The Pheasant, Shropshire

Overview

Lost to the village for nine years, the Neenton Community Society lovingly restored and reopened The Pheasant in 2014 - it's now a vibrant social hub and a cracking rural inn offering top-notch food.

The inn stands opposite sleepy Neenton's charming church deep in the Shropshire Hills. It thrives as a proper country pub, with an enticing country-rustic feel throughout, so be charmed by the cosy interiors. Sink into a deep sofa in the informal bar which boasts rugs on tiled floors, and a wood-burner fronted by comfy armchairs. Or enjoy imaginative seasonal food in the stunning Oak Room dining room. Accommodation in the form of three comfortable upstairs rooms completes this pleasing picture.

It's the perfect spot for exploring South Shropshire's glorious and undiscovered countryside, the Severn Valley and the foodie town of Ludlow - or while away the afternoon on one of the picnic benches in the sheltered orchard garden with colourful borders and planting.

Rooms from

3 doubles/twin: £90

Good to know

Most credit cards accepted (not Amex)
Disabled access (not rooms)
Alfresco and private dining
Parking available
Dogs welcome overnight

Family favourite
Children are allowed throughout the pub and with a kid's menu and play area in the garden, families can expect a warm welcome.

Outdoor adventures
The glorious border country of Shropshire is a walker's paradise - don your walking boots and explore all the stunning countryside has to offer.

Rooms

An external staircase leads from the car park to the three cosy and spotless upstairs bedrooms, which are simply decorated and have everything you require for a comfortable stay.

Expect excellent beds topped with quality linen, duvets and throws, and a smart tiled bathroom with modern fittings and a decent shower. Two have great country views and the largest room in the original 18^th-century building offers period charm.

Restaurant & bar

Well established on Shropshire's culinary pub map, The Pheasant's menu works with the seasons, successfully combining pub classics with more inventive specials.

Expect accomplished cooking and some great flavours from chef-patron Mark Harris, who makes sound use of the top-notch local produce on the doorstep, notably potatoes, lamb and pork from nearby farms, alongside game from nearby shoots and locally reared venison. Fish is delivered daily from Cornwall.

Tuck into the likes of pork and black pudding wellington with black garlic aioli and red wine jus, seared haunch of Cleobury fallow deer with braised red cabbage, parsnip puree and red wine glaze, or battered haddock with hand-cut chips and mushy fees. A stroll up Brown Clee Hill will set you up for dinner.

The Pheasant is a true rural free house and fully taps into the thriving local micro-brewery scene, championing brews from Wye Valley, Hop & Stagger, Salopian, Ludlow Brewery Company or perhaps Town Crier from Hobsons Brewery. The carefully selected list of wines comes from Bibendum, with a growing selection of 'goodies' from other selected local and national merchants; 13 by the glass.

Things to do

On Neenton's doorstep lie 600 miles of byways and bridleways, threading their way across some of Britain's most spectacular landscapes. 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'. Just 3 miles from the Pheasant lies Brown Clee Hill, Shropshire's highest point - with breathtaking views stretching from the Cotswolds to Snowdonia and the Peak District to the Brecon Beacons. There is also a host of gentler, less demanding walks to enjoy throughout the region, and a stroll up to Five Springs on Brown Clee is the perfect prelude to a fine dinner.

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.

Look out for the brewery nights and foodie events at nearby Hobsons Brewery, which includes a brewery tour and beer tastings. Established in Cleobury Mortimer by the Davis family in 1993, is one of the leading craft brewers in Shropshire and one of the most sustainable breweries in the country. The owners are passionate about craft and provenance and the primary ingredients are sourced within 30 miles of the brewery.