• WELCOME TO THE BLUE BALL AT KINTBURY • 

The Story So Far... 

In late 2007 Stuart and Marie Hunter acquired the long-term lease for The Blue Ball. Researching the locale they knew the historic and picturesque village of Kintbury to be located in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and a coveted place, having recently appeared in The Sunday Times Top 20 Most Desirable UK Villages survey. 

The couple bring with them vast experience in the licensed and catering trades. They have striven to engender a warm, welcoming and friendly environment in which to invite sociable and discerning customers. Stuart, with his passion for food, runs the kitchen and all matters culinary whilst Marie, with her effervescent personality, runs the front of house.

During the first 20 months of their tenure marked improvements to the pub have been accomplished. A brand new state of the art kitchen was installed and a new range of menus created, served on a daily basis. The wine list was overhauled; the real ale offering was expanded and regular guest ales from local breweries were introduced.

Last winter log burning stoves were commissioned in order to create a comfortable environment during the chillier months.

Spring 2009 saw the completion of their most ambitious project – the fashioning of a brand new forty-seat restaurant overlooking a spacious, newly created, sun terrace. 

The terrace may possibly be positioned over the tunnels, once used by highwaymen that connect the nearby St Mary’s church to the pub. Indeed The Blue Ball has a rich history and was the headquarters of the agricultural disturbances of the early nineteenth century known as the Machine or Kintbury Riots. Most of the leaders of these disenchanted rioting agricultural workers were discovered and apprehended at the pub. They were later sentenced to death but all but one, were later reprieved and transported for life instead. The grave of the hanged man, William Winterbourne, was discovered on the south west side of the churchyard in 1984.

Why not pop in and contribute to the latest chapter in the history of The Blue Ball? You will be assured of a warm welcome from Stuart, Marie and the now, thankfully, peaceable locals!

 

(Local history information source: David Nash Ford’s excellent web site http://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/kintbury.html)