SHREWSBURY.

This grand 18th-c warehouse didn’t start life on this site, but was moved from the Armoury Gardens in 1922. Long runs of big arched windows in the uniform red brick frontages have views across the broad river at the back, and are interspersed with brick columns, hanging baskets and smart coach lights at the front. The open-plan interior is spacious and light, with a mix of wood tables and chairs on expanses of stripped wood floors, a dominating display of floor-to-ceiling books on two huge walls, a grand stone fireplace at one end, and masses of old prints mounted edge to edge on the stripped brick walls. Colonial fans whirr away on the ceilings, which are supported by occasional green-painted standing timbers, and glass cabinets display collections of explosives and shells. The long bar counter has an eye-catching range of drinks, including well kept Boddingtons, Wadworths 6X, Woods Shropshire Lad and up to five changing guest beers from brewers such as Potton, Roosters and Thwaites on handpump, a good choice of wines (with 15 by the glass), around 50 malt whiskies, a dozen different gins, lots of rums and vodkas, a variety of brandies, and some unusual liqueurs. As well as sandwiches with interesting fillings (from £3.75), the bar menu (12-2.30, 6-9.30; 12-9.30 (9 Sun) Sat) might include soup (£3.25), smoked haddock and salmon fishcake with tomato and onion salad or ham hock, herb and mustard terrine (£3.95), local sausages and mash (£6.45), grilled bass fillet with rocket, spinach, potato and orange salad (£6.50), black olive, goats cheese and sun-dried tomato pasta with sautéd leeks and herb butter (£7.45), baked chicken breast with banana and bacon, sweet potato mash and sweetcorn (£9.95), braised lamb shank with redcurrant gravy (£11.25), and puddings such as lemon tart with raspberry sauce, bread and butter pudding, tiramisu, and crushed meringue and fresh strawberries (from £3.95). Tables at one end are laid out for eating. It gets busy here in the evening, particularly at weekends, when there may even be queues outside. The pub doesn't have its own parking but there are metered spaces up nearer the Quarry. Children welcome. No accommodation here.

The Boathouse, a Hogshead pub, is as it suggests, right on the water and is an old building with plenty of character outside and in. The real beams are a 'real' hazard for the taller amongst you as unless you sit down, there is a need to stoop. Apparently there used to be a mortuary in the basement years ago - lovely! At least they wouldn't have drunk the beer. There are two bars, the smaller one having the dart board, no pool though. To reach the pub come across the footbridge from Quarry Park into the terraced gardens where in the summer they have bouncy castles for the young at heart and body. On this occasion there were no ales from the Shropshire Brewery, but they did have some good ales: Abroad Cooper, made by Flowers, Gales HSB, and Hanby Nutcracker. They also have the usual Boddingtons, Fuggles IPA, Fullers and Flowers Original. On Sundays The Boathouse hosts a quiz and anyone can join in. There is no accommodation here, but try the Shrewsbury tourist information should have the names of some local B&B. Remember this is a tourist town and so will be booked heavily in the summer.

R.I.P. Castle Vaults (16 Castle Gates, near BR station) (01743) 358807. This pub is a genuine free house rather than those belonging to a large brewer pretending to be free. It is set right next to the castle and if you are not careful you could miss it. Luckily there is a taxi rank and chip shop opposite. Going into the pub you might be forgiven for thinking you were entering someone's house. The corridor is small bounded on one side by a trellis without any plants crawling up it. The stairs opposite leads to the accommodation Rating, but the bar is to the left. If you can forgive the Artexed walls, you can forgive anything. There isn't much seating and the best is next to the toilets. Also there is no music so make your own noise. The landlord like a chat so engage him in conversation about the house beer from Plassey. Impressive is not the word for the beer list, there are plenty of good ones and a couple of the boring old ones for those with no palate. On at time of visit were Hobson Best; Mansfield Wild Boar; Hanby Shropshire Stout; Burton Bridge XL. Usually there are at least four real ales on. There is a restaurant which serves home-cooked Mexican food in a hand-painted walled separate section. In the summer you can sit on the roof-top beer garden and get a tan, though you can be seen from the castle at certain angles. The accommodation is reasonable and comfortable about £45 a night for a double en-suite. Closed for Sunday lunch though, so wait until 7pm when it opens again. Look out for Rusty the fat cat who likes a little food off your plate.
  SADLY THIS FREE HOUSE SOLD OUT AND IS NOW A O' BRADY'S PLASTIC PADDY.

