Forest Green is a suburb of the Cotswold town of Nailsworth.  Nailsworth, population about 6,000, is the smallest place ever to host an EFL football club.  It’s a beautiful town in a beautiful location – worth taking some time to explore.

We will be moving to a new stadium in the future, but the New Lawn is on top of a hill (one of the highest grounds in the country) where you can count the sheep in the neighbouring fields.  There are no amenities close to the ground and parking is very limited so you should plan your day carefully to get the most out of your trip.  If you keep in mind that FGR is a small club in a small town and crowds are a bit of a test for the local infrastructure, then we’re sure your visit will exceed your expectations.

You’ll find the home fans helpful and friendly.  It’s very much a family atmosphere and it would be unusual for there to be any issues at the ground.  We’d love to keep it this way!

The Bolt New Lawn is not the easiest ground to get to but there are a number of options.

Rail and/or bus – there are stations at Stroud and Gloucester and a half hourly service on the Number 63 bus takes you straight to the stadium Click here for the full timetable bus timetable to FGR from Stroud & Gloucester

Walking – park in Nailsworth (all parking is free, but watch out for any time restrictions) and walk up the hill (a bit of a climb!) to the stadium (1.1 miles).

Driving – The club address is The Bolt New Lawn, Another Way, Nailsworth, GL6 0FG. Beware driving too close to the ground because the roads peter out and you can caught in a jam on busy matchdays.  The road will probably be closed about 400m from the ground to allow coach parking and for Park & Ride buses to access.  There is no available parking at the ground other than for disabled supporters – contact the club in advance to book.  There is some street parking, but this is pretty limited.  Traffic leaving the ground on busy matchdays can be a little congested.

Park & Ride – For all Saturday matches there is a Park & Ride service from the South Entrance of Renishaw on Stroud Road (postcode: GL5 5HA).  Parking here is on a first-come, first-served basis (but spaces are fairly plentiful) and it is only £3 per car (card or contactless only).  It’s less than a couple of miles from the ground and should probably be your preferred choice if you aren’t familiar with the area.  The buses drop you and collect you from right outside the stadium.  The Park & Ride usually opens at about 12.30 pm.  It does NOT operate at midweek games.

Cycling – cycle racks are available round by The Green Man bar (and it’s downhill on the way back out!)

Unless it’s an all-ticket match you can buy tickets from the ticket office on the day (remember the stadium is cashless).  If you buy tickets in advance via your club you get a discount and avoid the queues.

The prices for covered seating, covered standing & uncovered standing respectively are below.  The prices are more if you buy on the day.

Adult – £23, £20, £18

Over 65 – £18, £16, £14

Under 21 – £14, £10, £9

Under 16 – £8, £7, £6

Under 11’s are free with a paying adult

If the facility is available to you as an away fan (it usually isn’t) you can go to fgr tickets to buy tickets online.

Away supporters are usually in the West Stand (the Away Terrace on the plan).  There is a small area of the Terrace (at the EESI Stand end) that has some covered seating and covered standing.  The rest of the Terrace is standing and uncovered.  It’s a good vantage point to watch the game but it’s worth checking the forecast.  Bring your waterproof if there’s a chance of rain (hat and suncream if it’s warm)!

Food and Drink

There is a food and drink outlet in the away terrace, but this will be busy if there are a lot of away fans travelling.  There is an away fanzone just in front of the away turnstiles for beer and food before the game.  There are no pubs or cafes or restaurants around the ground and the club bars are too small to be able to fit in away fans (sorry!).  The town of Nailsworth is small, but it has many food and drink outlets and free parking throughout the town (but be careful of time restrictions on some of this free parking).  It’s a straightforward 1.1 mile walk from the centre of Nailsworth to the stadium, but it is uphill all the way!

Shop

There is a club shop on your right as you face the ticket office.

Programmes

Apologies to those who collect them but the club haven’t printed matchday programmes for a couple of seasons now.

Do I have to be vegan?

No, but you’ll only find vegan food and drink while you are at the stadium.  But I wouldn’t let this put you off.  Some of our most die-hard meat-eating fans will tell you that the catering at The New Lawn is among the best you will find  in a football ground.

Whether you are planning an overnight or just making a full day of it, it’s easy to get that full Cotswold experience around Nailsworth.

Hotels – a selection below, all costing upwards of £70 or so and all very ‘Cotswold’.  For less expensive choices (that are a little further  from the ground) the Premier Inn in Stroud is a good one (premier inn stroud) or the Travelodge in Stonehouse (Travel Lodge Stonehouse)

Egypt Mill Hotel, Nailsworth (about a mile from the ground) egypt mill

Wild Garlic Rooms, Nailsworth (about a mile from the ground) wild garlic

The Amberley Inn, (about 2 miles from the ground) the amberley inn

The Bear of Rodborough (about 2.5 miles from the ground) the-bear-of-rodborough

The Old Lodge (about 2.5 miles from the ground) – the old lodge

Things to do

Visit Stroud Market on Saturdays 9 till 2 – the original farmers market – vibrant and busy.  Nailsworth also has a farmers’ market from 9 till 1.30 on the 4^th Saturday of each month stroud market

Have a look at the unfinished Gothic splendour of Woodchester Mansion woodchestermansion

Get food and drink in a rural setting about a mile from the ground at Thistledown Farm thistledown

On a dry day, check out the ice-cream factory on the National Trust’s Rodborough Common icecreamfactory

A little further afield (but within about 10 miles) you will find Gloucester, Cirencester, Tetbury, Cheltenham, Slimbridge & Berkeley Castle

local area map

Nailsworth’s Egypt Mill Hotel

Woodchester Mansion