WR6 6BN, Tel: 01299 896507; website
A 16th century coaching inn and hotel. The public lounge is very inviting with some comfy armchairs by the huge fireplace. The list of meals on the blackboard is available Tuesday to Saturday for the amazing price of £2.99 (until end November 2009 - start again January 2010).
Beer: Wye Valley HPA and Best Bitter;
Taylor's Landlord; Fuller's London Pride.
Excellent
Food: The £2.99 meals are excellent
value for money. The food tastes good and is probably home-cooked. The
menu (blackboard) shows the food to be good standard unfussy pub food
such as Lasagne (very nice); ham, eggs & chips; Chicken Supreme & rice;
fish & chips etc. Very good to
excellent.
Last Visited: October 27th, 2009
Pictures: (left to right; from
top.)
View of the pub; view from the garden; The main lounge; The Bar
DY12 3NF ; Tel: 01299 401 204; website
Next to Arley station on the Severn Valley Railway, also very close to the River Severn. Pleasant, friendly and cosy. Comfy chairs by the fireplace, often with a real fire blazing. The piped 70s music was a bit too loud and a little obtrusive. A pity: otherwise a very nice pub.
Beer:
Wye Valley Harbour Inn
Ale. Superb beer, kept very nicely.
£2.50 pt
Food: Haven't tried it, but has a fair selection of
home-cooked meals.
Visited: October 13th, 2009
DY9 9XU ; Tel: 01562 731 928; website
Large 16th century inn on the main A491 between Hagley and Lydiate Ash. Part of the Vintage Inns group and as you'd expect, the main focus is on eating rather than drinking.
Beer:
2 ales
generally available.
5-11-09: Purity UBU and
a Timothy Taylor special (can't remember the name). Both
Excellent.
Food:
Good pub food in the £8 - £12 price range. Specials board
Visited: November 5th, 2009
DY9 9TG ; Tel: 01562 730 249
Large Comfortable pub at the centre of Belbroughton with good car parking. Good open fire in colder months.
Beer:
Black Sheep bitter; Marston's
Pedigree; Jennings ales (Marston's portfolio). Generally served rather
cold and through over-tight sparkler, making the beer rather bland and
frothy. The Black Sheep ale was good, though.
Unimpressive
generally.
Food:
rather expensive and a little pretentious in style.
Visited: October 20th, 2009
DY9 9ST ; Tel: 01562 730 233; website
Small pub at the heart of Belbroughton. Intimate and friendly.
Beer:
Taylor's Landlord; Enville ale.
Excellent
Food:
Basic pub food, but very tasty (see menu).
20-10-09: I had the steak and ale pie
which was chock full of tender meat.
Very Good.
Visited: October 20th, 2009
DY12 2UE ; Tel: 01299 403 523
Not to be confused with the Black Boy Hotel on the Kidderminster Road in Bewdley. This one is to be found up the very steep Wyre Hill road. A lovely old pub with a friendly atmosphere, an enthusiastic landlord and a quiet unspoiled garden. Parking is difficult, so you may have to park in the town and trudge up the hill. A good thirst is guaranteed by doing this! Lovely pub, but unfortunately a Banks's/Marston's one (see my comment at the top of the page).
Beer:
Banks's Bitter, Original; Marston's
Pedigree; guest ale (from Marston's portfolio)
Pub is in Good Beer Guide 2010.
Visited: August 8th, 2009
DY12 1BY; Tel: 01299 405 304
An unspoilt friendly locals pub next to the railway bridge on the Kidderminster road. It does have functions nights (e.g. karaoke) to attend or avoid depending on your needs! The piped 80s pop music was a little annoying.
Beer:
Bewdley Worcestershire Way -
excellent
Food: snacks only, I
think; e.g. fresh cobs.
Vistied: November 20, 2009
DY12 2DH; Tel: 01299 403 762; website
A small, cosy 15th century pub on the old High Street. It serves excellent home-cooked food at a good price and a varied selection of well-kept ales. Can get very busy, so you may have to book for food, especially in the evenings and on Sundays.
Beer: Black Sheep best bitter; guest beers.
Pub is in Good Beer Guide 2010.
Food: Excellent and tasty. I had one of their home-made pies
which was superb.
