Fabulous country pubs somewhere between south Wales and Birmingham

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

Ideally:

In a village, so we don't have to drive to our bed

Good range of proper beers (none of your Fosters rubbish)

Serving half decent food but not necessarily posh.

Possibly with rooms (though we don't mind staying nearby)

Forest of Dean, Malvern, Cotswolds perhaps?

not been here but always looks "nice"

Of course. Passed through there once and it reminds me a bit of a place near here called Cowbridge, which does get teenagery, without the Michelin restaurants. And the Castle. So not much like it then

Daren't take DH to Ludlow though, he's desperate to try a Michelin place just to see what it's like. And we really can't spend that much!

This place www.theclive.co.uk/ near Ludlow is lovely, the food is gorgeous and the rooms are nice.

Or if you want Cotswolds, this place is just fab: www.thechurchillarms.com/

I have been to Ludlow quite a bit as my parents live near there. The restaurants are great but the pubs are a bit ordinary for a night out, I think.

LOL tiger! same link!

Bell at Skenfrith Lovely place

I can certainly say the food is excellent and the service has been good. It is easy to find out of Stratford, and going north after you would just get on the M40 and then up to the M6.

Well MrsMcC, great minds obviously think alike.

It is slightly geared towards the older crowd, if I can put it that way, but we stayed there about 3 weeks ago (only way I can get DH to visit my parents is if he doesn't stay there) and I'd certainly go again.

tiger - I liked the churchill arms but not as much as the Bell just my opinion, the churchill arms was run by the same as the marsh goose in morton - but they did sell it and i havn't been back since it changed hands.

The Clytha Arms in Raglan was very nice about 6 years ago - great food, comfy beds.

PS My geography is terrible so it may not be where you want to be at all.

We will live in Shropshire by then - come and stay with us

I am noting down the Bell for future reference, Ivy.

This place www.theswanswinbrook.co.uk/ is absolutely lovely (sorry don't know how to do proper links) but it might be a bit off your radar OP for your journey? The food is really superb but it is just a bit Bodentastic and rugger shirts, I am afraid. Won't stop me going back and lowering the tone though...

DH, on the other side of the room, says he's still rather go to the Saracen's Head

He's not looking at what I'm looking at! I am becoming spoilt for choice. This is all fab, thanks. Churchill Arms just north of Moreton in Marsh for instance. How often can we get away without DS, why go somewhere within driving distance?

Normal driving distance from here, there and back, I mean.

He's now concerned about finding somewhere new....

If he wants somewhere nearer the Welsh border, what about this: www.rhydspence-inn.co.uk/
Not stayed there but it's a really ancient pub and food is nice.

Can you tell what I get up to at weekends?

Honestly - have a look at the Bell at Skenfrith. Its on the welsh border (near Monmouth) and it is gorgeous. We went during the christmas holiday and the food was amazing, the beer/wine list extensive and the bedrooms were lovely. Definitely worth a look

this place is lovely as well

do try an get him to look at th Skirrid mary, it's very- erm different LOL. Fanbtastic food, and has its own hangman memorabilia. What mroe can you want? Severely ancient too. Went thre first week of Uni.

Quick update:

After all this, and DH still insisting we stick with the Saracen's Head, he's decided now that we can't afford it at all and that instead we should sleep in the car!

I'm thinking about it.