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Michelin's Gastronomic Accolade for English Pubs - Page 3

© Stuart Buchanan MacWatt

The parish church St Laurence's, a 12th century architectural gem, is guardian of the ashes of A.E.Housman, England's greatest poet of the early 20th century and author of A Shropshire Lad.

Ludlow runs a popular Food and Drink Festival each September and now in 2004 claims the accolade of no less than three Michelin starred restaurants; The Hibiscus, which now boasts two stars, the Merchant's House and Mr Underhill's which each have one star. This surely makes the Welsh Borders area something of a gastronomic pilgrimage centre.

The town also boasts one of the finest old inns in the country. The Feathers Hotel is a spectacular early Tudor building fronting the Bull Ring. The proprietors there have been dispensing convivial hospitality since 1521. A plaque assures us that meals are 'served by comelye and complyante wenches'. Now there's an invitation for discerning connoisseurs of fine cuisine!

Michelin's First Pub of the Year Award
As an acknowledgement of the gastronomic change we have seen in the pubs of England over the past few years, Michelin have now brought out their first Red Guide devoted solely to English Pub Grub and launched their own Pub of the Year award. Their Eating out in Pubs is published this September, 2004, price £14.99.

Editor Derek Bulmer notes "In the past 10 years there has been a rapid increase in the number of pubs serving quality food. This is highlighted by the fact that there are 500 pubs and inns in the new Michelin Eating out in Pubs Guide. Choosing the first ever Michelin Pub of the Year was the next logical step, to bring to the attention of diners, an establishment which combines all that's good about eating out in pubs."

I for one can't wait to beat a return path to the door of Michelin's chosen Pub of the Year. This is the Fox Inn, at Lower Oddington near Moreton in Marsh, and Stow in the Wold in glorious Cotswold Country. My travels conveniently take me to Cheltenham nearby for the annual Literary Festival each October and the National Hunt Gold Cup Festival in March, an easy drive up from London.

I look forward to staying again at this ancient 16th century inn of ivy covered Cotswold stone with flagstone floored, oak beamed rooms and open hearth fireplaces. It is set in the sort of quintessential English village that traditional Christmas card artists conjure up when they are drawing red-breasted robins and holly in front of ye olde worlde village church.

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