Visited: May 25, 2009
DY12 2EE; Tel: 01299 402 543; website
Well-appointed old pub on the riverside; very popular, good atmosphere and seating on the promenade overlooking the river. The pub serves varied styles of food, from snacks to full restaurant meals (the latter in "The Angry Chef"). Beware of short measures here - you will most likely need to ask for a top-up on your pint.
Beer:
3 or 4 ales, usually from local breweries. Kept quite well.
20/11/09:
Wye Valley HPA (excellent); Bewdley Brewery Old School Bitter
(OK), plus Kinver Brewery Kinver Edge (very good).
I think the HPA is a fixture.
9/1/10:
Same beers and ratings.
Food:
Not tried.
Visited: November 20, 2009; January 9, 2010
DY12 1DG; Tel: 01299 403 270; website
Unspoiled comfortable pub on the Kidderminster Road.
Beer:
3-4 ales: Banks Bitter & Mild (always on); Batham's Bitter (excellent)
Berrow Topsy Turvey (guest ale?)
Food:
Lunchtime food described as "Bar
snacks". They do a Sunday carvery. In the evening when I went, they had
fresh cobs available
Visited: November 24th, 2009
DY12 2QP; Tel: 01299 402 161
Large pub on the A456 Tenbury Road out of Bewdley. The pub is geared up mainly for eating (it's a Chef & Brewer), though there is a drinkers' area set aside.
Beer:
2 ales on when I visited: Hobson's Town Crier; Newman's Wolvers Ale.
Both excellent
Food:
Large pre-printed menu, but the food smelled good. Sunday Carveries.
Suspect it will get busy, so you may need to book.
Visited: November 3rd, 2009
DY12 2AU; Tel 01299 400 589; website
Distinctive corner pub at the bottom of Wyre Hill. The pub is comfortable and bigger than you'd expect inside. However, it is very cosy and friendly; Nice log fire in winter.
Beer: Varied selection of 2 or 3 ales,
usually from small and/or local breweries. Generally kept excellently.
21/11/09: St Georges' Ascalon;
Salopian Shropshire Gold; Three Tuns 1642 Bitter (all Excellent)
9/1/10:
Cannon Royall Arrowhead bitter (very good); Ludlow Gold (excellent)
Beer is £2.60 pt; Take-out is available at £2.10 pt. (21/11/09)
Food:
good value menu - small selection of specials on blackboard at £4.95.
(Note: Not available on 9/1/10 - will check back again in case they've
stopped doing these; their printed menu is fairly pricey and oddly
pretentious)
visited: November 21, 2009; January 9, 2010
DY12 3AQ; Tel 01299 400 248
Distinctive small pub in the village on the B4194 through the Wyre Forest. Inside it is quite small and on the occasion I visited, there was loud rock music being piped in. Two huge loudspeakers in the big fireplace tend to spoil the look of the room.
Beer:
Timothy Taylor Landlord.
Very good.
Food: Not tried. A blackboard menu above the bar shows quite a
good choice.
Last visited: October 13th, 2009.
DY11 5YL; Tel 01562 8509 254; website
Small, friendly, cosy pub. Very popular and I guess many of the people are regulars. Well-known for the quality of their ales and filling cobs. In 2010 Good Beer Guide.
Beer:
Hobson's Best Bitter & Town Crier.
Excellent.
Guest beers available occasionally (not on my visit).
Food: Fresh homemade
cobs with generous side salad.
Very good.
Last visited: December 23th 2009.
DY10 4SD; Tel 01562 777 302;
Traditional 17th century pub with pleasant garden and impressive lounge bar. Occasional barbeques in Summer. The Bathams beer is superb.
Beer:
Bathams beers; bitter & Mild - all
excellent. (£2.10 a pint on
20/1/10)
Food:
20/1/10: I had a hot
pork bap with stuffing, gravy, chips & Yorkshire pud for £2.75. An
excellent lunchtime snack.
visited: May 30th, 2009; January 20, 2010
The great-hall styled lounge bar
summer in the garden.
DY9 9TG; Tel 01562 730 249 website
16th century black-and-white timbered inn opposite the church. Cosy, comfortable and freindly inside with a good selection of ales and food. Note: this is a Banks's/Marston's pub (and you know what I think of those beers). However, the guest ales (from the Marston's portfolio) are very well looked after and served.
