The Bull’s Head in Craswell is one of the last unspoiled drovers' inns in England. The pub had been closed for six years and was reopened after a renovation project in November 2021.
Bordered by the Black Mountains, this drovers' inn retains a charm with a hole-in-the-wall bar, flagstone floors, slate walls and open fires. There is a cosy bar area to have a quiet drink, a dining room with an open fire and a beer garden overlooking the foothills of the Black Mountains. It is its first time in the Top 50 gastropubs listing coming in at 41.
The pub is owned by Wild by Nature, a company with an ethos of growing and serving food naturally. The Longtown-based company, took on The Bull’s Head as its third venue. It was already running its own farm with Lower House Farm and guest accommodation called Old Great Marlborough.
The ethos of the pub is to offer seasonal ‘farm to fork’ food in a relaxed and welcome environment.
The menu offers honest food with meat from its regenerative farm and produce from the surrounding area. Customers can enjoy some innovative dishes on the menu starting with smoked haddock fritters with curry mayo or radicchio, pickled pear, goats curd and hazelnuts.
Mains include delights such as beef broth with dumpling and braised vegetables; hogget faggot with white beans, onion gravy and crispy onions and Cornish cod, mussels, cider sauce, chestnut crumb and sprouts. desserts include Laphroaig whisky and honey parfait, raspberries and roasted oats and stitchelton, port soaked prunes and oatcakes.
The pub is now included in the Michelin Guide as one of the best pubs in Herefordshire 2022.
There are plans for onsite accommodation with four bedrooms due to open in spring, followed by cabins in the grounds in summer. Dogs are welcome in the bar and beer garden.
