Beers on the Bus at the Walwyn Arms -

At the crossroads of the A449 and B4024 outside Ledbury there are two distinctive buildings facing each other. One is the distinctive Grade II listed Much Marcle Garage, which was once an aircraft hangar servicing the adjacent airfield. On the other side of the road is the Walwyn Arms, an attractive building set in a corner plot with some large trees in the background. Parts of the building date to the 1700s, apparently always a pub, with past uses on the site possibly as a butcher shop and abattoir. Last re-named after a 19^th century character Edward Walwyn, a descendant of the family who owned the nearby Hellens Manor.

It is now part of Buccaneer Inns, a small pub group of characterful individual hostelries based in the south-west and midlands. Although this is clearly a food-driven pub, there is a definite friendly village pub feel as you walk in, and customers who simply wish to enjoy a drink are welcome and well catered for with seating at the bar, and various other seating near the wood stove in the hop-festooned bar area. There is a bonus in the form of a comfortable, almost hidden, snug, again with a wood stove and upholstered sofas and armchairs. Beyond the bar opens up a main area are three linked dining/seating areas, one with a serving counter used for carvery meals, a middle section with terrace access to a garden, and a longer area that has a skittle alley. The tables are well distanced to give a spacious feel.

Cask conditioned ales on handpull are from the Wye Valley Brewery: the amber, malty Butty Bach and the hoppy, pale gold Herefordshire Pale Ale (HPA). On recent visits both were served in very well kept form. Wye Valley are celebrating 40 years of brewing, having been started in 1985 by Peter Amor after learning brewing at Guinness. The original site was in Canon Pyon, and after several changes of location the brewery settled in a large site in Stoke Lacy, where they have consistently expanded and upgraded their brewhouse to modern energy efficient standards, most recently with a new bottling and canning line. They have broadened their range of beers with a notable stout, a pilsner-style lager, and frequent seasonal release specials. Peter’s son Vernon has now taken over as Managing Director, giving Peter time to enjoy the Freedom of the City of Hereford that he was awarded to acknowledge his contributions to the county’s economy, support of local hop producers, and charity fundraising. He still has time to keep an eye on the beer quality, and the dynasty will continue as Vernon’s son Max has completed a brewing course and is now actively involved in brewing. It is a great asset to our area that we have a quality regional scale brewery who consistently win awards and brew excellent beers.

A range of keg beers include, notably, the Wye Valley 1985 Pilsner, along with some international lagers. There is a wide range of bottled cider and perries, more than many pubs offer available – this reflects the proximity of the ever growing Westons Cider Mill, which is a short walk just up the hill opposite. Wines come from an extensive and well-chosen list, all available by the glass. There is a shelf of interesting gins for G&T fans.

Food offers are from an extensive menu, with upmarket versions of pub classics among more adventurous dishes, specials, lighter plates, and burgers, with lunchtime sandwiches. There are vegetarian options and vegans are catered for. The Carvery is available on Sunday and now recently re-established on Wednesday lunchtimes. Dining is available on Mondays and Tuesdays when some nearby pubs are not open. Events are evolving, with quiz nights starting on Tuesdays.

Outside, the terrace opens out onto a grassed area with picnic tables and some play areas, and more tables at the front.

There is plenty of parking though of course there is no need for you to drive here as the Daffodil bus has stops for both directions just outside the front garden of the pub, on the B4024. This allows for diners to potentially enjoy drinks with their meals at lunchtimes and on Friday and Saturday evenings, while leaving their cars at home and enjoying the bus ride.