Swindon pub The Stripey Badger to host first family fun day

Callum Forbes only opened The Stripey Badger pub to the public in October 2025, but has already gained huge support from the local community.

The pub was formerly known as The Crumpled Horn and had been boarded up in 2023 due to crime, but was then given a new name, refurbishment and a whole new lease of life.

Now, the pub will host its first family fun day on Saturday, May 16, marking the first time the lawn outside the pub has been put into use in years.

Callum has only been serving Eldene's community for a little over six months, but says the event, which will donate 10 per cent of its proceeds to Prospect Hospice, is to honour his customers who have shared their touching stories.

Callum (left) pictured with Councillor Mike Davies ahead of the pub's opening (Image: The Stripey Badger)

"A lot of our customers have some family members that have passed or are currently dealing with Prospect Hospice," the landlord explained.

"It seems loss and hospice care is something in this area that a lot of people have had experience with and been affected by.

"One of our customers in particular, his wife died a couple of years ago and Prospect was there for them throughout everything.

"That's why we wanted to do this event to raise money for a charity that's so important to this community."

The Eldene pub has firm support from its local community (Image: Newsquest)

The Eldene pub has firm support from its local community (Image: Newsquest)

The event will include a funfair put on by SR Amusements, a barbecue, music and market stalls and is open to everyone across Swindon.

It will take place on Eldene Drive from midday until 5pm (with celebrations continuing later in the pub), and The Stripey Badger has paid for use of the large green space outside specifically for this event.

There are still some spaces available for market stall holders, with stalls priced at £10 each, and the pub is expecting a big turnout after 1500 people attended its previous firework night.

"It's taken us just over a month to plan it all and it is a milestone event for us as a pub. We've never done something quite like this," the landlord explained.

"We're currently the only people that are using the green and doing something with it too, so it's really all about bringing the community together in a community space and having fun while raising money at the same time."