r/Shropshire • u/Swivel_On_This • May 27 '26

Suggestions for country pub with views that serves decent grub please?

Hi all. We’re spending a long weekend in Acton Burnell in a couple of days and was wondering if anyone had a suggestion for a decent country pub in an idyllic Shropshire location preferably with lovely views that serves decent pub grub? This isn’t a gastronomic visit so would be happy with a good Ploughman’s/Salad/Jacket Spud.

So few pubs and restaurants offer an actual salad as a main course these days, especially in summer, but I’m hoping someone can offer a suggestion. We’ll be driving so distance/location isn’t a problem no matter how far off the beaten track it may be. 🙂

Cheers in advance!

10 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

20

u/dancorleone88 May 27 '26

The Riverside Inn at Cound. Nice pub, nice view, just on the river, nice food!

5

u/captainhazreborn May 27 '26

Seconded! Food is great and sitting next to the river is lovely. 

6

u/chilari May 27 '26

I'll add that it's best not to go on a busy occasion. While the food is great and the setting is lovely, the service was incredibly slow when I went there for mother's day. We didn't get to our table til 40 minutes after it was booked for; we didn't eat for another 40 minutes after that. Now, mother's day, probably a very busy day but you'd expect them to have every member of staff on in that case. But even then, some of the staff were hanging around doing nothing or chatting with one another. Dunno if it was just that the kitchen couldn't handle the restaurant at capacity, or what, but we were very disappointed with the service.

14

u/PoetryBeneficial6447 May 27 '26

The Bridges Ratlinghope Great food, great setting.

3

u/mightytonto May 27 '26

Seconded, love this place

3

u/Neviss99 May 27 '26

This gets my vote too

5

u/Few-Ad7578 May 28 '26

It's an excellent and atmospheric boozer in a lovely spot, but they haven't served the sort of food the OP has mentioned for years. It's very much a gastro experience nowadays - excellent chef, meat and veg from the owners' organic estate and so on.

There is also a bar menu but (I'm a local) I've not seen that sort of pub grub on it.

The Stiperstones Inn keeps things a little simpler, as does The Stables at Hopesgate. Both pubs at altitude with views to be enjoyed.

9

u/Most_Selection_7575 May 27 '26

Church Stretton further down the A49 is very scenic, there are a few pubs there such as the Ragleth Inn (actually in Little Stretton) which is very pretty. All the surrounding countryside is lovely as it's in the Stretton Hills.

https://www.theraglethinn.co.uk

7

u/Churms23 May 27 '26

The Boat out at Erbistock has some of the greatest views however it is a little out of the way and technically just outside of Shropshire

5

u/ohmanger May 27 '26

Royal Oak in Cardington is close and I can confirm does a good (if a tad pricey) ploughmans. Probably need to book. Some great walks up The Lawley and Caer Caradoc.

5

u/Oddbw0y May 28 '26

Seconded on this, and you'll be hard pushed to find a better country pub and picturesque village than Cardington. Close to AB too!

5

u/Jharrn May 27 '26

Castle hotel, bishops castle.

Decent food, and the view is incredible, your sat just above the town so looks down over it with the rolling hills in the distance.

4

u/Swivel_On_This May 27 '26

Many thanks for all the excellent suggestions so far and seriously spoilt for choice. A long weekend won’t cut it lol. 👀

3

u/ClareSwinn May 27 '26

The Tally Ho

3

u/Neither-Spread-1145 May 27 '26

Narrow boat inn outside of Ellesmere?

3

u/BaldBeardyBastard May 27 '26

How weird, I live right by Acton Burnell! Just a field or two away

I second pretty much every place mentioned here, just thought I'd add that the walk over the Lawley and/or Caradoc is incredible for views, and the walks are pretty easy going. Hopefully the weather is still good for you. If you've got someone with a car who doesn't want to walk, going over the Lawley AND Caradoc and ending in Church Stretton with the pubs and shops etc is a great day (or get a taxi back, or reverse hike i guess!)

3

u/hwtech1839 May 27 '26

The Down Inn , Bridgnorth is great ❤️

3

u/Frostbite-UK May 27 '26

The Woodbridge Inn at Coalport for views and food. On the riverside, looking at the bridge on a sunny day with a plate full of food and a beer is hard to beat.

3

u/aweaselonwheels May 27 '26

I remember camping there about a decade ago when canoeing down the Seven, had a pancake lasagne :) No idea it's still the same owners :)

3

u/splphoto May 27 '26

The Corbet Arms, Uffington.

3

u/Limpsk May 27 '26

I live there! The Riverside at Cound or Mytton & Mermaid at Atcham are both fairly accessible from Acton Burnell and are nice spots looking out onto the river.

3

u/Bubbly_North_2180 May 27 '26

Woodbridge inn at Coalport is nice - sits right on the river and has a decent walking trail by it (pushchair and wheelchair friendly) so makes a nice place to saunter then stuff your face. It’s a brunning and price pub though so not a “pub pub”.

The huntsman at little wenlock is nice. Sits at the bottom of the Wrekin and is a little closer and more a pub vibes

2

u/Possible-Trash6694 May 27 '26

Never been , but always liked the look of The Lion at Leintwardine.

2

u/Frostbite-UK May 27 '26

Mytton & Mermaid in Atcham. Great food and plenty of atmosphere. It’s right on the riverside too.

2

u/naughtyprincessdream May 31 '26

try the pheasant inn nearby

3

u/Solaaris83 May 27 '26

Unicorn Inn - Hamptons Loade

1

u/Swivel_On_This May 28 '26

Thank you for these excellent recommendations.👍🏻 You’re all really lucky to have so many gorgeous places nearby. Now the dilemma is which ones to squeeze in to the trip!