The Royal Hop Pole is a historic coaching inn on the main street, one of Tewkesbury's more atmospheric drinking spots. The building dates from the medieval period and retains its old bones behind a Georgian facade. The bar is comfortable and unpretentious, and the inn serves food throughout the day.
Its main claim to fame is the Dickens connection — the inn features in The Pickwick Papers and the association is faithfully maintained in the decor and marketing. This kind of literary tourism can be either charming or tiresome depending on your tolerance, but the pub itself is worth a visit regardless of the Pickwick angle.