Page 16 - Wokingham's Closed Pubs and Breweries as A5 booklet

The timber-framed 15th and 16th century buildings that make up much of
present-day Bush Walk were previously part of the Bush Hotel. The earliest
reference to a licenced property was in 1700 and it was run by a Mrs
Simpson and owned by a local brewer John Hawes, although there is some
evidence that an earlier Busshe existed in 1562. After being a stagecoach inn
for 100 years, by 1901 it had become a hotel.

The Bush Hotel closed in 1986 and has now transmuted into the Bush Walk
shopping arcade. The pub-like sign is clear to see, although the design is very
modern.

Cross over the road turning left with the Town Hall on your right-hand side
and walk towards W H Smith/Post Office:-

22. King’s Head, 26-28 Market Place c1700 – 1852, now T G Jones/Post
Office.

This was where the Post Office is now, and if you look up above the entrance
you will see the following: -

William Churchman was the last licensee of this pub. Previously; Joe
Rushton had been the licensee for 35 years. A stagecoach operated from The
King’s Head and, supposedly, King George II visited Wokingham in the
eighteenth century to see the baiting of the bull in the Market Place and
stayed at this pub.

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