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ONE PUB ONLY?
Three Fishes
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Go out to the Woodman, then back via the Armoury to The Admiral Benbow and Loggerheads
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Three Fishes
|  |  Admiral Benbow
Swan Hill, SY1 1NF T 01743 244423
G Mike Vaughan
MP BM P D
O 5 to 11, Mon - Thu, 12 to 2.30, 5 to 11, Fri, 11 to 11 Sat, 7 to 11 Sun
The Admiral is the most local of my Shrewsbury selection. This is a two - bar "traditional" pub specialising in local brews finding the smaller brewers and giving them a great outlet in town., It has an over 25's policy that sets it apart and helps to create an atmosphere all of its own, described as relaxed yet bubbly. If on a crawl I would start and finish here because the range and quality stands out. On my visit the afternoon office party crowd were ending an all - afternoon session. It is a good location for this as they were able to find a back area of the pub totally to their self leaving the regulars and serious ale heads to do the usual supping and chatting in the cosy front bar. It was a great place for both groups to treat the pub as their own.
UPDATE: The beer list now includes some rare cider selections. Another advantage is that the outside courtyard is totally enclosed, offering a potential location for puffers in the future.
BWV 19.11.04: Greene King IPA Hanby Bull Rush, John Roberts Three Tuns, Salopian Choir Porter, Six Bells Big Nev's, Cloud Nine
BWV 17.3.06: Greene King IPA, Mayfield Conqueror, Salopian Heaven Sent, Six Bells Cloud Nine, Titanic White Star, Wye Valley Butty Bach Gwatkin, Blakeney Red Perry, Yorkshire Mill cider
| |  Armoury
Victoria Quay, SY1 1HH T 01743 340525 W www.armoury-shrewsbury.co.uk
G John Astle - Rowe
F Good home cooked wholesome pub food 12 to 9.30
MP D
O 12 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun
Expanding the guide to five pubs gives me the opportunity to overcome the disappointment of not writing about the Armoury last year. I really like Brunning and Price pubs, and this one is a classic. It has a riverside location, is designed in the massive library style and has that essential morphing element that allows their pubs to suit a wide range of clientele. By this I mean that the balance between drinking and eating is constantly changing. So too is the move between regular suppers ticking away merrily as they sample rare ales, to seriously sophisticated clubbers using the Armoury as the quality option for their pre - partying beer. The food is very good, the ale even better, but it’s the overall atmosphere that grabs the casual visitor. There is no intrusive music just an echoing rumble of good conversation punctured by group laughter.
As a warehouse conversion this is an excellent example of what is possible. In a hundred years time it will no doubt be a classic of our generation and that is no bad thing if real ale is also remembered as something our generation helped to preserve.
BWV 17.3.06: Cottage Golden Arrow, Derby Brewery Harmony, Hop Back Crop Circle, Lancaster Blonde, Northumberland Sheep Dog, Outlaw Armoury Pale Ale, Salopian Shropshire Gold, Worfield Shropshire Pride | |  Loggerheads
1 Church St, SY1 1UG T 01743 355457
G Rob Walker
F Good honest, good value pub food 12 to 2.30 May to Oct only
MP P
O 11 to 11 Mon - Sat, 12 to 3, 8 to 11 Sun
Loggerheads is the classic Shrewsbury pub of the imagination. The timber - framed rooms, with a stone - floored corridor that winds around the bar are served through hatches to the small bar. It has National Inventory status perhaps in part to the layout of the anachronistically named “Gents Only Room.”
I visited several times over the weekend and the best was the first, when locals were jamming into the front snug for a post - work pint. The pub gets full very quickly and you soon get into a seat - sharing scenario. The real fires toast those who choose to stand, others venture off to the rear of the pub in search of their private space to sit and chat. Everything is very old - English, down to the topics of conversation and menu on offer.
