A century ago Southwick had four public houses, The Royal Oak, the Fleur-de Lys, the White Swan and the New Inn.

The oldest pub in the village was the Fleur-de-lys, which was open until the 1960s. The pub was down a lane off the main road with a sign on the road, shown in our archive picture. Named after a French lily, it was demolished to make way for Fleur de Lys Drive and the Chantry Gardens housing estate.

Further down Frome Road was the New Inn, later the Axe & Cleaver, which has also now been demolished. Its last owners were Ted and Sue Dade, who reopened it in 2006, converting it back from a Chinese restaurant.

Today only one pub remains, The Farmhouse Inn.