Prices from:
£75 per night
Rescued from a 9-year closure and restored by the local community in 2014, the Pheasant, a once derelict roadside inn is now thriving as a proper country pub and is situated opposite the charming church in the heart of sleepy Neenton deep in the Shropshire Hills. Without a pub, post office, village hall, school or playground, and no pub since 2006, the villagers rallied and formed the Neenton Community Society to rebuild and create a bright future as a sustainable rural community, with the acquisition, restoration and re-opening of the Pheasant as a social hub being the flagship project. Having bought the pub in 2013, they also acquired land behind the pub and planning permission was given to build seven houses and the subsequent sale of the houses helped fund the restoration and extension of the Pheasant. The result is a cracking rural inn, with a country-rustic feel throughout the relaxed and informal bar (rugs on tiled floor, wood-burner fronted by deep sofas and armchairs) and the stunning new Oak Room dining room. Hearty, home-cooked seasonal food, freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients, and accommodation in the form of three simple very comfortable upstairs rooms complete the pleasing picture. Well run by Mark & Sarah and perfect for exploring South Shropshire’s glorious and undiscovered countryside, the Severn Valley and the foodie town of Ludlow.
Families can expect a warm welcome as children are allowed throughout the pub. There are baby-changing facilities in the disabled toilet, a good children’s menu, a new play area in the garden, and youngsters can be accommodated overnight.
Dogs are welcome in the bars (water bowls & biscuits provided) and overnight in the bedrooms by prior arrangement
Rear terrace with picnic benches and a sheltered orchard garden with colourful borders and planting. Alternatively, bag a bench at the front and watch the world go by with a pint of Hobsons.
Being a community-owned pub, there’s always something going on to keep the locals entertained. There are regular quizzes, live music on Sunday afternoons and other events such as Classic car days during the summer. The garden is the location for the village fete and the Neenton Duck Race on the nearby River Rea, with proceeds going to the church and charity.
What’s the Damage?
3 doubles/twin £75 – £95; dinner B&B £110-£135
What Else?
An external staircase leads to the three cosy and spotless upstairs bedrooms, which are simply decorated and have everything you require for a comfortable stay – excellent bed topped with quality linen, duvets and throws, and a smart tiled bathroom with modern fittings, including excellent showers. The largest room is in the original 18th-century building and offers period charm and great country views.
Tea & Coffee; top beds and linen; REN toiletries
Television
Classic Full Shropshire breakfast; Smoked Salmon & Scrambled Egg; Smoked Haddock & Poached Egg; Buffet of cereals and juices
What’s the Damage?
3 doubles/twin £75 – £95; dinner B&B £110-£135
What Else?
Having plied the stoves and worked front of house at several large hotels over the years, chef-landlord Mark Harris and partner Sarah Cowley jumped at the chance to manage the Pheasant for the community and have not looked back, loving every minute of the challenge to establish the Pheasant on Shropshire’s culinary pub map. Mark’s menus work with the seasons and successfully combine pub classics with more inventive daily specials. Expect some good hearty cooking, great flavours and generous portions – excellent sandwiches (sirloin steak, caramelized onion and tomatoes, served with salad and chips) are not for the feint-hearted and will keep you fuelled for an afternoon walk across nearby Clee Hill. Mark makes good use of the top-notch local produce on the doorstep, notably potatoes, lamb and pork from nearby farms, alongside game from the Wheathill shoot and venison reared in Mortimer Forest.
(Starters: £5.50-£6.50; Main Courses: £9.95-£17.95; Desserts £4.95-£7.95)
Potted pork, sticky apple & crackling salad
Smoked haddock Scotch egg, curried mayonnaise
Calves’ liver, creamed potatoes, red wine jus, crispy bacon & shallots
Hobsons beer-battered haddock, hand-cut chips, mushy peas
Salmon supreme, lemon, prawn & pea linguine, white wine cream
Eton mess, raspberry sorbet
Lemon posset, Chantilly cream, homemade shortbread
Artisan cheeses, spiced plum chutney
Lunchtime sandwiches & ploughman’s platters
(£11.95; 2 courses £14.50; 3 courses-£16.95)
Sharing platters of local beef, pork belly or whole chicken, served with cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire pudding and seasonal vegetables
Breakfast: 8am – 10am
Lunch: 12 noon – 3pm (Sundays 5pm)
Dinner: 6pm – 9pm (No food Sunday evening)
Meat – Beaman’s Butchers, Low Town, Bridgnorth
Lamb – reared in nearby fields…!
