You always get one bit of classic Black & White Herefordshire in the new Beer Guide. Normally a village you can’t pronounce with lots of vowels, cherry blossoms on the approach, dull Wye Valley ales and that tempting sign for Robinsons cider the ticking rules won’t let you succumb to.
Pembridge, the half-daytrip for Brummies visiting Ludlow, is easy to pronounce, and a bit of a classic.
Particularly the New Inn, sadly out of the Guide despite the “Historic Interior” and folk music. Heritage won’t save you now.
It was totally gorgeous, which presumably why there were only a couple of gentlefolk, possibly Australian, enjoying the view from the churchyard.
The Red Lion sign isn’t a design classic (see Pubmeister for those).
But it’s open all day, when the New Inn isn’t, and the GBG needs to have a few pubs that are actually open when you visit them, just to keep Duncan sane.
It’s very old-fashioned, like a 1970s/1980s/1990s market pub in Hitchin, with simple settings and homely feel that would have my mum planning immediate renovations.
I’m delighted to see folk of uncertain age scattered randomly around the bar area and bench seating, looking like fringe members of Chumbawumba. My sort of pub.
Less excited by the beer, but you know how I never like to be excited by beer choice.
I reckon these are the two most common brands I encounter during my GBG year. Along with Doom Bar and IPA, of course.
There were actually four on, a Ludlow and a Hobsons, which seemed about three too many when everyone else was on lager. There’s nothing wrong with a lager drink. Or a cider drink.
Undistinguished but OK Bitter (NBSS 2.5), notable banter, and the dulcet tones of Errol Brown belting out “You Sexy Thing” competed with the latest interminable Brexit squabble on an incongruous TV.
The view to the High Street was timeless.
A top-notch pub grub menu,
though the classic pub snacks looked a bit past their sell-by date.
By no means a classic, but possibly as essential stop on your way to Hergest Ridge.
retiredmartin 
That’s the type of town and pub Americans yearn for on a visit. Great pics of the town.
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“that tempting sign for Robinsons cider the ticking rules won’t let you succumb to” –Do you enjoy a good cider every once in a while? I know I’ve read of certain old pubs where cider is the core drink, and all the locals wouldn’t think of ordering anything else.
The few times I’ve had cider it’s always been mass-produced stuff, pleasant enough for what it is. I’m curious to try something that’s a little closer to a “home brew” sort of thing.
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Very rarely, Mark. If I’m visiting a GBG pub renowned for cider I’ll have a half of Perry (Lulworth Castle in Dorset) and I used to enjoy Old Rosie occasionally, but I’ve no interest in all the flavoured still ciders that you see in micropubs now.
But Robinsons is a one off. Not “real” cider, but not fizzy. Just a really tasty drink. Only seen it in a few pubs in Worcestershire
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Herefordshire is a fantastic county – just bizarre!!!
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“possibly Australian”
(chuckle) – took me a second. 🙂
“that would have my mum planning immediate renovations.”
I’ll probably treading on dangerous ground here but… what woman wouldn’t do that? 😉
“and IPA, of course.”
Meaning Greene King I take it?
“There’s a Brexit crisis, apparently. Missed that one.”
Pfft. That’s just the dying mainstream media trying to stay relevant by scaring everyone to watch (or read). 🙂
“Bleu Cheese is continental, innit”
And funnily enough I think ‘biscuit’ is the same spelling in French. 🙂
Cheers
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Greene King The Only True IPA, Russ. All others are overpriced pretenders.
And your Brexit comment really is the best contribution so far. Spot on.
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Wye Valley may be a familiar brand, but it’s rare you see their ordinary Bitter rather than HPA or Butty Bach. Obviously they haven’t read Zythophile’s memo about the death of Bitter.
It’s often the case that the “other” pub in a place like Pembridge is actually better than the one that appears on the calendars.
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Indeed. Wye Valley ubiquitous but I’d forgotten the Bitter existed (not that it tasted much different if I’m honest).
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Beauty
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Hobsons must have been difficult to pass on.
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Very difficult. But sometimes I like to get to the heart of a brewery.
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I got a Hobsons recipe book, glass and two bottles after winning a competition on their beermats a couple of years ago.
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Lucky guess.
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great report! Gr Stef
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