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Branch Trip To
Worcestershire, December 2003
Our branch
Christmas trip took us to a small choice of pubs in Worcestershire. We set off
from the Anchor, the standard 15 minutes late, with the standard culprit
delaying us!!!!
Our first stop was at the Bridge Inn, Offenham. The pub is located on the bank
of the River Avon with some outdoor drinking areas. Split into two rooms with a
pool table in the bar area, the lounge was set up for diners and very booked up.
Beers on offer were Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Bathams Best, Batemans XXXB,
Draught Bass and rarely seen to us Donnington's Best.
Next on the list was former Good Beer Guide entry the Round of Gras in Badsey. A
very spacious pub with a modern interior again with a pool table. Beers on offer
were Uley Pigs Ear (5%) which ran out after the first pint was poured, Slaters
Bitter 3.6%, Flowers IPA 3.6% now brewed by Badger of Dorset and the first
traditional cider of the day in Westons Old Rosie 7.3% which I went for as I
have some fond (forgotten!) memories of this.
Next was the highlight of the trip, The Fleece Inn in Bretforton is a fantastic,
unspoilt, unaltered pub. The building dates back to around 1400 but didn't
become a pub until 1848 and up until just after the First World War beer was
brewed on the premises. The building had been in the same family since being
built until 1977 when Lola Taplin, the last in the family line, bequeathed the
property to the National Trust who now own and rent out the pub to the current
licensee. Beers on offer were Taylors Landlord 4.3%, Hook Norton Best 3.4% and
Twelve Days 5.5%, Uley Pigs Ear Strong 5%, Ansells Best 3.7% and locally
produced traditional cider from Cleeve Prior with their Priors Tipple 7.2% which
gave me another cider to try. Visit the Fleece Inn and see some fantastic photos
of the pub.
We moved onto Evesham to visit the Green Dragon, home of the Evesham brewery.
The pub has not been in the Good Beer Guide for the last few years but I put it
into the plan because of the brewery but the pub has sadly turned into a sports
bar and was closed at the time.
We fell back into the Old Swanne Inne, a typical, very busy Wetherspoon pub with
Batemans Rosey Nosey, Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Exmoor Exmas, Hop Back Winter
Lightning, Greene King Abbot, Theakston Best and Robinson's Old Tom at 8.5%.
We started our journey back, stopping off at the Green Dragon in Sambourne. One
bar serves the 5 rooms with part of the pub dedicated to eating. It is reported
that Tony Hancock used to frequent the pub on a regular basis. Beers on offer
were Draught Bass, Coors M & B Brew XI and Hobsons Best Bitter. It is at this
point that my memory starts to falter. Next up was the Weighbridge in Alvechurch.
The pub sits on the bank of the Worcester to Birmingham canal and used to be the
office for offloading coal barges. Now, this small cozy pub serves some good
ales with Walsh's Bakehouse Bitter and Flying Top and Weatheroak Light Oak. The
pub has an outside patio area ideal for the summer and is located the other side
of the canal from Alvechurch train station.
Our final pub was the Coach and Horses in Weatheroak Hill, located in the
grounds is also the Weatheroak brewery. The full range of Weatheroak ales were
available with Light Oak, Ale, Redwood and Triple Tee plus a range of guest
ales, Tetley's Imperial, Woods Shropshire Lad, Black Sheep Best and Greene King
Old Speckled Hen. An upper level area serves diners with the main restaurant
around the side, the drinkers are located in the lower quarry tiled bar area.
All in all a very good evening out, and we still made last orders in the Anchor.
If you fancy
joining us in the future then please check out the diary area and give us a
call.
Wez Brown © December 2003.
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