Ah, those balmy long summer evenings, aren’t they a dream? And to pass the hours in the garden of a country pub, with good friends and family – that’s the kind of thing that life’s about, keeping it simple, making lovely memories. If you’re staying near Pembridge on a group holiday in Herefordshire and the weather’s good, make the most of it. Eat good food, sup good beer, linger in the garden ‘til the sun’s gone down and the stars come out.
The area around Pembridge is a lovely part of Herefordshire to stay for any group holiday, be it days away with friends, a multi-generational stay, a very special family celebration, or a sophisticated hen weekend. There are things to see and do for all ages – attractions to visit, activities like canoeing on the River Wye, good country walks, and for those long summer evenings, welcoming country pubs with pretty beer gardens. Most are child-friendly with play areas, and have the bonus of being dog friendly.
Pubs by the River
The Riverside, Aymestry
Have a bite to eat in the riverside garden or on the terrace, linger long into a perfect summer’s evening. The River Lugg flows contentedly under the old stone bridge, there are access points for paddling, and dogs are welcome.
The food is very, very good, with a big focus on sustainability. Much of the produce comes from their kitchen garden and small holding, what doesn’t is foraged or sourced as locally as possible. They happily cater for groups.
The Lion, Lentwardine
This one is a little further from Pembridge, but it’s a nice place to be, especially on a summer evening, because they have an award-winning alfresco set up with an outdoor bar and pizza oven. The gardens have lawns that slope gently down to the River Teme as it drifts along under the historic stone bridge, and views of the beautiful Welsh Marches. It’s very family friendly with a play area with a Wendy house and swings, and dogs are welcome.
Food is locally sourced following the seasons, just as it should be.
For Fine Dining
The Stagg, Titley
The pretty garden at The Stagg is a gorgeous setting for cocktails or dining alfresco, with its neat box hedges, fragrant lavender, and views of the rolling Herefordshire fields. Let the warm summer air embrace you, relax into a perfect summer evening.
This was the first country pub to be awarded a Michelin star, so it goes without saying that the food is excellent. There’s a huge emphasis on local produce - they even grow their own herbs and vegetables. The Stagg is child-friendly, though more for older children, and dogs are welcome.
For Home Cooked Pub Food
The Crown, Dilwyn
This community-run pub has all the feels of a traditional village pub, and it’s only a couple of miles from two of our child friendly group holiday houses in Herefordshire – Dovesway and Brook Barton. For those warm summer evenings there’s a large garden at the back, with a play area, so it’s perfect for multi-generational groups. Out the front there’s seating with views of the village green.
The menu is pub favourites with generous portions and reasonable prices, families and accompanying hounds are most welcome.
The White Swan, Eardisland
This traditional village pub on the Black & White Village Trail has a secluded garden at the back of the pub with a children’s play area, and when it’s hot, a paddling pool. Tuck into homemade pub food, put the world to rights in the warm summer air.
The Swan is very family-friendly, and dogs are welcome in all areas of the pub.
Website
For the Best Views
The Harp, Old Radnor
In the heart of Powys, but only 20 minutes’ drive from Pembridge, The Harp has a garden that surely takes the prize for the best views – the location is stunning, with a panoramic outlook over the Radnor Valley and hills. This is something that will stay with you – watching the sun sink slowly over the horizon, counting the stars as they come out one by one. To the side of the garden there’s a secure area for children.
They use locally sourced ingredients and home-grown fruit in their menu of British pub classics and modern dishes. And more good news – it’s dog friendly here.
The Cider Barn, Pembridge
Bit of a cheat here, because this local gem isn’t a pub, but it has to be mentioned because the setting is a dream and the food is fantastic. While there isn’t a garden as such, this beautifully restored historic barn has a part covered terrace next to an open meadow, with spectacular views of the Herefordshire countryside. It’s such a relaxed place for family friendly and child friendly dining, and to boot, you can take your canine companions.
Linger long beneath the fairy lights, see the sun go down and the moon come up. If only life could always be this perfect.
Love those long summer evenings spent with the people you love most in the whole wide world, enjoy the laughter, the jokes and the stories. Remember the happy faces, the perfect ambience of the days end. Create memories that will always be precious.