Situated in historic Shrewsbury, The Dolphin Inn is an ideal pub for adults - sorry no children allowed! Enjoy up to six cask beers, not lager, which are supplied only from smaller breweries. The dolphin now has its own brewery and usually has two of its ales on. On this occasion is was Gold and Best Bitter. They are a genuine free house where you can be free of noisy children, but they do allow you to bring your pets. You can even relax and enjoy a game of Mah-jongg, the Chinese game of four winds or, if you so desire a more traditional game of chess - and if you don't fancy a pint (though I cant believe it myself) - why not try the great line of coffees? The Dolphin Inn is a proper old fashioned Victorian pub with gas lighting where you will find a warm welcome and interesting conversation. Why not call in for a couple of beers and see the pub's layout - the original one too. Watch out for the portico entrance. No accommodation here, but a short walk from the station. Look out for the two pub cats, hairballs or what! Open Monday-Thursday 5-11pm; Friday-Saturday 3-11pm; Sunday 12-3pm, 7-10.30pm.

	Symbols:		Open:	Monday-Saturday:	Sunday:	Map	Pics
				5-11 (Fri-Sat 3-11)	12-3, 7-10.30	View

Part of the Bank's chain's attempt to cash in on the concept of real ale. These pubs all sell a guest ale and look remarkably similar from city to town to city. Inside they are all wood rather like the Firkins and attract a similar sort of audience. This one is set in a narrow side street just off Wyle Cop (road) near the river and a car park (take care here as the river floods in winter and many cars were under water in the morning - but not ours!). The ambience is young with an emphasis on music and trendy colour schemes. Floors are original tiles and wood, plus wood panelled walls half way up. The bar is also wood! Ceiling was of the fake beamed variety, though the exterior is surprisingly plain and can only be original. The bar is 'L' shaped with a raised drinking area furthest away from the door. Tables are a mixture of barrels and ordinary tables/chairs. One alcove has cinema seats, curtain and a large mirror. Beers were mainly Bank's though the guest on this time was Wychwood's Rugby Special. Food is served daily, but only at lunchtimes on Saturday despite the sign outside. We were told that it isn't economical to leave the ovens on!!! The food is the usual tap house fayre of good value/quality. Wheelchair access is 'possible' through the double front doors, though the toilets need negotiating. No accommodation here but try: Albright Hussey Hotel, Ellesmere Road, Shrewsbury, SY4 5TX, (01939) 290571. Single £67.50, double £87.50 per room per night - discount available. Hillsboro Guest House, 1 Port Hill Gardens, Shrewsbury, SY3 8SH, (01743) 231033. Single £16, double £32 per room per night. Abbey Court House, 134 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AU, (01743) 364416. Single £19, double £34 per room per night.

Facing the river this pub can sometimes feel the waters lapping at its feet. That aside, Wetherspoon have done a good job of converting the old hotel into a modern drinking environment. It tends to be over full of 'young' people on bottled lager and spirits who leave a mess after them (it's been the same on 10 visits now), but you can still find families with children at the toilets end who come in for a cheap and smoke free meal. Despite the lack of piped music, the noise level can be very loud with people shouting and talking loudly. There are some booths near the toilets (far end of picture) where conversation is possible and relaxing - very much a young persons pub. The decor inside is a mixture of dark brooding colours and light pine furniture which gives it a homely feel. As usual there are objects rescued from the junk dotted about the walls and some pictures of Shrewsbury. The food is cheap and the 2 for a £5 promotion is still running. Prices tend to be a little higher here than say Wolverhampton or the Wetherspoon 'community pubs', but the good quality is still the same. Real ales on at the time were: Rebellion  Hangover from Hell, Salopian Shropshire Gold and Salopian Stout. All well served and cheap at £1.25 a pint!!!!!!!!!!! There is a beer garden out front, but faces car park. A second out back is also small but has picnic benches. Access for the disabled is good as you would expect from this company. Not far from the train station. Accommodation here: £35 per room.

Situated in an olde worlde cobbled street this Tudor style drinking house consists of a single room. Perhaps the most novel (and refreshing) thing about it was its no smoking policy which is a relief to those of us who get fed up taking our lives into our own hands, choking in smoked filled pubs. It made a welcome change to see white rather than nicotine yellow walls and to be able to walk out without smelling like I had been rolling around in someone's ash tray! The pub itself was characterful with lots of beams, plasterwork and flagstone floors. The walls were adorned with pictures of Shrewsbury which was rather quaint. Seating was essentially wooden oak style tables and chairs. It had a clean feel to it no doubt due to the no-smoking policy. Beers on offer when visited were Minsterly; Brakespear; Fullers London Pride; Adnams Extra. Ask for the sparklers to be removed for headless beer. Food is provided lunchtimes and evenings during the week (though not Saturday evenings or at all on Sundays).