The traditional market town of Oswestry is a stone’s throw away from our Woodland Park Lodges site and is always worth a visit, particularly if you’re looking for something to eat and drink. Like many old county towns, Oswestry has an array of pubs, bars, inns, cafés and restaurants to choose from. It’s only five miles (8km) from the Welsh border, and the fare on offer reflects the mixture of English and Welsh heritage.
The area has many public houses, some dating back to the 1700s. With the renewed popularity of real ales and craft beer over the last 15 years, customers have high standards of what to expect from their pubs – whether they are small microbreweries, or old-fashioned locals’ pubs – to suit every taste. From a great deal of choice, here are some that are among our favourites:
The Bailey Head
Formerly known as The Castle Tavern and The Eagles, The Bailey Head is situated near the old castle in the heart of Oswestry. This community-centred pub serves an ever-changing roster of ales, with a concentration on microbrewery real ale and craft beer, small producer spirits and locally-produced food. This has led to the venue winning and being nominated for an array of awards, including ones run by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), as well as also being recognised as a dog-friendly venue, which is handy for our guests bringing their dogs to our dog-friendly site.
The Black Lion
Sitting just inside the town’s conservation area, this is a friendly, three-roomed pub with a great atmosphere. With its low-beamed ceilings and a traditional snug, it is cosy and historical at the same time. There are TVs in all the rooms for when the football’s on, and the landlady and landlord are always welcoming. The Black Lion also offers many traditional pub games and activities; from dominoes, darts, bowls, rounders, quiz league and cricket. The pub regularly hosts an in-house book club, and bingo and quiz nights too, so check in advance if you’d like to take part. The website and its events page have further dates and times of all in-house activities.
The Bastion Alehouse
Situated on Leg Street, The Bastion Alehouse is Oswestry’s first independent micropub specialising in real ale and craft beer. With a fresh approach to ales and innkeeping, the team at the Bastion has gained great customer feedback and a loyal following. Sited in a former cheese shop, the relaxed décor is ranged over two floors. With the accent on local ales and smaller breweries, they offer both cask and keg ales, and if you’re looking for something away from brewery-linked pubs or chains, it’s well worth a visit.
The Griffin Inn
Situated on Albion Hill, The Griffin Inn is run by Gary and Carol Brennan, who took over the pub in 2011. This lovely old building is a 17th-Century Grade 2 Listed public house, which serves food and traditional real ale, whilst also offering accommodation. There are three rooms – the bar, the snug and the backroom, the latter is used when the inn hosts live music events. A warm welcome is guaranteed and the Griffin is particularly noted for its steak and Guinness pie and also its Sunday roasts. Like most local pubs these days, check the website and social pages for news on events, new ales and seasonal menus, and advanced notice on events, such as live music and quiz nights.
Woodland Park Lodges offers the perfect location for those seeking to get away from it all with family, friends and four-legged companions, and the chance to explore all that the surrounding region has to offer. Book your stay with us today.