The charming and sometimes peculiar old pubs of Worcestershire hide many strange secrets and perhaps a few ghosts.
But that is hardly surprising when the county has such a rich, bloody and dramatic history, abounding with tales of defeated kings, slain rebels, pilgrims, witches and ghosts.
Worcestershire's oldest pubs are a great place for a delicious pint, a glass of wine, a bite to eat or simply as places to soak up the atmosphere and sense of mystery - and history.
From the crooked, timber-framed pubs of old Worcester, still nestled within the scant and crumbling remains of her medieval walls, to old pubs in the shadow of the Malvern Hills or rare survivals still standing proud in the majestic sweep of the Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire is spoiled for choice for visitors and locals alike.
READ MORE: Best canalside pubs in Worcestershire
READ MORE: We visit best cafe in Worcester (according to TripAdvisor)
Whether it is King Charles House with its sagging timbers and slanting floors (which makes you feel prematurely drunk) or the quaint, intimate corners of the Cardinal's Hat, it is not hard to find pubs overflowing with history in Worcestershire.
Here we take a closer look at some of the oldest, quirkiest and most interesting pubs for you to explore in Worcestershire.
The Cardinal's Hat in Worcester
The Cardinal's Hat in Friar Street is said to be the city's oldest pub. Now it is a place of pilgrimage for lovers of history rather than a watering hole for clerics of the Mother Church.
Whoever sanctioned the looming, monstrous multi-storey car park opposite should probably be, at the very least, excommunicated. The Cardinal's, nevertheless, lies in one of the oldest parts of the city, close to Worcester Cathedral, Greyfriars and Tudor House where the fabric of the old city is best preserved.
First mentioned in 1497, the Cardinal's Hat with its floor-to-ceiling oak panelling has the atmosphere of a medieval tavern despite its Georgian facade. Its cellars are said to date from the 1300s.
The Cardinal’s Hat was one of many ecclesiastical inns first established to accommodate the many travellers and pilgrims who visited Worcester during the Middle Ages.
The pub is on Friar Street which gets its name from the Franciscan Friary that once dominated the area from the thirteenth century through to the age of Henry VIII who began the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The pub is also said to be haunted by the ghost of a young girl in a flowing white night dress who drifts along a landing. It is not the only spooky location nearby.
An old 'witch mark' lies carved in what became the cafe of the Tudor House Museum, nearby on Friar Street. The mark is said to confer ritual protection against evil, including demons.
The Mug House in Claines
The Mug House in Claines, near Worcester - known as 'the Pub in the Churchyard' - is an ancient hostelry. The word unique is often overused. Not in this instance.
The pub is to be found within the grounds of Claines Church and was once the Church Ale House. The Mug House is at least 700 years old and actually stands within the walls of the Church graveyard on consecrated ground.
The pub is known for its Banks's bitters and strong, traditional atmosphere without games machines or music. The pub is also reputed to be haunted. A few landlords have described hearing glasses smashing without an apparent cause and a dull knocking coming from the beer cellar at night.
The pub has a back room, bar, hatch and snug. The timber frame of the structure, with its low ceiling and uneven walls, only serves to enhance the cosy atmosphere.
The Fleece Inn in Bretforton
There can be few pubs that conjure up the atmosphere of a medieval rural English inn better than the half-timbered medieval farmhouse which became the Fleece. It has developed a reputation for traditional folk music, morris dancing and asparagus.
This is a pub steeped in history and is owned by the National Trust. Built in the early 15th century (well before the Wars of the Roses) by a farmer named Byrd, the Fleece was within the ownership of the same family until 1977.
The last of the descendants was Miss Lola Taplin, a formidable character remembered by many of the locals. She bequeathed the pub to the National Trust when she died.
During the winter traditional English favourites feature on the menu such as pies and locally made Faggots. When the summer comes, the menu features a traditional Ploughmans and 'the legendary Fleece Inn burger'.
For fans of the Lord of the Rings books (and films), the atmosphere is not unlike that of the Prancing Pony where the frightened Hobbits seek shelter on a dark and stormy night after encountering the terrifying hooded Ring Wraiths (although the Bell Inn in Moreton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds is often cited as the true inspiration for Middle Earth's most famous pub).
The Camp House Inn in Grimley
The Camp House Inn is one of those strange old pubs out in Worcester's rural hinterland that seems to exist in spite of nature's earnest attempts to sweep it away.
Hard by the River Severn, it is a beautiful, even idyllic spot in summer for people to sit outside and watch the boats and swans glide by. But in winter it can be a cruel and unforgiving place.
The pub is regularly cut off by the rising waters of the same river which lends the spot such unrivalled beauty and interest. The landlords of the pub are left to clear up after the freezing flood waters. Fortune has it that they are a tough and cheerful breed of men - and women.
Let's face it, they have to be. And the fact that the same family are still there running it is one of the best measures of this. They have been there since 1939. This is a proper river pub, in part said to be built from the timbers of old ships. The tower functioned as a lighthouse and is reputed to date from the 14th century.
The landlords even put on a ferry when a moat of floodwater surrounds the pub so the locals can still enjoy a pint. You may perhaps imagine Charon the Ferryman, taking souls to Hades. But the Camp is a slice of heaven, not the highway to hell, for those who know a good boozer when they see one. It is a measure of how much this pub is loved that, come hell or high water, the locals still find their way back to the inviting hearth of the Camp.
The Unicorn in Malvern
The Unicorn, on Belle Vue Terrace, is one of the oldest buildings in the town centre and was a regular haunt of Narnia author C S Lewis when he came to Malvern to walk on the hills.
The Unicorn is enowned for its cosy atmosphere and the 16th century pub is grade II listed.
We reported in 2006 how a plaque was put up by Malvern Civic Society to mark Lewis's connection with the pub and town.
The author of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and the other Narnia stories was an old boy of Malvern College and used to visit the town in later years with friends including JRR Tolkein, to walk in the hills. They often ended up at the Unicorn for a drink and to chat about their writing.
King Charles House in Worcester
This historic pub in New Street was built in 1577 and was the escape route of King Charles II at the end of the Battle of Worcester on September 3, 1651.
The building has had multiple uses since, including a furniture shop, and a judge's residence. Recently acquired by new owners in May 2022, the pub serves 'a fantastic range of locally sourced real ales, stouts, lagers, ciders and perrys'.
Currently serving award-winning pies, in a warm cosy environment which fits in well with the building's history. You can also get a range of coffees from 10am.
With its dark oak panelling, tapestries, creaking floorboards and crooked overhead beams, it would not seem entirely strange if the bedraggled king popped in for a swift pint before making a last desperate run from the Roundheads.
One can imagine all manner of intrigues and Machiavellian plots taking place in one of its many nooks and crannies. One of its quirkier features is an oubliette - a narrow dungeon with only one escape hatch.
Farriers Arms in Worcester
The Farriers Arms in Fish Street is one of Worcester’s historical pubs. It has been around since at least 1790, a traditional venue boasting wooden beams and bags of character.
The building is older with some sixteenth century work still in evidence and the
upper storey added between 1666 and 1678 with later additions and alterations.
It enjoys a 4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor. It prides itself on its 'warm, friendly, accommodating' atmosphere, real ales and 'quality home cooked food'.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel