Hobsons  have been supplying both pubs for some time now and each has their favourite brew. The Bartons Arms is a fan of Hobsons Mild while the Nag’s Head favours Hobsons Best. However other familiar Hobsons names can be found on the menu from time to time including Town Crier and Twisted Spire. Nick Davis head brewer at Hobsons said “We are delighted that these two fantastic pubs have been recognised on a national level for the excellent service, atmosphere and beer they provide and we wish them all the best for the future”.

Britain’s only grade 2-listed pub was run by the countries longest serving landlady Flossie Lane until her death at the age of 94 in June 2009. The Sun Inn is one of the last surviving ‘parlour pubs’ and it has attracted national interest over the years as a result of its historic value. There is no bar or serving hatch in the pub, beer was brought from stillage in the kitchen by Flossie herself and regulars enjoyed their drink with a chat in what was in affect Flossie’s sitting room. The pub is listed on CAMRA’s national inventory of historic pub interiors and it is considered by many to be the best example of an unspoiled UK pub.

The Sun Inn never pretended to offer its visitors any frills, its charm was always its simplicity and timelessness, something its regulars are keen to preserve. The pub was so loved by the locals who frequented it that following Flossie’s death a Save the Sun Inn campaign was launched and the pub continued to open each evening thanks to the dedicated volunteers. The campaign was backed by CAMRA and ourselves and when rumours began to circulate that the pub may be purchased for development Nick Davis, head brewer at Hobsons and Gary Seymour, Sun Inn regular and Leintwardine business man decided to buy the pub in a bid to secure its history and Flossie’s legacy.

Since the Sun Inn was purchased by Nick and Gary it has continued to open each night to loyal and relieved customers. Hobsons Best Bitter is still served straight from stillage in Flossie’s kitchen and the locals can still enjoy a chat in her sitting room all be it without the lady herself. Nick and Gary are committed to preserving the timeless charm of the pub and have vowed to keep it as “a kind of living museum where good beers can be enjoyed in a historic environment”. They unveiled plans in January to add a sympathetic timber pavilion to the rear of the premises. The extension is intended to help make the pub self-supporting and it will include a traditional bar area, comfortable seating, a games area and modern toilets. The pavilion will be built using eco friendly energy features including rainwater harvesting for flushing toilets, solar heating for hot water and photovoltaic cells to generate energy.

Nick and Gary’s ideas were presented to villagers and Herefordshire Council last month and they were well received. Nick and Gary commented “We all know and wholeheartedly agree that The Sun represents a precious piece of our heritage and we all want to maintain it; but for it to remain intact, preserved as a working example of social history, we need to be sure that any building work or change to the fabric or interior of the existing is carried out in a sympathetic way”. No date has been set for work to begin but keep checking back her for the latest news.

To read more about the Save the Sun Inn campaign please visit www.savethesun.org.uk.

The Sun Inn now has it’s own website www.sunin-leintwardine.co.uk.

When it comes to the KA’s food they work on a philosophy of ‘Fresh where possible, local if we can and good old fashioned home made’ so you can be sure that what you are served is not only delicious but grown or reared just down the road. The veg is from Fred’s Veg Shop, the sausages are from Hems the Butcher and the bread is from Ashley’s Bakery all located in Cleobury Mortimer. The quality of food which is served from 10am – 3pm daily has created a real following in and around the town and the pub is often packed out with people enjoying a relaxing lunch in the rustic bar.

If you want to experience what Hobsons is about then theres no better place to go than the KA. Our beer is served with care and skill to ensure a fantastic pint every time and our philosophies regarding sustainability are embraced 100%.

There’s often events on like live acoustic music and PINK, a yearly event which is a whole month of activities to raise money for breast cancer. 2009′s PINK event raised a fantastic £8700. You can find out more about the KA and PINK by visiting the KA website  www.kingsarms-cleobury.co.uk. Alternatively keep popping back her for news and events.

To mark the occasion Jon and Chris Lear, owners of The White Lion asked us to create an exclusive brew for the half a millennia anniversary. The outcome is Owd Lion & Pepperpot a rich auburn ale of 5.2%, not to dissimilar to the beer Cromwell’s men would have enjoyed all those years ago. Why not pay them a visit and soak up the history in their cozy bar whilst enjoying a pint or two. Alternatively you can buy a bottle of Owd Lion & Pepperpot with 50p going to the Midlands Air Ambulance until the end of February.

The White Lion Hotel can be found on Upton upon Severn Hight Street, Worcester, WR8 oHJ. You can find out more about the hotel, its special brew and planned celebrations to mark the 500 year anniversary by visiting their website www.whitelionhotel.biz.