retiredmartin

May 2024. Ludlow.

To be honest, you don’t have much of a choice in the Marches; this is your range in the Charlton Arms in Ludlow.

As I noted in Cleobury, it’s an option from Wye Valley, Hobson’s or Ludlow. Or stick to Madri.

Being a contrary sort, I’d of course prefer a pub just to offer a lone HPA, as the dull but Glamorgan completing Roost did in 2022. Are there really people who can’t stand the Gold but love HPA ? One is plenty…

I think I’d ticked the Charlton Arms about 2010. I never recorded the dates on the spreadsheet; I’ll happily make them up if it makes you happy.

I remembered the gorgeous riverside setting, but it’s more upmarket than I recalled,

with the rooms named after the children of visitors from West London in 2014.

BUT…the bar area is plain looking but redeemingly pubby,

and most of the drinking is HPA. It really has the same status that Tribute does a hundred miles south or Landlord carries in London. Cool, rich and crisp, an easy 3.5 for a beer I’ve never particularly liked, which tells you that turnover matters.

Great loos too,

I think that capital city is probably Deviltapskey, capital of Tokmanistenastan.

“How are ya Bob ?” asks the barmaid, pouring his HPA.

“I could be better” says Bob, a stock response, I sense.

“You WILL be in a couple of minutes” she says, though I think he’ll take three to down his pint.

And that’s our lot for the night. Mrs RM pops in the Spar for some discounted supper, I nip in the 3rd GBG pub for a wee,

and the Church reveals its beer recycling humour.

I bet there’s autovac-denying CAMRA members who would have a problem with that, you know.

I’d have had a half in the Church but it was too busy, pleasingly for a Thursday.

Mrs RM took her pic of the courtyard pub,

but resisted the call of the Joule(s) inside.