Beer:
Banks's bitter and mild (standard) Guests:
30/5/09: Brakspear Oxford Gold
20/1/10: Wychwood's January Sale
Excellent
Food: interesting
menu; mid to high prices.
visited: May 30th, 2009; January 20, 2010.
DY14 9HA; Tel: 01299 832 242; website
Actually situated about a mile out of the village, on the main A456 towards Bewdley. An attractive pub in a beautiful setting, the food is home-cooked using local produce. It is very tasty; however, it is a little pricey as you pay £2 extra for each portion of vegetables. There is a 'specials' board, but there was very little on it on my visit. The beer is also from local breweries.
Beer:
Hobsons bitter; Shires' Dabley Ale (Madeley, Salop) (guest ale).
Excellent; Price for 2 pints: £5.10
16/1/10: Hobsons Bitter & Town
Crier only: very good.
Food: I had pork cutlet with new potatoes and fresh green veg.
Veges
were rather undercooked. Excellent
(except the veges); Price: £12
Visited: October 3rd, 2009; January 16, 2010
B61 9BG; Tel: 01527 575 815; website
Described as "The Pub In The Field", The Dodford Inn is a classic country pub, recently re-opened, but having changed little for many years. The photo really doesn't show it's best side as the pub has marvellous views over the countryside and an attractive pub garden with picnic-style table/benches. An interesting selection of food is available and the beer is excellent too.
Beer: A changing selection;
3 to 4 ales usually available, kept very well.
Food: Looked very
interesting.
Visited: August 18th, 2009
DY14 9TE; Tel: 01299 266 237; website
Comfortable country pub concentrating largely on food, especially its carveries. However, there is a cosy comfortable lounge put aside for those who just want a quiet drink.
Beer: Wye Valley HPA - very
good. (pub is in Good Beer Guide 2010)
Food: Looks impressive and a carvery on Sundays.
Visited: September, 2009
DY10 1QX; Tel: 01562 747 505
This is the converted waiting room at the Severn Valley Railway station in Kidderminster. It has an opulent, Edwardian feel and is very friendly and is obviously a regular meeting place for many people. The beer is top-class in quality. Parking is limited and beware that they lock the gates to the station car park at 8pm in the evening.
Beer:
Bathams bitter; Hobson's Mild; Wyre Piddle Royal Piddle (brewed
specially for this pub and on sale at an incredible £1.85 pint).
all excellent.
02-12-09: Guest beers: Hop Back Crop Circle; Wyre Piddle Polar
Piddle; Enville Ginger. Tried all but the Batham's and they were in
perfect condition.
Food: Didn't check. I
believe they do lunchtime light meals during the weekdays.
Visited: December 2nd, 2009
WR15 8JF; Tel: 01584 781 355; website
Comfortable hotel styled pub, family run. Accomodation.
Beer:
Hobson's Bitter, Mild; Wye Valley HPA.
Excellent (only tried the mild).
Food: Reasonable menu
but quite pricey.
Visited: October 27th, 2009
WR6 6TE; Tel: 01299 822 701; website
Dating from the early 19th century, this has a traditional unspoilt feel about it, friendly and with a real fire. It is a free house.
Beer:
Robinsons' s Mr. Scrooge (very
good); Mansfield Cask Ale (Very
Good); Old Speckled Hen;
Banks's Bitter. Served a bit too cold and rather over-sparkled in the
Marstons/Banks's pubs style.
Food:
Snacks and cobs only
15-12-09: very nice
ham cob - £1.50.
Last visited: December 15th 2009
WR6 6AE; Tel: 01299 896 677; website
The pub is actually on the main road (B4202), some miles from Pensax. This is a classic country pub with marvellous views over the Worcestershire countryside. Inside, the pub is traditional and welcoming. A Mecca for real ales enthusiasts as there is always a number of interesting ales on tap (usually 6), always in excellent condition. The pub has won a number of awards for its ales. Food is available too. (Pub closed on Mondays)
Beer: various and
ever-changing selection including Hobson's ales. Also Weston's real
cider & Perry.
Always excellent.
Food: Good food but at a price.
