BISHOPS CASTLE.

Castle Hotel (Market Square, Bishops Castle, Shropshire) (01588) 638403. A large country town hotel set up a steep drive, it also has steps which makes it unsuitable for the disabled. There are two bars. The snug, which is small and has a small bar space, is cosy with its original wood panelling, but getting served there can be difficult at busy times. There are also two larger rooms - joined by the same bar. At the rear there is a dart board (and other games) and it is this area which doubles up as the real ale bar during the two beer festival weeks held in the town. Seating is round wooden tables and chairs plus some stools. A real fire keeps the whole room warm in winter. The decor is country town hotel style and is thus subdued but strong. The real ales on at the time were: Hobsons Best (a regular) Bass and Tomos Watkin OSB. Food is served here lunch and evening, times vary so check first. Prices are a little steep for food, but quality is good. Outside to the rear  - up some very steep steps - is a huge beer garden with great views over the town and the surrounding countryside. No music here, a quiet pub. There is accommodation here in the price range of £55-70 for a double en-suite.

Six Bells (Church Street, Bishops Castle, Shropshire) (01588) 638403. Situated at the end of the 'town' opposite the church, this traditional old pub is full of charm and character. Two rooms/bars, the lounge on the left as you enter has two large settles (red, 1 leather, 1 cloth), a window seat and Mexican decor (red walls) with wooden floors. For tables they have the (old fashioned) kitchen variety with chairs. You can see why they need large tables when they bring out the food - plenty of it. The bar in here is very small and more like a hatch with hops over it. A big stone fireplace and log burner warms the room well in winter. Food is served "any time the kitchen is open", though there are set times. The menu is good (mainly snacks) with strange and esoteric choices available at the weekend (shark, etc). There is a great vegetarian breakfast throughout the week. Sunday lunch is served 12-2pm; 12-1pm through the week and 6-8 (Fri), 7-9 (Sat). Snacks are cheap at ?3.95 mostly, weekend food being more expansive is about ?7 average and upwards. The public bar to right of entrance has a bare floor and log burner too in a huge walk in fireplace. A larger bar serves 4 of their own brews, Big Nev, Cloud Nine, Old Recumbent, Marathon, all served to perfection. Disabled access is OK, though space in the lounge is at a premium and the toilets are not as easy to access as you might like. Outside is a beer garden for the summer, no music is played anywhere in the pub. No accommodation here but try: Boars Head Hotel, Church Street, Bishops Castle, Shropshire, SY9 5AE, (01588) 638521. Price: single from: £33, double from: £55 per room per night (discount available).

Three Tuns (Salop Street, Bishops Castle, Shropshire) (01588) 638081. Situated at the top of the hill you cant miss the Victorian brew tower in the yard. You'll also find the brewing museum here - a one room trip through the history of brewing with yeast and malt and other substances. You will also find the gents toilets (no soap on three visits! - to Bishops Castle) in the yard, which makes them very cold in winter. It also makes them impossible for the disabled to get to unless you go out of the pub and down the road to get access to the yard and when you do they are too narrow! There are two bars, one for drinking which winds its way around a large chimney breast. There is pine wooden bench seating around the walls and the floor slopes to the rear of the pub. Other seating is also available. The walk in fireplace with barrels above is a particular attraction, as is the beamed ceiling. The second bar is a squarer room and has more pew style seating amongst other forms and is more of the place where people eat from the large, but pricey menu. There was no menu as such just constantly changing choices. You can also sit out near the ladies toilets in a balcony (unheated) conservatory. The bars serve all Three Tuns beers: Sexton, Offa's Ale and XXX Bitter, though there are specials occasionally. Other than jazz bands once or twice a month it is a quiet pub. The beer garden has been renovated recently (1999) and they welcome well behaved children. There is also accommodation here in the converted stables (not seen on this visit so call first for prices). A no smoking area is available. In conjunction with the Six Bells there is a mini beer festival here once a year when the whole town is given over to the amber nectar. This pub has been taken on by Jude Crighton and Mick Leadbetter. Jude was beeter known by Leicester ale fans for the Vaults and Out of the Vault. Both excellent ale houses.