The Woodcolliers, Bewdley

A very retro local inn (Grade II listed), a couple of minutes up the hill from town. A number of traditional seating areas on a couple of levels wrapped round a side bar. Loads of old drinking mugs hanging from the beams (more than the Mug down the road!) and plenty of country pub ephemera including a nice selection of framed pictures of old Bewdley. Traditional feel enhanced by a lack of piped music/TV, just a ticking clock. Unfortunately the place was near-deserted on Sunday afternoon so the lack of background noise did rather count against it. It’s a long-standing GBG entry with all the old ‘we are in it’ posters up on the wall. Three ales on and were all quite local, Ludlow Gold, Three Tuns Bitter and St Georges Gold. Also some Cider and Perry. Good selection of bar snacks and a new one for me – lemon & chilli crisps (which were hot!). A nice little place, shame it was so quiet and I hope it gets busier in the evenings. Another good Bewdley pub worth making the effort to do.

I recently drank at the Woodcolliers and frankly I was not impressed. My friend spilt a little beer on his table and the Landlord went over the top, complaining away and producing a turpentine spray which he used under our noses, taking several minutes to slowly, agonisingly, clean up the mess while we sat there in a very awkward silence. The scent of turps is not at all palatable, and it was clear from his belligerent attitude that he did not want our clientele. What made it worse was that we were staying at the Woodcolliers, it also being a B&B.

I'll stick my neck out and say that this is my favourite pub in Bewdley. We got there at 5pm on a Friday afternoon and our initial disappointment at finding it closed was quickly overcome as the gaffer was just about to open up. It's traditional in style with some nice copper topped tables in the lounge. Other rooms were set out for dining. Cask ales were Kinver Crystal, Kinver Light Railway, Three Tuns 1642 Bitter, Ludlow Brewing Co Gold, Hardy's. There was also Hardy's and Hanson's Mild on tap - which I enjoyed. I've been here before several years ago. If there's one pub in Bewdley that I would make a point of going back to this would be it.