Three Horseshoes, Bishop's Stortford

Official site of Three Horseshoes - www.chefandbrewer.com

Official site of Three Horseshoes - www.chefandbrewer.com

The first view of the pub from the lane is charming,a very old timber framed cottage with a generous thatched roof.However to the side and rear there is a weather boarded extension with a tiled roof and the pub sign is a hint of the corporate atmosphere inside. This is a Greene King tied house,part of their Chef & Brewer chain.There is a huge gravel carpark tucked behind the buildings and a large square pub garden with numbered tables and umberellas.The interior is equally large with a L shaped bar and a faux rustic design,lots of false beams,exposed brickwork and wooden furniture and a flag stone affect slate coloured flooring.Totally corporate,somewhere to eat but not welcoming to those only interested in just drinking. Under Covid regulations,I was shown to an outside table,encouraged to use the GK app to order and pay for drinks and food while also registering my presence.However this was not compulsory and waitress service was still possible if you were prepared to wait for someone to appear.Luckily the pub was not busy on my lunchtime visit. The food is typical food service and the microwaves must have been pinging away .There were 3 real ales all from GK ,namely IPA,Abbott and Old Speckled Hen .A veritable trio of doom ,however my very short measure OSH was in decent condition. The pub is very near the River Stort navigation,but is hardly memorable.If you like plane spotting ,the pub garden is on the final approach to Stanstead Airport,all planes will have their under carriage down in a steep descent.