The Oak Wigmore, Wigmore, Leominster

Now very much at the restaurant end of the spectrum, you couldn't even call this a gastropub. In fairness, the barmaid/waitress/landlady did immediately inform us that they were more of a restaurant than a pub, when we said we were just there for drinks. A large group were sat in the room to the front. They were the only customers in the venue until we arrived. Beyond the front room, there are further tables laid out for dining in a large space to the rear, with a further dining area upstairs. Ludlow Gold was the real ale on offer, but you're probably best trying the village's other pub (the Castle Inn) for a pub experience. Car parking here also seemed to be tricky. We parked in a "private" car park to the rear. However, it wasn't clear whether it was private to the Oak or private to somebody else. A nice building, but not really a pub anymore.

This was formerly called The Olde Oak so presumably was known as The Oak before that. I came here with family and friends one summer in the early 1970s after a visit to the ruin of Wigmore Castle so can't remember much about the place but I do recall that we sat in the garden and ate freshly cut ham sandwiches with lashings of English mustard; it seemed quite magical. Today, I doubt you'd get sliced white bread and watery ham because now the emphasis is firmly on food with an enticing menu and where a steak can set you back up to £30. I'll probably return when next in the area.

Official site of The Oak Wigmore - www.theoakwigmore.com

Official site of The Oak Wigmore - www.theoakwigmore.com