Comparing Ancient Worcestershire Pubs
It's a matter of days before the new edition of the Good Beer Guide is replaced. Where does time go?
My usual commitment is to ensure that my home county, Worcestershire remains "greened". There are two entries to tick.
Today, it is Honeybourne. Technically two villages - Church Honeybourne and Cow Honeybourne. Until 1958, one was in Worcestershire and one was in Gloucestershire. Its fortunes have improved with the coming of the railways - first being on the Cheltenham Line and more recently on the London-Worcester line.
The walking was always going to be agricultural. At times the paths were lost to 6ft corn crops. At others, I was walking - quite legally on the right of way - through strawberry poly-tunnels.
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| Lost again |
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| Lunchtime snacks available. Bring your own sugar. |
The walk was largely perfunctory - designed to work up a thirst.
The Thatched Tavern, Honeybourne is the new 2026 tick. And I am having no problems in finding it.
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| One day, all pubs will be so well signposted |
However, the walk takes me through Bretforton. Lovers of pubs know what this means. It would be rude not to say hello to an old friend. The Fleece Inn is described in one of my pub books as "one of the best half dozen historic pubs in England".
Both pubs appear in my 1960s guide "Historic and New Inns of Interest" and are of a similar age. A chance for me to compare and contrast.
The Fleece Inn, Bretforton
The memories of my last walk here - snow on the ground. What we would give for such days again!
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| The Fleece in a heatwave |
The building is more than 500 years old and half timber-framed. A former longhouse farmstead - home to animals and humans - and in the same family until donated to the National Trust in 1978. 15 generations of the Byrds, the former owners, are found in the adjacent churchyard.
Rambling inside - there are low doorways, a tiny narrow bar and a rear dining room. Here you can see the famous "witch marks" at the fireplace, should you be lucky enough to get a seat.
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| I was lucky on snow day, 2024 |
I do manage to get a table inside - in front of the 300-year old pewter dining set display. Uley Brewery Pig's Ear is on, as always.
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| In front of the family heirlooms |
The Thatched Tavern, Honeybourne
I'm not sure how much of the C13th infrastructure remains. Again, it's half timbered and unlike the 1960s guide book, the A-framing can be seen from the other end, not where a more modern extension has been added.
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| That's the architectural angle! Two tree trunks pegged together for support |
Unlike the Fleece, once inside, you could be anywhere. A modern bar... modern furniture... I wandered around, looking to see anything to photograph. To the delight of pensioner diners and knock-off early workers, there was nothing.
The cask range a little pedestrian. An HPA and another pale ale with a not-to-be-trusted handwritten pump clip.
It does have things going for it - a wonderful beer garden, regular and early opening hours (11am daily) and in these troubled days of cost of living crisis - reasonably priced and deliciously chilled keg lagers.
Walk Details
Distance - 8.5 miles
Geocaches - 5
Walk Inspiration - Jarrold The Malverns to the Warwickshire, Walk 19
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