Church Stretton Restaurant Guide

A 20-minute walk from the hallowed foodie ground of Ludlow, this handsomely renovated Georgian spa hotel is home to a casual bistro and this more formal haunt – a “lovely place to dine” that’s set “in a large light conservatory” with “beautiful views” of the surrounding countryside (“including the short row of small ‘Forelle’ pear trees after which the restaurant is named”). “The food is usually very tasty” (be it the à la carte or tasting menu) and, despite the odd ‘off’ report this year, a “relaxed, pleasing evening is the rule”. “The hotel has recently changed hands” (to a private Midlands-based buyer, who acquired it in March 2024) “though Phil Kerry, the head chef, remains in post so it is to be hoped that Forelles retains its special character despite the change”.

“Very enjoyable small or large plates and interesting sides” of “locally sourced, globally inspired’ fare (and quite an extensive drinks list too, with local beers and ciders)” help win ongoing support for this local favourite, which is particularly recommended for breakfast/brunch. It is run by the four Crouch brothers (the sons of ‘C’, for which the business is named); and also has a sibling in Ludlow.

This appealing indie café/restaurant, in a quiet side street, has a modish industrial-style interior, while the open kitchen turns out seasonal eats spanning small plates, steaks and lots of snackable ‘things on toast’.

“Located in a gorgeously oak-panelled dining room in a grand old building half way up the hill in steep Corve Street”, this “unpretentious, traditional restaurant is a favourite Ludlow eatery” for all who comment on it. (“Previously it was the location of Claude Bosi’s Hibiscus when it was in Ludlow and then Alan Murchison‘s La Becasse where Will Holland was Head Chef”). “In summer, there is a quiet courtyard for pre-meal drinks and a small bar at the entrance for drinks in winter and hors d’oeuvre prior to dining”. “Chef-patron Wayne Smith has perfected his dishes over time and continues to serve excellent, accurately cooked food using delicious local ingredients and although regulars may recognise dishes from previous visits, the food is thoroughly enjoyable”. Top Menu Tip – “some of the local beef is highly memorable for its tenderness and flavour”.

2021 Review: Just across the River Teme from Ludlow Castle, a short walk from Dinham Bridge, this small hotel incorporates a conservatory restaurant extension with garden views, and terrace for the summer. Reviews of Ian Pugh’s modernised but relatively traditional cooking are very positive: “consistently delivering a good quality dining experience, with an imaginatively presented, seasonal menu”.

“This lovely, cosy French-style bistro” in the centre of Ludlow, from husband-and-wife team Olivier & Lynette Bossut, “serves good hearty helpings of rustic Gallic food” – such as “fabulous onion soup served with a vast cheesy crouton” and “coq au vin with more chicken than some poultry farms!”. With “friendly service”, it’s “usually busy with locals and tourists”, so you “need to book”.

“Interesting and well-prepared local food” – “now with a Middle Eastern influence” – is on the menu at this idyllic spot from the four Crouch brothers, aka the CSONS. “The pleasure of dining here is derived not just from the good food but also the location at Dirham Weir, beside the River Teme, with wildlife to watch and even the chance of spotting an otter”.

Ideal for a “hideaway date night in the shires”, with a “combination of discrete modern features melded into an ancient, beautiful and comfortable building” (whose stone dining room was built at the time of the Norman Conquest) – Pippa & Willem Vlok’s country-house guarantees a “really great experience”. “Truly remarkable staff” include head chef Nick Bennett, whose “highly skilled cooking” produces meals to savour.

2023 Review: In Spring 2022, Andrew Birch (erstwhile head chef of London’s Savoy Grill) and his wife Rachel relaunched this well-known coaching inn, part of a small scenic town in rural Powys. The main option is a seven-course tasting menu (with a vegetarian alternative), but there’s also a simpler lunch. No feedback as yet in our annual diners’ poll.

2023 Review: “An excellent addition to the town” – this year-old bistro occupies a “quirky and enchanting” sixteenth-century merchant’s house (the old Drapers Guild Hall) that “is worth a visit in its own right” and was “once a setting for the TV film adaption of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol”. “The food is very good indeed, based on local ingredients and the menu changes regularly.” “Wine is from the long-established local wine merchants Tanners.”

Local lad Ben Hall worked at the acclaimed Gidleigh Park, among others, before teaming up with partner Carla Cook to launch this ambitious five-year-old; in November 2022, they upped sticks from their former premises in Roushill to a larger, ex-warehouse setting on Claremont Bank in the city centre. The “really excellent food” (tasting menu only on Fri/Sat nights) remains intact at what is, for fans, “the best restaurant in Shrewsbury”.

“In the centre of the gorgeous village of Upton Magna”, Martin Board & wife Mel’s “lovely country pub-with-rooms” won nothing but praise this year; despite the seventeenth-century setting, the “food is far from traditional and leans towards modern British – all absolutely delicious and expertly served” (with “particularly good fish dishes” a highlight); add in “sensible prices”, and it’s a “standout restaurant in Shropshire”.