The All Nations

The All Nations, Madeley, Shropshire TF7 5DP

One of the original four home-brew pubs that survived into the 1970s, tucked away in a rural backwater near to the Blists Hill open-air museum. It’s set back from the road at a higher level, with an extensive beer garden in front and a car park at the side accessed by a track running at a sharp angle.

The interior, little changed over the years, is basically a single room on either side of the central door, with benches around the wall and the counter at the rear. No food is served, but you’re likely to encounter lively conversation from mature regulars.

Brewing has recently recommenced in the hands of the head brewer from local firm Brough’s. I enjoyed an excellent pint of All Nations Biiter, which is in the authentic pale, sweet West Midlands style, although it should be pointed out not the light mild for which the pub was originally known.

The Oak Inn

The Oak Inn, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 2SZ

Situated opposite the parish church at the south end of the town centre, this pub was once the coach house for the next-door Wynnstay Hotel. The narrow frontage conceals a surprisingly deep interior running back down the original burgage plot, including small front public bar, central servery, more spacious lounge and beer garden at the rear. The predominantly red colour scheme is indicative of former ownership by Bass Mitchells & Butlers. There are quarry-tiled floors and an abundance of dark wood. A few TV screens are dotted about, but they’re unlikely to be intrusive except when major football matches are on.

The beer range includes Draught Bass, Station Bitter and Cambrian Gold from the local Stonehouse Brewery, plus two or three guests from North Wales and the Marches. No food is served, but menus for local takeaways are kept behind the bar. On my visit there was an amiable, laid-back pub dog. It features as a regional entry on CAMRA’s National Inventory, and is a classic example of a traditional, unassuming, characterful market town pub.

The White Horse

The White Horse, Clun, Shropshire SY7 8JA

An attractive white-painted pub in the tiny square of this small South Shropshire town, once described by the poet A. E. Housman as “one of the sleepiest places under the sun”. The striking ruins of the mediaeval Clun Castle are not far away.

Internally it has been opened out somewhat over the years, to provide a rambling main bar with comfortable settles, a plainer public bar area to the rear, and a dining room on the right. There’s an extensive, reasonably-priced food menu including both full meals and snacks.

On the bar are seven or eight real ales, mostly locally sourced, with the local Clun Brewery taking pride of place. Their 4.1% Clun Pale Ale in the characteristic West Midlands/Marches style appeared to be the best seller. There are also local ciders in both real and keg form.

Perhaps not a totally unspoilt classic, but a welcoming, characterful pub serving both tourists and its local community well. The Buffalo Inn opposite retains its signage, but has been closed since 2004 and is yet to find an alternative use. The nearby Sun Inn is also worth a visit, and internally retains more historic character.

The pub’s own website is here.

The Horseshoe

The Horseshoe, Llanyblodwel, Shropshire SY10 8NQ

An ancient half-timbered pub in an idyllic rural setting by an old stone bridge over the Tanat. The benches overlooking the river are an ideal spot to enjoy a relaxing beer on a summer day. The unspoilt interior comprises a plainer vault-type area on the left, and the dark, cosy main bar with a wealth of old beams and settles. Stonehouse Station Bitter, brewed nearby in Oswestry, is the regular beer, with an additional guest sometimes available. Many years ago I remember visiting it when it was a keg-only pub tied to Border Breweries. No food is served, and the opening hours are somewhat limited – evenings only during the week and lunchtime only on Sundays.

Despite the Welsh-sounding name, Llanyblodwel is actually just on the English side of the border. The village also has an interesting church rebuilt in the 19th century by the then vicar in an idiosyncratic architectural style and featuring a spire resembling a V2 rocket.

The Cross Foxes

The Cross Foxes, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 7DE

A traditional pub in the mixed residential area of Coleham just across the river from the town centre. The interior is “a symphony in brown”, basically consisting of one L-shaped room with beams, brasses and button-backed banquette seating. No food is served, and it seems to appeal mostly to the classic older male clientele. Draught Bass is the favoured real ale, with a couple of others including on my visit Salopian Shropshire Gold and Worthington Best Bitter.

(photo courtesy of Duncan Mackay aka Pubmeister)

The Loggerheads

The Loggerheads, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 1UG

Originally called the Shrewsbury Arms, this is a remarkable survivor of the old-school, unassuming town pubs of a bygone age, tucked away just off the town centre on a narrow cobbled street running between two churches. Inside there are four small rooms – a lounge on the right with a parquet floor, a small front bar, a rear snug rather lacking in natural lighting, and best of all the room on the left separated from the corridor by wooden screens and featuring ancient scrubbed-top tables. This was men-only until the mid-1970s.

A Bass pub in the 1970s, it was later taken over by Banks’s who then metamorphosed into Marston’s. For a long time Draught Bass continued to be sold, which always seemed particularly appropriate for this pub, but the beer range is now limited to five or six from the Marston’s stable. The current licensees offer a speciality sausage menu, but it’s basically a drink and chat pub rather than an eaterie. The pub’s website can be seen here.