Sitting halfway between Stratford-upon-Avon and Chipping Norton, Shipston is home to just under 6,000 folk who have six town centre pubs to choose from.
The first of these that we popped into was The Lazy Pug, which looked like it might a good bet for some pub grub.
This was originally the White Horse, before becoming the Falcon in 2002 until Covid sealed it's fate. Since then it has reopened as one of the small Warwickshire 'Pug' pubs - in a remarkably similar building to Leamington's Royal Pug, if memory serves me right.
It's U-shaped in design, with a ghastly corner of cushions, neon lights and fake foliage; high stools, barrels and blokes in braces by the bar; and some conventional tables elsewhere.
We had a couple of plates of decent food - then grumbled to ourselves about the added service charge which hiked the prices up and just seems wrong in a pub.
'Doom Bar' or Wychwood's rugby-themed 'Dirty Tackle' didn't make for the most exciting beer choice, so we were happy to be on our way, strolling to the first of the town's two Good Beer Guide entries.
Black Horse (Station Road, Shipstone on Stour, CV36 4BT - web)
This was our olde-worlde pub of the day: a nice thatch roof and a licence dating back to 1540.
Through the front door and passageway the Flagstone Bar is on the left-hand side, a pleasant traditional room with not a soul in it.
"You can stay in here if you want," said the landlord, poking his head round the side of the bar. "But the fire's lit in the lounge and everyone else is in there."
'Doom Bar' or Wychwood's rugby-themed 'Dirty Tackle' didn't make for the most exciting beer choice, so we were happy to be on our way, strolling to the first of the town's two Good Beer Guide entries.
Black Horse (Station Road, Shipstone on Stour, CV36 4BT - web)
This was our olde-worlde pub of the day: a nice thatch roof and a licence dating back to 1540.
Through the front door and passageway the Flagstone Bar is on the left-hand side, a pleasant traditional room with not a soul in it.
"You can stay in here if you want," said the landlord, poking his head round the side of the bar. "But the fire's lit in the lounge and everyone else is in there."
The fire was more in the dying embers stage than lit, but the room was toasty, smelt of wood smoke, and was busy with a cheery bunch of locals.
We barely managed to squeeze in on arrival, but everyone started to leave soon afterwards. Not connected to our arrival. A little bit of investigation and I discovered they were all off to watch Shipstone RFC beat Swindon 41-34 just down the road.
We barely managed to squeeze in on arrival, but everyone started to leave soon afterwards. Not connected to our arrival. A little bit of investigation and I discovered they were all off to watch Shipstone RFC beat Swindon 41-34 just down the road.
Prescot 'Hill Climb' or Wye Valley 'Butty Bach' were the beers on offer - my pint of of Butty Bach in good condition, thoroughly enjoyed in this lovely old pub.
Next up: the micro.
Thirst Edition (46 Church Street, Shipstone on Stour, CV36 4AS - web)
Where Prop Up the Bar's off-peak pub travels were in full swing...
Coach & Horses (16 New Street, Shipstone on Stour, CV36 4EN)
Chutneys has recently moved in and taken over half the pub, leaving two interconnecting rooms - dominated by TVs and dart boards - to make up the Coach & Horses.
There were three hand pumps on the bar, but only one in operation serving a rather dodgy 'Hooky'. But that didn't spoil the pub visit.
It's not everywhere that I get asked if I "happen to be a BT TV installer".
Drama unfolded as the locals instructed the staff member how to change the channel on the small TV to show the rugby. But in doing so the enormo screen in the corner flicked onto a blue menu which nobody could navigate away from. Half the folks in the pub ambled behind the bar to have a go with the remote controls.
The rest entered into an animated debate as to which buttons to press, to no avail; the staff member rolled her eyes; the chap in the corner said "they could write a bleedin' sitcom about you lot".
Y'now what, I'm quite good with TVs. I kinda wish I'd got involved now. Maybe I'd have got another ropey Hooky as a reward.
"Do come back," the lady behind the bar called to us as we returned our glasses to the bar and went to leave, "this lot aren't always here."
Next up: the micro.
Thirst Edition (46 Church Street, Shipstone on Stour, CV36 4AS - web)
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| I'll let you guess how comfy that seating was. Or how exciting our pub visit was. |
A 3pm opener, I guess it was quite inevitable that we wouldn't be squeezing past the crowds twenty minutes after they unbolted the door. And someone has to be first in to disturb the young staff member from tinkering with her phone.
It was a bit of an eyesight tester, studying the pump clips pinned up at the back of the bar - three from Hawkshead, one from the Heritage Brewery, and the old favourite Saltaire 'Triple Choc' stout.
I've enjoyed everything I've tried from Burton's Heritage Brewery and despite an awful pump clip the 'Happy as Larry' was a superb bitter - best beer of the day.
It was a bit of an eyesight tester, studying the pump clips pinned up at the back of the bar - three from Hawkshead, one from the Heritage Brewery, and the old favourite Saltaire 'Triple Choc' stout.
I've enjoyed everything I've tried from Burton's Heritage Brewery and despite an awful pump clip the 'Happy as Larry' was a superb bitter - best beer of the day.
After a quiet and uneventful twenty-five minutes spent in the micro, we figured we had time to visit one more of Shipston's pubs.
You're not far from Hook Norton in these parts, so it seemed like a good idea to grab a pint of Hooky in the Coach & Horses...
Chutneys has recently moved in and taken over half the pub, leaving two interconnecting rooms - dominated by TVs and dart boards - to make up the Coach & Horses.
There were three hand pumps on the bar, but only one in operation serving a rather dodgy 'Hooky'. But that didn't spoil the pub visit.
It's not everywhere that I get asked if I "happen to be a BT TV installer".
Drama unfolded as the locals instructed the staff member how to change the channel on the small TV to show the rugby. But in doing so the enormo screen in the corner flicked onto a blue menu which nobody could navigate away from. Half the folks in the pub ambled behind the bar to have a go with the remote controls.
The rest entered into an animated debate as to which buttons to press, to no avail; the staff member rolled her eyes; the chap in the corner said "they could write a bleedin' sitcom about you lot".
Y'now what, I'm quite good with TVs. I kinda wish I'd got involved now. Maybe I'd have got another ropey Hooky as a reward.
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| The bridge over the River Stour |
This reminds me that I need to visit Shipston....some tidy looking boozers as well as the best pair of braces I've seen in a pub for many a year
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