Ruardean Woodhouse is a straggling settlement half a mile to the south of Ruardean. The Roebuck was situated just above from the Memorial Hall in Forest Road, directly opposite Chase View Cottage. The site of the Roebuck is now occupied by a residential development called Roebuck Meadows.
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The Bradley family were the owner occupiers of the Roebuck in 1891 and 1903 when the pub was free of brewery tie. Enoch Bradley was the owner and landlord in 1891, and John Bradley succeeded him in 1903. The Roebuck was a beer house and had an annual rateable value of £18.0s.0d. Closing time was at 10 pm. It seems that the Bradley family sold the Roebuck to the Alton Court Brewery in Ross on Wye. Stroud Brewery acquired the business in 1956 and the Roebuck sold Cotswold Beers brewed by the Stroud Brewery until closure.
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The Lydney Observer, 5th January 1990 – Another pub to close? Villagers at Ruardean Woodside may soom be losing a pub, but gaining a car park for their village hall. Brewers Whitbreads have submitted a planning application to the Forest of Dean District Council to erect 12 dwellings on land at the Roebuck Inn, Ruardean Woodside. They have also submitted a plan to construct a new car park at Ruardean Woodside’s Memorial Hall.
The Citizen: Thursday, January 18th, 1990 – Pub fear laid at brewers’ door: Brewing giants Whitbread have been criticised, for failing to invest in a Ruardean Woodside pub threatened with closure this year. Drybrook parish council has registered a complaint about the impending loss of the Roebuck Inn with Forest of Dean District Council planners. “The brewers are basically to blame for the loss of this local amenity because they let it run down and now it can’t survive,” said Councillor Sandy McDonagh. The council agreed in principle to a Whitbread plan to convert the site into 12 new flats, despite worries about access and noise. But Coun. McDonagh said the closure would hit the local community spirit. “I’ve heard a lot of talk about ‘incomers’ moving into the village and not getting involved in local activities, but with the pub closing where can they get involved?”, he said.
Roebuck landlady Mandy Baldwin said: “Perhaps the brewery didn’t do as much as they could, but I don’t think they can be blamed for the closure. There’s just no money to be made in village pubs.” She leaves in February.
Last orders were called for the very last time at the Roebuck on Wednesday 28th February 1990. Licensee Peter Baldwin had to leave because of perceived lack of trade despite the fact that the Roebuck was packed from 3.30 pm to early next morning on the last day of opening.
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Landlords of the Roebuck include:
1891 Enoch Bradley
1903 John Bradley
1939 Albert Marfell
1968 Graham and Joan Roberts
1990 Peter & Mandy Baldwin