About Micropubs

Micropubs are springing up all over the UK. A Micropub is a small freehouse which listens to its customers, mainly serves cask ales, cider, wines and no draught lagers, promotes conversation, shuns all forms of electronic entertainment and dabbles in traditional pub snacks. For more information see micropubassociation.co.uk.

So why The King’s Ditch?

Well it goes back to the very origins of the name Tamworth, they add the worth bit in the name, meaning enclosure, Tamworth = enclosure by the River Tame.

The enclosure in this case consisted of a broad ditch and bank, known variably as the King´s Ditch or Offa´s Dyke or Walferlong. Similar Saxon earthworks and fortifications have been measured at upto 50 ft wide.

The King’s Ditch was still visible and cleared identified on maps in the 19th Century. By 1884 the eastern ditch had disappeared.

Alignment of Ditch shown as dotted line.

The Northern line has been placed at approximately between 51 Lower Gungate and Bell Corner. From the various historical reports we have found the Ditch may date to either King Aethelfaed’s or King Offa’s rule — that’s over a thousand years ago and well before the castle or church were built.

About us

The King’s Ditch was setup by Dave Barnfield, Ade Smith and Ged Fisher. Formerly a cycle shop, after renovation we opened for business on 27th November 2014. It was Ged’s dream from Christmas 2013 to open a micropub, having been to several in Kent, that September.  The premises were found in June 14 and lease signed in October, it took 5 weeks to lay the floor, get the stillage, build the benches (with thanks to John Deeming), source tables and chairs, install the cooling system. Oh and get the Beers and Ciders.

We have a passion for real ale and cider, having been keen followers of the local football team, and Camra members, we have been in many pubs on away days and drunk many pints of good and not so good beers. We thought that we might be able to supplement the beers sold by other establishments in Tamworth. Our aim is to complement the two or three other pubs that sell real ales in the town by using different breweries and beers to the other pubs, the main aim is LocALE from small micropubs that produce a good standard of ales.

Dave decided early in 2015 that working behind the bar wasn’t for him, so he left the company, so Ade orders the beers, and Ged looks after the cider and other items. We jointly run the pub.

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