huge changes” which have taken place along the route in recent months.
“Each day a bit more of the pub was gone and the rubble pile got bigger. Sad times,” they commented.
Another pub patron wrote: “So sad, 29 years ago my husband and I had our very first date here, still married 27 years later.”
For others, it marked a key part of long car journeys.
“Never went in there but I knew I was on my way to my holidays when we drove past it. I’ll need to find a new ‘landmark’ for going that way,” someone else wrote.
The £460 million project will see a new three-mile road built between the Air Balloon and Cowley roundabouts to provide an alternate route connecting the Midlands and the south of England.
The improvement works are hoped to relieve congestion in the area and reduce the number of crashes on the notorious stretch of road.
Photographs shared by local Julian Morris on Saturday, December 2, showed the demolition work in progress, with part of the landmark building knocked down and in pieces.
Julian wrote: “Very sad to see the pub being destroyed by a 360 this morning.
“A pub with so much history and was a famous coaching inn in days gone by. If this is progress I’m not sure if I like!”
More pub patrons shared their thoughts on the “great loss”.
“A proper landmark,” one wrote. “A pound every time I passed this to visit Wales or go shooting.”
Another added: “Loved that pub – such a shame. Remember driving past it as kids on the way back from our annual holiday at Bournemouth, so as an adult I would intentionally stop there for a quick bevvie and enjoy the nostalgia.”
“It’s so sad! This was my landmark as a child coming home from Surrey. Mum would say ‘we are at the Air Balloon, not far now,’” another wrote.
The building work is due to be complete in 2027 and National Highways recently shared a “key milestone” had been reached ahead of the ‘main build,’ which is expected to begin early in 2024.
The update read: “We’ve been working hard behind the scenes with local authorities and statutory bodies to ensure that planning conditions (requirements), as set out in our Development Consent Order, are met and signed-off (discharged) by the Secretary of State for Transport ahead of main construction.
“A key milestone for the project, this task has now been completed and means we can start the main build in early 2024.
“As we move towards this next phase you will start to see vegetation clearance along the route, which is being carried out under the watchful eye of a specialist clerk of works.”