Last visited: October 27th, 2009
DY12 3LF; Tel: 01299 401 271; website
Very nice 17th century pub on the road from Button Oak to the River at Arley. Inside it is quite big, but quite "nooky". Comfy seating by a real log file made this the sort of pub you don't want to leave. Food can be served in the separate restaurant or in the bar and lounge areas.
Beer: Hobson's
bitter; Wye Valley Dorothy Goodbody Golden ale. Both
very good.
On
27/12/09
visit, had to return the beer as they had not pulled through the stale
beer left in the pipes from the previous session. This is such a basic
'mistake', but one to watch out for if the pub is quiet or you are one
of the first in.
Food:
Good varied menu (see website); prices medium to high.
Didn't try the food, but the aroma was really tempting, despite the fact
I'd already eaten that evening.
visited: October 13th, 2009; December 27, 2009
DY14 9SD; Tel: 01299 832 533
Cosy friendly pub on the crossroads in the village.
Beer:
Hobson's Bitter and Twisted Spire; Bewdley Worcester Way; Robinson's
Wags To Witches.
All excellent.
Prices very competitive at £2.30 pt for the local beers (3/11/09). Suspect
Hobson's is a fixture.
Food:
Varied menu - prices in the £5 -
£10 range described as home-cooked. Food not tried yet. Sunday Lunches
also.
Last visited: November 3rd, 2009
Picture 1: Lounge bar; picture 2: The Dining area.
DY12 1RN; Tel: 01299 861 322
Attractive and comfortable pub with the emphasis on food rather than drink. Seems to be a Marston's pub, based on the beer choice.
Beer:
Banks's bitter, Jennings Cumberland Ale. (bland, cold & frothy)
Food:
Food is expensive and rather
pretentious for a pub.
Last visited: November 24th 2009
WR15 8LZ; Tel: 01584 810 506
A genuine ancient inn (i.e. a place you can stay). There seems to be a bar and a small lounge, though the latter is geared up mainly for eating. The food looked good and was probably homecooked. Three handpulls, but only one beer available on my visit. Unfortunately, the beer was sour and harsh, obviously well past it's best and the "background music" was over-obtrusive and unpleasant. I may have been unlucky, but I'm not likely to return here.
Beer:
Hobson's Bitter (poor)
Food:
Looked interesting, mid-priced.
Last visited: April 3rd, 2010
WR15 8EQ; Tel: 01584 810 301
Attractive, 16th century timbered building at the south end of the town. The pub has a friendly feel as soon as you walk in. The bar / lounge area is not big, though there may be other rooms (there is a separate dining room). The beer was excellent as was the food, which is cooked to order by the owner / landlord who is also a chef.
Beer:
Hobson's Bitter; guest ale (Green King IPA) (both
excellent)
Food:
Top class, mid to high price range
but definitely worth it. I had a haddock & salmon pie (with peas). Very
tasty and filling (£7.95).
Last visited: April 3rd, 2010
WR15 8AE; Tel: 01584 810 269; website
!6th century pub in the High Street of town. Pleasant pub with a food emphasis, hence only a small drinker's area.
Beer:
Hobson's Bitter (not tried); Wye Valley Butty Bach (excellent)
Food:
Looked interesting, highish-priced
(£10 upwards).
Last visited: April 3rd, 2010
WR9 0JW; Tel: 01905 620 305; website
Home of the Cannon Royall Brewery, this pub serves all of the brewery's range (5 different when I last visited) starting at less than £2 a pint (15/12/09). The beers are excellent (and well-kept of course). The pub is friendly and cosy (with a real wood-burning fire).
Beer:
Full range of Cannon Royall beers, some available in bottles as well. The
Christmas ale (Marley's Ghost) is totally gorgeous.
Excellent
Food:
No food generally apart from crisps
& nuts, but snacks (e.g. cobs) available at the weekend, I believe.
Last visited: December 15th 2009
DY11 5XB; Tel: 01562 850 433; website
Attractive pub in a picture-postcard village. This is a Marston's pub (see my comments at the top of the page).
Beer: Banks' Bitter; Jenning's Redbreast (vey good)
Food: not tried, but good choice with traditional unpretentious menu available
Last visited: December 23th 2009
