100% Quality, 75% Available
It was a Slow Way that brought me to Cleobury Mortimer. 5 hours and 13 miles after setting off.
I feel that I am deserve a reward. All the rewards.
In Bayton Church, I fire up the Bar Trek App and find that 4/4 pubs are open on a Wednesday. I had my doubts as to the veracity of this, but they're all close to each other.
The Royal Fountain sits opposite the church with the twisted spire. A terraced free house dating from the 17th Century.
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| Pub 1 - The Royal Fountain |
Enter into a main bar - where two men hang at the bar and one man guards all four of the comfy seats that a man who set off walking from a different county surely deserves. A cheery hello from the bar staff and my glasses instantly steam up. Which means the heating is on! Through the mist, I spot 5 cask hand pulls (a lot for three men, two on Madri) and as I am in Hobsons County, I plum for a Best Bitter.
Only 3.8% but very tasty and in very good condition.
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| 1C or 10 |
Sadly, despite two sources of information saying open at midday, it looks like The Kings Arms opens at 3pm. There are only so many sources of the truth a man can review. Photos outside, much to the bemusement of the two workies who are also trying to gain access.
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| Kings Arms - Dubious Tick |
The Talbot and The Stables share the same building infrastructure but are two independent premises. The Stables proudly celebrating their 10 year anniversary. It's a long way to go before they can match the Talbot - a 16th Century Coaching house, that looks handsome today as it did then.
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| All coaching houses need stables |
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| Front of house - the Talbot |
As the original and oldest pub in town, it becomes the first tick in my Shopshire Inn of Interest booklet. Love how the 1960s get excited at Chicken in a Basket. To be fair, the prospect got me buzzing.
There must be a pensioners offer on in the stables. Nearly every table is full of the grey pound. I manage to find the last place to sit and enjoy high quality Wye Valley Butty Bach.
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| Banished to the back of house |
The talbot is the opposite extreme - just two men, one playing the puggie, the other playing cards with the bar man. One cask on - Hobsons Pale - but running high on success, I decide to give it a go.
A bucket pulled through as the barrel is freshly on.
Perfect.
Life is all about timing.
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| Gorgeous |
Which extends to transport home. The nearest bus stop is called "The Talbot" and the 292 is bang on time.
A journey to Kidderminster to ponder on why no Cleobury pub is in the 2026 Good Beer Guide.
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