Shakespeare Inn, Telford

The Shakespeare is much more of a traditional pub than the Woodbridge Inn a bit further along the river. This one is situated in the village itself next to the Tar Tunnel. Its location means that it will always attract a fair amount of day trippers. There is a small roadside patio at the front and a garden to the rear. Inside, there are various rooms. The main bar area has a tiled floor with a mixture of exposed brick walls and cream paint. A wood burner remained unlit on a fairly warm spring day. Wye Valley HPA & Ludlow Gold are the regular beers. The guest beer was Hobson's Old Prickly with a fourth handpull unclipped. Ciders were Inch's & Old Mout. Plenty of wines are also sold with a full list above the bar. Food was being served whilst we were there and both children and dogs are welcome. There is limited parking next to the pub. If there are no spaces, there is a public car park just the other side of the bridge.

A large detached GBG pub and restuarant that also offers accommodation. It has a walled patio area at the front and a large beer garden at the back with children's play area. The building has a double gabled frontage with several extensions (ending in a fromer stable area) that step down in height as you go along, with a modern side conservatory on the other side. It looks like a Georgian coaching inn. It is in a creamish render with toffee coloured paintwork and has several nice sash windows. The interior has the serving bar facing you on entry and this is the main room. The conservatory area is to the right and the pub extends through the various building on the left. The decor is a mix of exposed brick, coffee and pine wood on the walls, with mainly a tile flooring and with a part wood and part white ceiling. It is all technically open plan. There are a few little brick fireplaces dotted around and various eclectic prints and photos on the walls. I struugled to find what i classed as a bar area, it all had a food feeling, with candles on tables etc. I didn't eat, so can't comment on the food but the menu was not the 'frozen stuff' offered by the pub chains and the prices of course reflect that. I didn't see a TV on my visit and the music was general and soft. The service was fine and the clientele were all dining that i saw. Beer; usual tap stuff with Hobson's Twisted Spire, Everard's Tiger and a slightly cold Ludlow Gold on handpull. The building is great from the outside, but I found the interior a little too foody for my personal liking. The beer choice is fine, although i felt mine was a little cold. I would definitely return, but preferably to eat with Mrs Soup rather than just for a drink.