Potatoes – Mark Lloyd, farmer in the village
Fruit & Vegetables – Rowlands, Shrewsbury (www.rowlandsltd.co.uk)
Game –Local shoots
Venison – Mortimer Forest
Water – Wenlock Spring
Coffee – Danielle’s Coffee, Burwarton (www.daniellescoffee.co.uk)
Hobsons Brewery, Cleobury Mortimer (www.hobsons-brewery.co.uk)
Big Shed Brewery, Shawbury (www.bigshedbrewery.co.uk)
Ludlow Brewery, Ludlow (wwwtheludlowbrewingcompany.co.uk)
Hop & Stagger Brewery, Norton (www.facebook.com/HopandStaggerBrewery)
Six Bells Brewery, Bishops Castle (www.sixbellsbrewery.com)
The Pheasant is a true rural free house and fully taps into the thriving local micro-brewery scene. Both pump clips and the ‘Coming Soon’ board champion brews from such as Big Shed Brewery (Engineers Best or Tyger Tyger), Ludlow Brewery Company (Ludlow Gold or Blonde), Three Tuns Brewery (Solstice), or perhaps Town Crier from Hobsons Brewery, with a regular gem from further afield, namely Copper Hop from Long Man Brewery in Sussex on our visit. The short, carefully selected list of wines comes from Bibendum, with all 30 wines available by the glass, so you can explore better wines without risking the whole bottle. Danielle’s excellent coffee is roasted in nearby Burwarton.
(£3-£7.50)
Pork pie & tomato pickle; whitebait & tartare sauce; nuts from the Ludlow Nut Company
12 noon – 3pm; 6pm – 11pm; Saturday 12 noon – 11pm (9pm Sunday)
What’s the Damage?
3 doubles/twin £75 – £95; dinner B&B £110-£135
What Else?
Take it back home
Tour the brewery that brewed your favourite pint, visit the shop on the farm that reared your delicious Sunday roast beef, and seek out the roadside stalls selling the local crab and samphire on the inn’s menu, the Food Trail features the local artisan producers and suppliers where you can buy to enjoy at home.
Change of scenery
Looking for a pub for lunch following a country walk, a different venue for dinner, or a good café for coffee, light lunch or afternoon tea, then the best in the area are listed below. If you find a new and exciting eatery in the area that’s worthy of a mention on the Food Trail, then please to do let us know – .
In converted railway shed, this artisan brewery doesn't do guided tours as such but you can pick up bottles of brews like Ludlow Best and Black Knight from the shop and it also has its own small bar where you can taste before you buy.
The renowned and historic Three Tuns and adjoining brewery (under separate ownership) has been the community hub of this unique little town since 1642. Explore the independent shops and rest and refuel on good food and a pint of Clerics Cure at this friendly and unassuming pub.
Visiting Ironbridge, then seek out this handsomely refurbished pub situated on the banks of the River Severn, a mile downstream from Ironbridge, and named after the wooden bridge that once connected the pub to the village of Coalport. Superb raised terrace with river views for summer sipping.
Part of the Oakly Park Estate, the Ludlow Food Centre offers a unique food shopping experience where farming, food production and retailing come together under one roof. Buy beef, lamb, Old Spot pork and game reared on the estate, and vegetables from the walled garden, as well as top quality produce from local artisan producers, many of whom make the food by hand on the premises. Allow time for breakfast, coffee or lunch at the excellent all-day Ludlow Kitchen Restaurant.
Part of England’s first community (& organic) farm, set up over 65 years ago, the farm shop is run by tenant farmer Ben Hollins, who sells farm-reared beef, lamb and pork alongside fresh locally grown and organic vegetables, local honey and jams, organic bread, speciality cheese and much more. Don’t miss Arthur’s Farm Kitchen in the converted barn.
Stock up with Shropshire grown and reared goodies from the butchery, deli, pantry and bakery at this excellent farm shop on the Apley Estate, including estate reared beef, pork, venison, chicken and game, and produce from the walled garden. It also sources the best produce from local suppliers and artisan producers for the farm shop and the adjacent Creamery Café.
