Shame its been demolished for road improvements . Stopped there a few times in the past . We both had a pub lunch there after we bought Stanley our bus from South Cerney near Cirencester . A nice atmosphere to classic pub . To many are disappearing The Air Balloon Pub was at the top of steep Crickley hill on the A 517 off the M5
I sat in traffic in a huge queue down to the mini roundabout outside that pub from the A40 link that skirts Cheltenham. A hot summer day, easing a T2 through multiple clutch and gear moves..... No tears from me!
Tbh although the pub was in a great location and sad to see a historic venue disappear, it wasn’t actually a good pub imo. Traffic around there could be atrocious so maybe it’s not such a bad thing
Been going in since the early 70’s. Went in just after covid and it was dead. The food was good but it was quiet. The new road might be a result of the ongoing campaign by the villagers of Nettleton who’ve wanted a bypass for years. Will the dogging site still be there @Barry Haynes ?
It’s a very sleepy place on the edge of the Cotswolds with fantastic road links…. You can read the listing already
Birdlip is the hill going up to Birdlip ....Crickley hill is the one going up to the Air Balloon .The old address for the pub mentions it . That said i have heard it been called Birdlip . The O.S. prints it Crickley and Birdlip on the yellow road slightly south .
When it first opened in 1777 it was called The New Inn . The name changed to The Air Balloon to celebrate the first pioneering flights by hot air balloon in 1780's
If you need to travel between Cirencester and Cheltenham or Gloucester it's probably quicker to go by hot air balloon..........
You would actually been better going up the Birdlip hill to avoid the traffic ...bet locals used the small yellow rd . judging from the map it looks just as steep .
