Pub with rooms Ludlow, Shropshire | The Charlton Arms

Overview

Smack beside the River Teme and overlooking Ludlow's iconic Ludford Bridge, the striking Charlton Arms has always been popular, thanks to its fabulous waterside terraces and proximity to stunning riverside and forest walks.

Cedric and Amy Bosi have transformed the place into comfortable inn, adding three stunning suites in 2019 in addition to the nine refurbished rooms (most have river views), and firmly placing the pub at the forefront of Ludlow's dining scene.

It may be foodie focused but there's a cracking bar serving four locally brewed real ales and a big welcome to dogs and families. Both the informal dining area of the bar, with sought after bay window tables, and the restaurant overlook the river, with the latter recently extended with folding glass doors leading to the summer alfresco dining terrace.

Rooms from

Doubles: £100; suites £160

Good to know

All credit cards taken
Alfresco & private dining
Parking
Dog stay £15

Family favourite

Families are very welcome throughout the pub; kids have their own menu and smaller portions are served; and there is a family room, plus cots and extra beds are available.

Dog-friendly

The pub is very dog friendly; they are welcome in the bar and overnight in all the bedrooms (£15 per night)

Alfresco

Two fabulous terraces are very popular on fine sunny days, as the views across Ludlow and up the Teme Valley are stunning. Watch the Teme tumble below Ludford Bridge from the upper terrace with a pint of Ludlow Gold or from the lower terrace as you dine alfresco.

Rooms

Comfortable and well-equipped bedrooms are named after Shakespeare characters and most enjoy stunning views of the River Teme, medieval Ludford Bridge and the appealing townscape of Ludlow.

The best, the upstairs Othello Suite and the three stunning new suites in the former downstairs function room, offer oodles of space and French doors leading to private terraces with cracking views of the tumbling Teme and Ludford Bridge, best enjoyed from the hot tub (Othello) with a glass of champagne. You can also savour the view from the king-size beds and the bathrooms have deep tubs, walk-in rain showers and Temple Spa soaps and lotions.

Other rooms are simply furnished in relaxing contemporary style with statement wall coverings and a mix of old pine, retro and more modern furnishings. Balthasar and Montague are beamed; Capulet has a roll top bath and a separate walk-in shower. Cedric and Amy also own The Townhouse, a beautifully restored B&B (9 rooms) in the heart of Ludlow.

Restaurant & bar

Short monthly menus make sound use of fresh local ingredients and feature hearty pub classics alongside more inventive modern British dishes. Head chef Kristian's consistent cooking certainly impressed the Michelin inspector, as the Charlton Arms was one of the few pubs to receive a Bib Gourmand for 2019.

Typically, from an October dinner menu, start with seared scallops with chorizo, pea puree and lemon vinaigrette, followed by hake with mussel broth, spinach and pork crumb, and pear frangipane tart with lemon sorbet. At lunchtime, warm ham hock and fried egg on toasted sourdough with skinny fries and salad, a light and delicious modern take on ham, egg and chips. Meat is sourced from the counties within the Marches - note the grass fed roast beef and the rare breed pork loin on the Sunday lunch menu.

At the bar you'll find four local real ales on tap, perhaps Ludlow Gold, Hobson's Best and Wye Valley Butty Bach, a short, interesting list of wines (14 by the glass or carafe), and a decent selection of boutique gins and malt whiskies.

Things to do

On Ludlow's doorstep lie miles of byways and bridleways, threading their way across some of Britain's most spectacular landscapes. The glorious border country of Shropshire and Herefordshire is a walker's paradise. Most ramblers head for the four dramatic ridges of Wenlock Edge, the Long Mynd, the Stiperstones and the Clee Hills - A E Housman's 'blue remembered hills'. There is also a host of gentler, less demanding walks to enjoy close to the Charlton Arms, beside the River Teme and through Mortimer Forest.

With its steep-sided, densely wooded hillsides and awesome industrial legacy, Ironbridge Gorge is one of the most dramatic landmarks in the region - if not the whole country. There's so much to see and discover that a visit to the museums at Ironbridge - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and often described as the cradle of the Industrial Revolution - can grab your attention for hours, even days.

Don't miss Ludlow's large, twice-monthly farmers' market selling a wide range of everyday and specialist food and drink produced within 30 miles of Ludlow. Located in the Market Square on Thursdays.