The All Nations Inn, Telford

Finally managed to call in at this 'famous four' brew-house following a visit to the Blists Hill Victorian Town museum on the opposite side of the road (once the branch line to Coalport, and still crossed by a footbridge). Could easily be mistaken for a cottage from a distance, with only the customers sat out in the sunshine on the patio terrace giving the game away. Plainly-furnished interior, looking like it had been sensitively refurbished fairly recently (except for the outside toilets, which remain resolutely old-school). No sign of Shire's on the five handpumps, but a 'house' ale from Broughs of Wolverhampton was supplemented by Hobson's Twisted Spire, Weetwood Oast House, Rowton Dark Side Stout (£3.00)and Rosie's Pig cider. With its friendly welcome, traditional charm and important place in brewery history, this really is one of those 'must visit' pubs.

It's not far off forty years since my single visit to this pub. Back then it was run by a Mrs Lewis who produced a single beer. This was a "light mild" that to be honest was nothing to write home about especially compared to the offerings of the other three brew pubs at the time. What I had forgotten was the fact that it's such a great unspoilt pub or is it the case that so many pubs have been spoiled? It is situated just outside the Southern edge of Madeley perched on the hillside above the Coalport Road as it starts to plummet into the Severn Gorge. The building is accessed by a fairly steep stepped path. It's a single room with a central doorway and seating areas on the left and right with the bar in front of you. The floor is made up of red and black tiles rather than wooden floorboards or a carpet which makes a change. Both the Ladies and Gents toilets are situated outside through the garden which must cause great merriment in extreme weather. The bar had a bank of four handpumps and a single extra one with Rosie's Pig Cider. Sadly there was no sign of the on-site Shire's Brewery offerings. The beers were Goff's Merlin, Rawton Comet, Hobson's 3 Spires and Dickensian Nicholas Nicklebeer. I went for the Goff's Merlin and the Dickensian beer, both at £2.80 and both in excellent condition. This is a superb unspoilt pub and well worth the effort of finding.

This is a detached little Georgian cottage styled pub perched on a hill with an extensive beer garden around it. A GBG entry, it is in white painted brick, with black door and window paintwork. The pub has nice sash windows with rusticated lintels, the keystone of one of which has a date of 1782 on it. There is also a nice porch and a dog-tooth moulded cornice. The interior is a single room straight room running along the width of the building, with the serving bar facing you on entry. The decor is a beigey colour, with a beige and beamed ceiling. The fact that pub was once two smaller rooms was shown by one half having a tile floor, while the other was wood, Further, there are a couple of fireplaces, one at each end of the pub. There is a lot of Victorian prints and old photographs of the pub on the walls, supplying interest. The service was very friendly - the landlord interested in which beer i preferred and explaining why the MILD was no longer on. The clientele (and it was busy) seemed mainly local and mainly in rugby shirts watching the 6 Nations. There was no music and normally, so the landlord said, no TV - it being here just for the day. Beer; usual tap stuff with Shire's Dabley Ale and Gold, Cottage Brewery's Between the Sticks and Morton's Essington Scrummage. All were in tip top condition and enjoyable. I was forced to try them all as Mrs Soup insisted on a pot of tea instead of a cup - the sacrifices I make! Class. Quality. Afre a day at Blist's Hill opposite, cross the road and come to this place - just make sure you are not driving! Mrs Soup can be hired for a pot of tea.

First impressions of this place as you approach are that it is simply a residential house. Nothing could be further from the truth as it is not only a great traditional free house pub but also the main outlet for Shires/Worfield brewery which is at the back of the building. The building has been used as a pub since 1831 and is well known by real ale fans for being one of only four remaining home brew pubs by the beginning of the 1970’s. The pub has one room with a small bar counter opposite the central entrance, two coal fires, the one on the left has a large basic grate, while the fire place on the right is smaller with a nice Victorian cast iron surround, beamed ceiling, red leather bench seats and old local photos on the walls. There is a second door in the back left corner of the room which leads out to a patio and the outside toilet block. Regular ales are Shires Dabley Ale, Coalport Dodger Mild and Dabley Gold with a single changing guest beer usually from a brewery in Shropshire or the neighbouring counties (GBG2011). I had the Dabley Ale and the Mild which were both in excellent condition (as you would expect of a brewery tap house). This is a brilliant traditional pub which has history and character, it’s a little difficult to find if you have not been here before but it is worth searching out. The situation with the brewery is strange as both Shires and Worfield seem to be active and trading from the All Nations, both have up to date web sites which advertise the same beer names but different pump clip designs and they even have identical phone numbers! Whatever the explanation I could not fault the beers in the pub and the prices are very competitive.

Shropshire CAMRA pub of the year 2010 and its easy to see why , only one room and a partially covered beer patio , its worth the walk or slightly dodgy drive up the narrow steep entrance to the carpark . The only entertainment is the regulars friendly banter and is all the better for it . 4 ales on , the pubs own Dabley Ale , Gold and Coalport Dodger Mild plus Gertie Sweet English Maiden and a Weston Scrumpy for apple lovers , the service was friendly and the beer exellent , this is a cracking little pub well worth a couple of hours drinking

One of the famous four home brew pubs* left at the start of the nineteen-seventies and therefore something of a place of pilgrimage for older drinkers. That is not to say the pub offers nothing but nostalgia because the All Nations, Worfield or currently Shires beers (the name has varied over the years) are excellent, my favourite being Dabley Ale. Only Dabley Ale and Dabley Gold plus a couple of guests on when I visited after a long day at Blists Hill museum which is almost opposite but in the trees. A long expectant climb up from from the main road leads to the double fronted building with a single long room inside. Plain and basic, with the pictures alluded to by Rob, it has all a serious beer drinker requires, good beer, good staff and friendly bantering customers. I'll have to go back some time soon. *All Nations, Blue Anchor (Helston), Ma Pardoes (Netherton), Three Tuns (Bishops Castle).

Nice little one roomed brewpub (Worfield Brewery) almost facing the Victorian Town museum (although well hidden from it). Plenty of pictures of the pub and the surrounding area around the walls. Has a pleasant looking beer garden as well. It was quiet as it was only about 5 p.m. but I got a cheery welcome from the landlord and some mad tail wagging from the dog. 5 handpumps with one serving real cider. The other had Worfield Dabley Ale, Dabley Gold, Coalport Dodger Mild and a guest, Western Arches from Cottage. Had a pint of the Gold @ £2.30 which was good. This pub reminds me of the Anchor at High Offley, it's a timewarp pub, a little gem. Sadly I was driving so I had to depart after one. I think I'll be calling in again though next time I'm on my way to Ironbridge.

One of the better Telford pubs, the All Nations is a brew pub (Worfield Brewery is the business name, I believe) sited near the Blists Hill theme park and in the area of Iron Bridge Gorge. It's a small Victorian building with 2 bars and concentrates on the beer. This is a good thing; it means people come here for a pint and is not overrun by famillies lookign for lunch. I came here in the evening and thoroughly enjoyed a pint of Dabley. The welcome wasn't warm, but the beer was fine.