Real Ale Breweries
Shropshire has a long tradition of brewing, and today has an impressive number of breweries, even though we’ve sadly lost some over the last few years. We also have a brewery of historic importance – Three Tuns Brewery in Bishop’s Castle – which was established in 1642 and is the oldest licensed brewery site in Britain.
The map below shows the location of all the breweries in Shropshire. The light blue dividing line represents the boundary between our branch and the Telford and East Shropshire branch.
Brewery Taps
If you fancy sampling some beer as close as possible to where it’s produced, then you can’t get much closer than a bar at the brewery. In our part of Shropshire, we are lucky to have very good brewery bars at three of our breweries, and pubs right next to two other breweries selling beer from the brewery.
Please double-check bus and train timetables if travelling by public transport, and also opening times of the taprooms, as we can’t guarantee any timings mentioned below are still accurate.
Beer is brewed in buildings behind the White Horse pub in Clun. The Grade 2 listed pub normally has a selection of the core range of Clun ales. The pub is open every day and serves good food too. Unfortunately, you can only get to Clun by public transport on Mondays and Fridays, and there are only two buses – the Pontesbury to Ludlow bus run by Minsterley Motors arrives in Clun at 9:30am, and the same one going the other way is in Clun at 2:05pm, giving you exactly two hours drinking time. For most people though, travelling to Clun by car is the only option.
A large taproom with outdoor seating and a balcony, in a renovated Victorian railway shed next to Ludlow station. It usually sells the full core range of Ludlow beers with occasional specials, and you can also buy ale in bottles and mini kegs to take away with you. Limited finger food available such as pork pie and sausage rolls. Open every day of the week but only during the day until 5pm or 6pm. Please see their website for the latest taproom opening times. Easily accessible by train or bus.
A good-sized bar with long tables and bench seats that encourage striking up interesting conversations with people you don’t know. It sells a selection of core and seasonal cask ales, and one or two from the Black range keg beers. Sometimes have a food stall outside. Usually open only on the first Friday and Saturday of the month apart from January when it is shut. Please see their website for the latest taproom opening times. The 511 Arriva bus between Shrewsbury and Whitchurch stops in Hadnall, a few minutes walk from the brewery.
A large pub-style bar with generous outdoor seating for when the weather’s warmer. Usually have a selection of core and seasonal specials on handpull, as well as their own cider. Offer a good selection of burger, pizzas and sharing platters but it’s advisable booking a table at busier times. Open until around teatime on quieter days and 8:30pm on busier days – see their website for latest opening times and menus. The nearest bus stop is on Mile End Industrial Estate, around five minutes walk from the brewery. However, a more enjoyable way of getting to the brewery is using the Cambrian Heritage railway from Oswestry. Please note that this does not run all the time so check their website for train times and ticket prices.
There is no brewery bar as such but the historic Three Tuns Inn right next door to the brewery usually sells one or two Three Tuns ales, as does the Castle Hotel just up the road. The Three Tuns Inn did used to be part of the brewery until it was sold off in 2003. Food is usually available at both pubs at lunch and early evening. Minsterley Motors buses run a few times a day between Shrewsbury and Bishops Castle but be aware that the last bus back to Shrewsbury leaves around 3:40pm.
East Shropshire Breweries
Finney's
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