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The Dyke's End at Reach

 

The Dyke’s End at Reach lies at the northern tip of the Devil’s Dyke, a remarkable feat of Saxon engineering. Some seven miles long and as straight as a flush, it is a popular walk and hikers in need of refreshment invariably find their way to the pub - a car park for walkers is situated in the village.

The Dyke’s End at Reach (previously known as The King’s) was given its memorable name in the 1990's by the village shareholders who bought the freehold rather than see their only village pub close and revert back to a private dwelling. Within living memory the Dyke’s End at Reach was the farm house of one of several working farms in the village, while ale was supplied by a clutch of cottage ale-houses.

Those ale-houses have long been closed and the Dyke’s End at Reach, along with the church and the Village Centre, finds itself at the heart of village life as well as being a destination venue for people who travel some remarkable distances to enjoy our good food and home-brewed ales.

Since 2003 the Dyke’s End at Reach has been owned by us, Frank Feehan and Simon Owers. Our ambition has been to create the sort of pub that we find hard to find in an industry now dominated by pub companies and greedy breweries. Things that you will not find here are paper ‘serviettes’, sachets of ketchup, alco-pops, piped music, games machines, a children’s menu, micro-waved food from chilled-van suppliers, or any of a number of the modern ruinations that you will find in most pubs today.

Instead, you'll find candle light, a glowing fire (when needed), scrubbed tables, mismatched linen napkins, pub dachshunds (Banger and Butter), affordable high quality cooking (chefs, Gordon and Lloyd), a well kept cellar (maintenance, Joseph) and a formidable but unflappable bar manager (Glynis).

We also have a recently refurbished upstairs room which will comfortably accommodate up to 20 diners.

Undeniably quirky, and unashamedly out-of-step with the modern world, this is a pub created in our own image.

We'd love to welcome you to the Dyke's End at Reach.

Simon Owers

PS cIf you are looking for somewhere close by to stretch your legs either before or after coming to see us, then we can highly recommend Chippenham Park with its large country house, substantial gardens, lakes, woodland walks and parkland dating back to the 17th century.

PPS cYou may be interested in an article in the Sunday Times entitled Volunteers running the local pub? Pull the other one . . . by Clive Aslet. cWe get a mention in it "There is nowhere I would rather be than the Dyke's End at Reach . . . ." It's an interesting piece which you can download by clicking on this link - and the comments added on-line afterwards are worth reading too.