Gloucester Crown Court Listings

Gloucester Crown Court Listings

Gloucester Crown Court is one of the most historically significant criminal court venues in the South West of England. Located on Longsmith Street, Gloucester GL1 2TS, the court sits behind the iconic Gloucester Shire Hall and handles serious criminal cases including murder, robbery, sexual offences, fraud, drug trafficking, and other indictable offences across Gloucestershire. This page provides the daily hearing schedule for Gloucester Crown Court, including case references, courtroom allocations, hearing times, and defendant details sourced from HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

History of Gloucester Crown Court

The current Gloucester Crown Court building was designed by the renowned architect Sir Robert Smirke in the neoclassical style, constructed in ashlar stone, and officially opened in August 1816. The building is a Grade II listed structure, designated on 23 January 1952 under reference number 1271573. Its distinctive polygonal frontage of nine equal sides faces onto Bearland, making it an architectural landmark in the city. Prior to its construction, judicial hearings in Gloucester were held at the Booth Hall on Westgate Street, which dated from the mid-16th century but doubled as an entertainment venue. Following the Courts Act 1971, the building transitioned from hosting assizes and quarter sessions to serving as a dedicated Crown Court venue.

Cases Heard at Gloucester Crown Court

As a Crown Court centre, Gloucester handles the most serious criminal matters in the Gloucestershire region. Cases are heard before a judge and jury and include committal for sentence, trials, pre-trial reviews, plea and trial preparation hearings, appeals against sentence, applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, bail applications, mentions, and bench warrant executions. The court typically lists between 30 and 60 hearings per day across multiple courtrooms, with proceedings generally commencing from 09:30 onwards.

Contact Details & Opening Hours

• Address: Longsmith Street, Gloucester, GL1 2TS
• General Enquiries: 01452 420 400
• Listings Office: 01452 420 403
• Witness Care Unit: 01452 754 517
• Telephone Enquiries: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
• Court & Court Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

For general enquiries, including requests to attend hearings remotely, contact the court on 01452 420 400. The court is closed on weekends and public holidays.

Getting to Gloucester Crown Court

Gloucester Crown Court is centrally located and well served by public transport. Gloucester railway station is served by Great Western Railway and CrossCountry services, with direct connections from London Paddington, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, and Cheltenham Spa. The train from Cheltenham Spa takes approximately 9 minutes. From the station, the court is around a 10-minute walk through the city centre. Multiple bus routes stop within a short walk of the court, including the 8, 65X, and 94X services, with the nearest bus stop at Blackfriars Priory approximately 3 minutes on foot. There is no on-site parking at the court building; however, paid public car parks are available within 200 metres.

Building Facilities & Accessibility

Gloucester Crown Court provides disabled access with limited accessibility facilities and designated disabled parking. A portable hearing enhancement system is available by prior arrangement — contact the court in advance to arrange this. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the building. The court participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network, with lanyards available on request. Facilities include public toilets, vending machines for refreshments, a private interview room, public waiting areas outside each courtroom, a separate witness waiting area, and a children's waiting room that can be reserved. All visitors pass through a security arch upon entry, and those with pacemakers should alert security staff on arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of cases are heard at Gloucester Crown Court?

Gloucester Crown Court hears serious criminal cases including murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, large-scale drug offences, serious fraud, and other indictable offences. It also handles appeals against conviction or sentence from Magistrates' Courts, and committals for sentencing where Magistrates' Courts consider their sentencing powers insufficient.

Can members of the public attend hearings at Gloucester Crown Court?

Yes. Members of the public and accredited media representatives are generally permitted to attend hearings at Gloucester Crown Court, subject to any reporting restrictions that may be in place for specific cases.

How do I find today's court listings for Gloucester Crown Court?

Today's hearing schedule for Gloucester Crown Court is published at the top of this page and updated daily. The listings include hearing times, courtroom numbers, and case references as provided by HMCTS.

Is there parking at Gloucester Crown Court?

There is no on-site parking at Gloucester Crown Court. Paid public parking is available within 200 metres of the building, including several city centre car parks off Longsmith Street and around Gloucester Docks.