A large, twice-monthly farmers' market selling a wide range of everyday and specialist food and drink produced within 30 miles of Ludlow.
Established in Cleobury Mortimer by the Davis family in 1993, Hobsons is one of the leading craft brewers in Shropshire and one of the most sustainable breweries in the country. The owners are passionate about craft and provenance and the primary ingredients are sourced within 30 miles of the brewery. Look out for the brewery nights and foodie events at the brewery, which includes a brewery tour and beer tastings.
Wye Valley Brewery is a friendly, family-run brewery that cares about real ales, real pubs and real people. Established by Peter Amor in 1985, the brewery moved to Stoke Lacy in 2002 and it is now recognised as Herefordshire’s leading cask ale brewery. You can visit the Brewery Shop and there are regular brewery tours and tastings during the year.
Exploring Clee Hill on foot, then plan your route to take in the traditional Tally Ho at Bouldon, buried down twisting lanes in the heart of Corvedale. Recently resurrected by a polar explorer, it offers local ales and hearty food.
Established in 2014, this independent deli is run by people who are passionate about quality food and drink. Food is fresh prepared daily in the kitchen using seasonal ingredients from local suppliers. Call by for excellent coffee and cake, warm lunches or choose sandwiches, terrines and tarts from the deli counter, and peruse the shelves full of goodies to take home.
The place to come for the best quality local cheeses, such as Ludlow Blue and cheeses from Brockhall Farm, Neals Yard Creamery and the Monkland Dairy, amongst many others.
The Edge Adventure Activities Centre at Much Wenlock, south-east of Shrewsbury, offers the chance to indulge in a huge range of popular activities. There's clay pigeon shooting, archery, zip wire, quad biking and much more. It's a great venue for a family party or a birthday treat.
There can be no finer way of seeing and appreciating the Shropshire and Worcestershire countryside than from the carriage of a steam train. The 16-mile heritage line runs along the Severn Valley from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth.
This picturesque 18-hole, mainly parkland golf course is a delight to play. Some holes are on springy hillside turf, while others are on land overlooking the Severn flood plain.
Enjoy the River Severn from the water at Ironbridge and get a unique view of the world-famous, historic structure. Gliding through the water, you may even spot otters, deer and kingfishers. There’s always plenty to see on the Severn.
Soar above Shropshire in the company of buzzards, savouring the stunning views of verdant landscapes from a two-seater glider. One-day flying courses are available to give you a taste of adventure.
This boutique-style shop in Ludlow's elegant town centre offers a wide and striking range of inspiring items, including soft furnishings, furniture, table lamps, chandeliers and limited-edition prints, plus original works of art and jewellery.
Shopping is a real pleasure at 55 Mill Street in Ludlow - a collection of traders housed among the historic buildings in this wonderful old town. Expect a treasure-trove of decorative antiques, French brocante (bric-a-brac), vintage clothing and textiles, architectural antiques and garden furniture. 01584 877200.
Situated in the charming little Shropshire town of Church Stretton, Burway Books is a proudly independent bookshop where you can browse and buy to your heart's content. Expect to see some of the very collectable Lone Pine titles by Malcolm Saville - the stories are set in the locality.
Bodenhams on Ludlow's picturesque Broad Street is the place to go for an extensive range of men's and ladies wear for use indoors or outdoors. The black-and-white timber-framed building in which the shop is based dates back more than 600 years.
Expect beautiful arrangements of this beautiful flower at the Peony Shop in Shifnal, near Telford. There are also fascinating factory tours and workshops.
Based at Cosford, between Shifnal and Albrighton, the Royal Air Force Museum has over 70 aircraft of international importance housed in three wartime hangars. See the world's oldest Spitfire and visit the museum's acclaimed National Cold War Exhibition.
Attingham Park is Shropshire's leading year-round attraction, and with its acres of parkland, miles of walks, walled kitchen garden and graceful mansion, you can see why it draws so many visitors.
With its steep-sided, densely wooded hillsides and awesome industrial legacy, Ironbridge Gorge is one of the most dramatic landmarks in the region – if not the whole country. There’s so much to see and discover that a visit to the museums at Ironbridge – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and often described as the cradle of the Industrial Revolution - can grab your attention for hours, even days.
