The Blue Lias Inn is a beautiful canalside pub located next to the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, between the villages of Stockton and Long Itchington. We have a large garden where, in the summer, you can enjoy a pint and a meal next to the canal. The gardens are well kept throuout the year and are stocked with colourful flowers in the summer.

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How to find us

We are located next to the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, between the villages of Stockton and Long Itchington. From the A423 between Coventry and Southam take the minor road towards Stockton from the village of Long Itchington. From the A426 Rugby to Southam road take the minor road towards Long Itchington at the crossroads about 2 miles from Southam. See a map of the area.

History

The inn was originally an 18th century farmhouse. It is haunted by the ghost of a red-haired farm labourer who was killed by the enraged farmer who returned from market one day to find his wife in bed with the red haired farmhand. It first became an inn when the early canal travellers stopped for evening refreshment and overnight stabling for their horses.

The pub sign features the dinosaur you can see at the top of this page. The Blue Lias Inn is named after the limestone/clay which is quarried locally and used in the production of cement. These rocks date from the early Jurassic period (just over 200 million years ago) and stretch in a band from Dorset on the South coast of England (where the blue lias cliffs are famous among fossil hunters), to the Cleveland hills in the north east. The Brontosaurus on the Inn's signpost is a reminder of the time when the blue lias rocks were laid down in the early Jurassic seas, and dinosaurs roamed the countryside. Fossils of marine dinosaurs have been found in local quarries.

A piece of blue lias, complete with fossil, can be seen in the pub's fireplace.

Surrounding area

There are many delightful walks in the area and the Blue Lias is the ideal place to enjoy a meal and a drink at the end of your walk. We are right next to Bridge 23 on the Grand Union, which is at the bottom of the Stockton Flight of locks. If you enjoy watching other people work you can take a walk up the towpath and see the canal folk and holiday-makers taking their boats through the locks.

Stockton reservoir is situated directly behind the Blue Lias Inn. It is a 66 peg match fishing venue and day ticket water. Carp are the main fish, but the water also contains chub, tench, roach etc. There is a large car park with excellent access to the lake for the disbled. Three pegs are specially built for wheelchairs. To book matches contact British Waterways on 01827 252000. For further details email or telephone the Blue Lias Inn on 01926 812249. Day tickets are £6.00 per day (OAPs and concessionary £5.00 per day) payable on the bank. Breakfast bookings can be made for large groups. Telephone 01926 812249