Our Opening Hours
While in Tier 2
Monday - Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday - Saturday
12 - 10pm
Food served 12 - 8pm
Sunday
12 - 6pm
Food served 12 - 4pm
From the past to
the present
Winter or Summer the Le De is the perfect pub to relax in. Our large garden is child friendly and dogs are welcome provided they are on a lead. When the nights draw in the open fire and low beamed ceilings provide a warm and cosy atmosphere.
The large car park is fenced off from the garden.
View our images below
The unique name of Le De Spencers Arms is down to Francis Dashwood who became the 15th Baron le Despencer and within whose estate the pub lies
Hogarth's portrayal of Dashwood depicts his rakish reputation
T
The Village Pub With A Unique Sign
There appears then to be a typo in the our village pub's sign or at least a misunderstanding of its meaning. The title of 'Baron le Despencer' describes the role of its early holders, that of dispensing funds or services on behalf of the King.
Francis Dashwood who while in Parliament held the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer and on leaving took on the title Baron le Despencer. Dashwood's name will always be linked to that of the infamous Hell Fire Club associated with orgies and devil worship. There is not doubt a great deal of myth surrounding Dashwood's life and promiscuous behaviour but the allegations of devil worship may have had more to do with his parties designed to lampoon Catholicism which he opposed particularly in early days as Jacobite.
Golfing links
You may pass a terrace and pair of cottages on your way to visit the 'Le De' called Golf Links Cottages and Golf Link Villas and wondered, with no flag to be seen how they came by those names?
Between the wars that part of Downley Common which is still largely open today was a nine hole golf course and opposite the gates to the course used to stand a pub called The Golf Links. Some years ago Frank Hyde 0ne of our old regulars, left a pencil sketch in the pub of the course layout as it was in 1939. That layout is replicated alongside.
At one time customers may have been leaning over the front gate watching play on the fairway to the eighth hole.
The Golf Links pub.
You can see other old Downley photographs and watercolours in the Le De.
Click on the Downley golf course drawing above to view it larger