Pub with rooms Upper Sapey, Herefordshire | The Baiting House

Overview

Persevere down winding back roads deep in rolling Herefordshire/Worcestershire border country to locate this spruced up pub with rooms tucked away in sleepy Upper Sapey high above the Teme Valley.

Having been the community hub for over a century, the pub was rescued from closure by local couple Andrew and Kate Cornthwaite in 2015. They invested as small fortune in refurbishing the place, creating a cool, contemporary-chic look throughout the rambling bar and dining rooms, adding smart bedrooms upstairs and luxury cabins and garden rooms (2020) on adjacent land, and installing a talented team in the kitchen. The Baiting House was traditionally where drovers and waggoners climbing the hill with their horses would stop for "bait" (the local word for food, or a small snack).

A cracking base for exploring the Welsh borders - foodie Ludlow is close. Part of the Baiting House Group and sister pub to the Admiral Rodney in Berrow Green, Worcestershire and the Hopton Crown in Hopton Wafers, Shropshire.

COOL CABINS - Luxury, high-spec wooden cabins are dotted around the extensive grounds beside the inn. All are well insulated and have central heating, a fully-equipped bathroom with walk-in shower, a kitchen area, a double bedroom and a large sofa bed in the living/dining room, plus a private patio with fire pit and hot tub. Six equally smart Meadow Rooms opened in 2020.

Rooms from:

5 doubles £80; Meadow Room £110; Lodge £144

Good to know

All credit cards accepted

Disabled access (lodge rooms only)

Alfresco & private dining

Parking available

Bike storage

Dog stay: £15

Dog-friendly

Canine guests are welcome overnight in the inn rooms and the garden cabins/lodges (£15 per dog per stay), where they will find a comfortable dog bed, water bowl and biscuits. Poo bags and bins are also available on the patio. Excellent local walks too.

Events & celebrations

There are three private dining spaces, two of which even have their own bathroom facilities, and the Clubhouse seats up to 32 people.

Rooms

Retire upstairs to one of the six bedrooms, all named after local hop varieties and refurbished to a high standard in simple, contemporary style with crisp linen and down on wooden beds, Nespresso machines and smart bathrooms (the best have baths and separate walk-in showers).

Better still, book one of the luxury, high-spec wooden cabins dotted around extensive grounds beyond the car park. All are well insulated and have central heating, a fully-equipped bathroom with walk-in shower, a kitchen area, a double bedroom and a large sofa bed in the living/dining room, plus a private patio with fire pit and hot tub.

Six spacious Meadow Rooms were opened in July 2020 in the same area as the cabins. Expect a good-sized bathroom, large bedroom with king-size bed and a relaxing sofa or armchairs, Nespresso machine, mini-bar, and private patios.

Restaurant & bar

Former Mr Underhill's (Ludlow) chef Charles Bradley has transformed the pub into a must-visit dining destination for his innovative modern British cooking - the Baiting House is now firmly on Herefordshire's culinary map.

Charles's sensibly short menus champion local produce, where possible from the Teme Valley, so perhaps tuck into smoked haddock scotch egg with lime and seaweed mayonnaise, followed by lamb rump, shepherd's pie, broccoli, mint, leek, and lamb sauce, and caramelised lemon tart with raspberry sorbet for pudding. The set lunch menu is a steal at £20 for two courses and £25 for 3 courses.

Tip-top local ales come from Wye Valley Brewery just down the road in Bromyard, Hobsons Brewery in Cleobury Mortimer and the Ludlow Brewery. Heady ciders are sourced from Tenbury Wells and from Herefordshire, and there's a real local theme to the choice of spirits - the back bar groans with the gins and vodkas produced by Chase Distillery (tours & tastings), and a few Chase cocktails are also available.

Things to do

The National Trust have taken on the lease of the Elgar Birthplace Museum in Upper Broadheath, which provides a fascinating insight into the life and music, family and friends, development and inspirations of Sir Edward Elgar.

Visit Chase Distillery on the family farm deep in the Herefordshire countryside to discover the traditional methods of mashing, fermenting and distilling of the field to bottle spirits. Taste the award-winning gins and vodkas and browse the distillery shop and take a bottle or two home.

Ludlow is one of Britain's loveliest towns, a harmonious mix of medieval, Tudor, Stuart and Georgian buildings. Dominating all is the 11th-century castle, rivalled only by the huge 15th-century church. Poet A.E. Houseman is buried in the churchyard. A foodie haven in recent years - don't miss the Saturday market.

Getting here

Directions

Nearest railway station: Worcester

Taxi from station: 30min

Drive: Leominster 28min; Kidderminster 30min; Ludlow 30min

Address

Upper Sapey, Herefordshire WR6 6XT

Gallery

Reviews

"The final night of our Herefordshire tour was spent in one of lodges in the paddock adjacent to the Baiting House Inn. Our accommodation was very well appointed and included an outdoor hot tub to relax in after a busy day in Ludlow. Dinner was beautifully cooked and presented. Rod Grinsted (following the Chase Itinerary, September 2020).

Enquire to book

To make a booking, please use the form below or you can call our reservations team on 020 8161 0100. Our phone lines are open Monday - Friday, 9am - 5.30pm.

The Baiting House

From £80 per night