Located in a glorious setting in the Corvedale Valley, southwest of Much Wenlock, Shipton Hall is renowned for its stunning views and gardens. A prime example of Elizabethan domestic architecture, a stone dovecote, 12th-century church, four-storey tower and rococo interior décor enhance Shipton’s appeal.
Shropshire contains many hidden gems and this is surely one of them. Wenlock is all that remains of a medieval priory. During the 19th century it was the home of William Pennybrookes, a leading figure in the local Wenlock Olympian Games, which are still running today.
A short distance to the northwest of Kidderminster, Bodenham Arboretum is an oasis of trees, shrubs, pools, meadows and avenues where you’ll find more than 3,000 species from all parts of the world. The Arboretum covers 156 acres and there is an award-winning, environmentally sensitive building housing a visitor centre and lakeside restaurant.
Upton Cressett is a splendid 16th-century Elizabethan moated manor house with a Grade-I-listed turreted gatehouse. John Betjeman described it as ‘a remote and beautiful place.’ Working Tudor fireplaces, a banqueting room and an original oak spiral staircase are among the hall’s many features.
You’ll find a great deal to occupy and entertain you in the historic border town of Shrewsbury, including its wonderful castle housing the impressive collections of the Shropshire Regimental Museum Trust. Expect uniforms, paintings, weapons and medals from the 18th century to the present day.
Located in 18th-century buildings to the south of Church Stretton, Acton Scott’s historic working farm is a great visitor attraction for all the family to enjoy. Its key aim is to provide a fascinating glimpse of rural life at the turn of the 19th century.
The story of this 17th-century country house, south of Bridgnorth, has a fascinating contemporary twist. Discover Dudmaston’s family history in the lived-in family rooms and the see the wonderful art galleries, described as housing ‘one of the most important private modern art collections in a country house setting.’
The present hall is 18th century and the parkland was landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown in about 1730. In the grounds you’ll find a spot known as ‘Giffard’s Cross.’ This is where a previous owner, Sir John Giffard, is alleged to have killed a panther with an arrow from a crossbow.
Over the years historic Boscobel House, not far from Chillington Hall, has been a farmhouse, a hunting lodge and even a holiday home. However, its greatest claim to fame is as a hiding place for Charles II after the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/walking
On Neenton’s doorstep lie 600 miles of byways and bridleways, threading their way across some of Britain’s most spectacular landscapes. The glorious border country of Shropshire is a walker’s paradise. Most ramblers head for the four dramatic ridges of Wenlock Edge, the Long Mynd, the Stiperstones and the Clee Hills – A E Housman’s ‘blue remembered hills’. Just 3 miles from the Pheasant lies Brown Clee Hill, Shropshire’s highest point – with breathtaking views stretching from the Cotswolds to Snowdonia and the Peak District to the Brecon Beacons. There is also a host of gentler, less demanding walks to enjoy throughout the region, and a stroll up to Five Springs on Brown Clee is the perfect prelude to a fine dinner.
www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/cycling
There’s huge potential for cycling in Shropshire, with many good circular routes starting in the county’s market towns. For something more adventurous, try the Shropshire Cycleway, which follows the county’s meandering boundary. There are also various national cycle routes running throughout the region, including the Mercian Way and the Six Castles Cycleway.
www.ludlowspringfestival.co.uk
The Wenlock Olympic Games, held every July, is one of the region’s more unusual traditions. Elsewhere, there are festivals, carnivals, fairs, shows and exhibitions throughout Shropshire all year round. The Ludlow Spring Festival in May is famous for its classic cars, great real ales and fantastic music. In summer, Ludlow comes alive during its annual fringe festival, and in September the historic old town plays host to the popular food festival where you’ll find passionate local chefs, workshops, hands-on cookery demonstrations and foodie surprises. The Bridgnorth Music & Arts Festival, held from mid-August until early September, includes great music, art, film, poetry and much more.
By Road: Neenton is located on B4364 Bridgnorth to Ludlow road, 7 miles from Bridgnorth and 12 miles from Ludlow.
, Neenton, Shropshire , WV16 6RJ
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