Horseshoes Inn, Whitchurch

Towards the end of my cycle ride around the Whitchurch area I was becoming frazzled by the sun and tired of pedalling. Clearly I needed to stop for a beer. Luckily I had planned for this eventuality and I knew that the Horseshoes in Tilstock, just five miles from my destination, would be open. Not only open but cool after that hot sun, and friendly and welcoming too. The pub seems to have been built in two stages, with the original building having a centrally placed door with a porch and windows either side. On entering, this building has been opened out into two contiguous rooms with a sports tv screen and darts board to the left and the room on the right having a stretch of bar counter which is actually standing in the second building. Three hand pumps are placed in a corner here, and the bar continues through to the other room, which I didn't enter but could see had a few gaming machines and several customers. There was a choice of two beers and I went for New Brew Session IPA (from Newport, a few miles down the road). This was a very refreshing drink in better than good condition (NBSS 3.5). The licensee, a young bearded man who seemed to get on well with his customers, was very interested in why I was cycling around Shropshire photographing pubs. He has done quite a lot of work doing up the pub to make it a pleasant environment. I liked the note in the gents toilets about the money having run out before he could do anything about them, but to be honest I've seen much worse and no one was apologising about them. At just £3.20 per pint it's going to be a while before he gets round to improving them, I guess, but no doubt he knows what prices his clientele can stand. A really good pub. If you haven't visited, please do; and if you have, please come back.