The Seven Stars, Ledbury

First visit - mainly as I noticed that the Cask Marque app had it down as a recommended place. As Quinno states, when barmen are in waistcoat uniforms it is more of a restaurant. AI telling me that they source their own ingredients from their own farm. Still, the TT Landlord was Championship Awarded (that extra thing you sometimes see on the clips) and in great condition. Of course it was well north of a fiver.

Middle class cafe gastropub with as many coffees coming out as anything else, served by waistcoated staff. Front room retains a bit of modernised character with a low wonky ceiling, beams, wall joists and wood burner on the go. A large modern dining area sits behind the bar. Apparently there was a major fire here in 2001 which explains the old-but-new feel. Three cask; Wye Valley HPA, TT Landlord and Ledbury Bitter, the latter of which was a bit flat - you could hear it splashing through the sparkler - NBSS 2.5. It's fair enough.

Attractive old pub, sitting much lower than its neighbouring buildings, with a two-bar and rear restaurant layout given an upmarket semi-modern makeover at some stage. However, all this was detracted by finding out that all the drinks, including the two real ales - Spitfire and Landlord - available from the four handpumps had been given huge post-coronavirus price increases (e.g. £4.50 for a pint).

Lovely pub. Modern refurb of an ancient pub following a fire in the early 2000s. The layout at the front looks like it is original, even with the modern refurb. The restaurant to the back looks much more 'modern'. A warm, friendly pub. Food was excellent and filling, but not cheap. Mrs Staal and I thoroughly enjoyed the food. Three ales on - Three Shires Hafren, Pardoe's Old Swan and Wye Valley Bitter. All three were excellent. But, the Hafren was sublime. A lovely pub.