On matchdays the pub is strictly no colours and post - game the door policy becomes selective. Rob has been here long enough to know the locals who are not so welcome. Generally it is not a town to wear colours in the pubs, the walk to the station from the ground conveniently passes the end of Church St. Loggerheads is a very friendly place, the people will readily chat about footie and ale, offering some great recommendations, and also reasons why some good ale pubs are changing their attitude, not for the better.
BWV 17.3.06: Bank’s Bitter, Original, Bass Draught, Marston’s Pedigree, Woodlands Old Willow | |  Three Fishes
Fish St, SY1 1UR T 01743 344793
G David Moss
F Good quality hearty meals served by a selection of batty waitresses 12 to 2.15, 6 to 8.30 Not Sun evening
MP
O 11.30 to 3, 5 to 11 Mon - Thu, 11.30 to 11.30 Fri - Sat, 12 to 4, 7 to 10.30 Sun
This award - winning pub is in an historic street near to the High Street where the landlord has created a pub for a wide range of drinkers. The Three Fishes is an instant recommendation whenever I talk to fans about pubs in this town. It is a small, one - bar pub, beautifully kept real ales and with a long established no - smoking policy. The beams and hanging hops add to the bucolic feel. The choice of guest ales offers some great surprises and is evidently popular with the regulars. During the day it is quite a tourist and office workers haunt; in the evening the locals take over. The regulars were very keen to give me advice on what makes a good pub and a good pint. “If a beer isn’t quite to your liking, don’t panic, another one will be on soon, talk to David and you might even get to choose.” Every time I go there I find something better to tell my friends, usually related to the dry humour that pervades in every conversation in the pub.
UPDATE: The law may be catching up re non - smoking. The Fishes remains a great trend setter.
BWV 19.11.04: Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Downton Raspberry Wheat, Fuller’s London Pride Timothy Taylor Landlord
BWV 17.3.06: Adnams Explorer, Bank Top Pavilion Pale Ale, Caledonian Deuchars IPA, E&S Elland 1872 Porter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Young’s Bitter, Addlestone's Cider | |  Woodman
32 Coton Hill, SY1 2DZ T 01743 351007
G Robin Beddoes
SP TV BM P
O Winter 4 to 11 Mon - Fri, 12 to 11 Sat - Sun Summer 2 to 11, 12 to 11 Sun
The choice of the Woodman is as much down to the local CAMRA members as those of you who live elsewhere. One such was Richard Green, who introduced me to one of the most enthusiastic Landlords I have ever met. For this I am grateful because the Woodman is a truly excellent addition and makes a great alternative for those looking for a non town location.
The pub has two contrasting rooms around a central bar. We settled into the wood - panelled lounge surrounded by evening suppers enjoying a regular night out of good conversation over quality ale. Robin has great plans to make this the best real ale pub in Shrewsbury. This includes adding European ales, a heated beer garden and conversion of the outside toilets. I suspect Lyn has as much to do with this, and the transformation of the pub, over the last five years. The ever - changing ales tend towards the lighter coloured varieties; market research suggests this suits the local palate.
The pub is just a ten minute walk from the station. It is also on the riverside walk to the ground, half an hour via the full route or 15 minutes by the railway footbridge to the ground. It was a great evening, full of tales of how to set up a new pub, and ghosts that have appeared in recent weeks. It is best then to stay in one of the nearby guest houses and make this your local for the weekend.
BWV 18.3.06: Greene King Ruddles County, Millstone Tiger Rut, Salopian Shropshire Gold, Shropshire Golden Thread, Smiles March Hare, White Horse Dragon Hill | | | SHREWSBURY CAMRA | | 
PROSTAR STADIUM
| |  LOCAL BREWERY
Salopian Brewing Co Ltd
67 Mytton Oak Road
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY3 8UQ
Tel: 01743 248414
www.salopianbrewery.co.uk
| | WETHERSPOONS
The Shrewsbury Hotel Bridge Place Shrewsbury SY1 1PU Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
Montgomery's Tower Lower Claremont Bank Shrewsbury SY1 1RT Opening Times: Sun-Tue 9am-midnight; Wed-Sat 9am-1am
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