Sun Inn, Craven Arms

The date in the new extension is that of 1710 for this pub, which features on CAMRA’s inventory of pubs with historic interiors, being of National Importance and grade II-listed. I’ve been to Leintwardine before but probably not for a good 40 years as my grandparents lived about three villages away; they still do, six foot under, so it was a bit of a labour of love to make the 350-mile return journey, taking in the neighbouring Lion for sustenance. The pub is essentially two workers’ cottages knocked together, well described below and comprehensively covered on CAMRA’s sites, with even a Wikipedia entry. The interior (see photos) is a beautiful example of a perfectly preserved museum and now almost unique surviving example of a traditional parlour pub, with a substantial ‘barn conversion’ extension to the rear, suitably rustic with pale paint, traditional mixed furniture and eclectic framed prints. Customers were locals, speaking a Herefordshire dialect which I found hard to understand, copious expletives aside. However, the place wasn’t that busy at the time of our short stay the other Friday, with quite a few customers leaving at around 7.40pm, knocking the stuffing out of the atmosphere a little; does the place really close at 9.00pm as claimed by CAMRA? The ale front is clearly predictable, with Butty Bach, Ludlow Stairway and Hobson’s Best and Champion mild at £1.70 a half, on excellent form, served by a charming and polite barmaid. Reminding me a little of Steep’s Harrow, this is clearly a must-visit pub at a national level; a more adventurous ale range would probably – finally – have dragged the elusive ‘10’ out of me.

The Sun is a pub I've long had on my list of pubs to visit. It opens at 11am and as such, it made a good place to start a Sunday visit to some of Herefordshire's village pubs. You enter straight into the traditional front rooms, where I noticed a blackboard advertising Stout Sunday. Continuing to the more modern rear space, the pub revealed itself to be quite busy with locals, despite it still being Sunday morning. The barmaid was friendly and in addition to the regular beers (Hobson's Best Bitter & Champion Mild & Ludlow Stairway), they also had Wye Valley Butty Bach as a guest beer and a cider, which was Weston's Family Vintage. We took our drinks and returned to sit in the front room, which is starting to look very dated, but still retains all of its atmosphere. I did take a peak into the parlour, where a barrel of beer was sat on a table. Taking a closer look at the blackboard, it revealed that the beer for Stout Sunday was actually Ledbury Phoenix, a porter and that it was to be served at 4pm. I guess people gather here during the evening to consume the cask. But I wasn't about to sit around for 5 hours to find out. In actual fact, I was later to be drinking the Phoenix in another pub by 3pm! The quietness of the front rooms slightly spoiled my enjoyment of this historic pub, with locals preferring the modern section at the rear. But hopefully that changes later in the day. Still well worth a visit though.

Official site of Sun Inn - www.suninnleintwardine.co.uk

Official site of Sun Inn - www.suninnleintwardine.co.uk

I must confess to being somewhat agnostic about this house.I really wanted to enjoy it-quiet rustic pubs are my idea of heaven, and the front rooms, parlour and kitchen are just that.equally, the new conservatory style servery cum bar to the rear is a fine village pub. Unfortunately, they don't really gel for me. We sat in the parlour with the wonderful tiled floor, and enjoyed our stew and beer-very well kept Hobsons Best and Ludlow Boiling Well. A few drinkers in the airy bar out back on an October Tuesday lunchtime. A warm welcome from the gent behind the bar, who's beer memory went back further than mine. A gem, perhaps if busier it would have shone.