20/02/26 – Bewdley

• WordPress
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

If you enjoy reading please consider “buying me a pint”, this will help to cover my hosting and image hosting and help to ensure further trips can go ahead!
BUY ME A PINT

From Timber Beams to Taprooms in Bewdley

My day in Bewdley was spent wandering between eight welcoming pubs and bars, each with its own story to tell. From the 250-year-old Real Ale Tavern, once a bank, to the timber-framed Black Boy dating back to the 1400s, there was history at every stop. The Great Western nodded to the town’s railway past, while The Old Waggon & Horses and Orilla reflected Bewdley’s trading days. Bewdley Brewery brought local brewing back to life, and newer additions like Weavers sat comfortably alongside long-standing favourites. I was met with friendly faces, good conversation and excellent cask ales throughout.

Bewdley is a small Worcestershire town set on the banks of the River Severn, and its story has always been tied to the water. In medieval times it grew as a busy inland port, with boats carrying timber, grain and other goods up and down the river. The town became a borough in 1606 and prospered through trade, boat building and later carpet making. When the railway arrived in the 1800s, it brought new links and fresh opportunities. Today, Bewdley’s Georgian buildings and riverside setting quietly reflect centuries of steady, hardworking town life.

The Real Ale Tavern

Friday took me to Bewdley to start with, starting my visit at The Real Ale Tavern. Real Ale Tavern is in a building on Load Street in Bewdley that’s about 250 years old. It wasn’t always a pub — for many years it served as commercial premises and, most recently before becoming a pub, was a Barclays bank. After the bank closed, the building was bought and converted by Black Country Ales and opened as a pub in November 2017. The conversion kept some old features of the building, giving a sense of the site’s long past before its current role as a real ale pub.

Inside it feels like a traditional pub full of character. The interior is essentially one long room, but it’s broken up visually by low ceilings, exposed beams and changes in seating that stop it feeling open-plan. Solid wooden tables sit alongside upholstered bench seating, creating comfortable, tucked-away spots along the walls. Patterned carpets and warm wallpaper add to the sense of age and familiarity, while lighting comes from shaded wall lamps rather than anything bright. Original features from the building’s past are still prominent, most notably the old bank vault door with its heavy steel frame and locking wheel. Outside, a rooftop terrace offers extra seating in better weather.

A fantastic welcome from Jack and the team when I arrived. On the bar a fantastic line up of 9 cask ales along with ciders and keg choices. I went for How Soon Is Now by Salopian Brewery — a crisp pale ale with lively hops and a refreshing finish.

The Great Western

A walk over the River at Bewdley and up to The Great Western. The Great Western pub gets its name from the nearby Severn Valley Railway and the wider Great Western Railway network that once served the town. The building dates from around the mid-1800s, when railways were expanding and pubs often grew up close to stations. Its position on Kidderminster Road, near the railway line and viaduct, reflects that link. Over the years it settled into life as a local pub, used by railway workers, residents, and visitors. While ownership and use have changed, the name remains a reminder of Bewdley’s railway history.

Inside, the pub feels calm and settled, with a high main room that’s broken up into smaller, comfortable areas. Dark wood panelling wraps around the walls and continues up to a shallow upper level, where old bottles, dried hops and railway bits are dotted about. Framed locomotive prints and British Rail signs quietly reference the building’s past without turning it into a display. Tables are spaced out rather than crammed together, with a mix of chairs, stools and bench seating. Light comes in through tall windows and warm wall lamps, giving the whole place an easy, welcoming feel that encourages you to sit, talk and take your time.

On the bar a great choice of 6 cask ales, a cider and a variety of keg options. I went for 2857 by Bewdley Brewery — a smooth, balanced ale with gentle malt and a clean finish.

The Old Waggon & Horses

Further up the road in Bewdley brought me to The Old Waggon and Horses. The Old Waggon & Horses at 91 Kidderminster Road has been part of the Wribbenhall side of Bewdley for a long time. The name comes from the days when wagons and horses used nearby roads to move goods between towns. The building was already being used as a public house by the 1800s, serving people living locally as well as those passing through. Over the years it changed hands and went through different periods of use, which was common for pubs in the area. Even so, it has stayed a well-known spot on Kidderminster Road.

Inside, it feels like a place that’s found its shape over time. Low beams run across the ceiling, brick pillars break up the space, and the rooms seem to open out gradually rather than all at once. Seating is tucked into small corners and along the walls, with benches, stools, and tables that look like they’ve always belonged there. The colours are warm and settled, with dark wood, soft lighting, and patterned fabrics adding to the sense of comfort. Pictures, boards, and small details fill the walls without crowding them. It’s a relaxed interior, shaped for sitting, talking, and taking your time.

On the bar a line up of 3 cask ales to choose from, along with a number of keg options. I went for Best Bitter by Bathams Brewery — a classic, well-balanced bitter with smooth malt and a clean hop finish.

Orilla

A walk back down and over the river brought me next to Orilla. Orilla sits in an old riverside building on Severn Side South in Bewdley, Worcestershire. The building dates from the early 1800s, a time when the town was busy with river trade. For many years it was home to S. R. Lewis, a well known fishing tackle shop, serving locals and visitors alike. After the shop closed, the building stood empty for a while. In the early 2020s it was carefully brought back into use. Its story links closely to Bewdley’s past as a River Severn port and a town shaped by trade, travel, and everyday life over many generations together.

Inside Orilla is relaxed and welcoming. The space is broken up into small seating areas with low tables, leather chairs and a few booths, so it never feels busy or crowded. Dark green walls, warm wood and soft lighting give it a cosy feel, with a large mural and a handful of personal touches adding character without taking over. An old sign from the previous shop, S.R. Lewis, has been kept in place, a quiet nod to what was here before. Big windows at the front look out over the river, softened by gentle lights. Nothing feels fussy or rushed. It’s the sort of place where you sit down for one drink and end up staying a while.

I got a fantastic warm welcome from Ian, John and Jen. On the bar a selection of 4 cask ales (1 being from a jug), and is soon to increase to 5 hand pulls. Along with a selection of keg options. I went for Golden Glow by Holdens Brewery — a light, golden ale with gentle malt and a crisp hop finish.

Bewdley Brewery / Bewdley Brewery Tap

A walk along the river led me to Bewdley Brewery / Bewdley Brewery Tap. The Bewdley Brewery started in 2008, bringing brewing back to the town after a long absence. Bewdley had not had its own brewery since the last one closed in 1912. The business was set up at the end of 2007 and began operating the following year from a site close to the River Severn. The premises were formerly Lax Lane National School, a Victorian-era school building that later became part of the Bewdley Craft Centre before being converted for brewing use. Established by a small group with the aim of reviving a lost local trade, the brewery has since become part of Bewdley’s more recent history and business life.

The taproom at Bewdley Brewery is simple and well-worn, with wooden tables, mismatched chairs and soft pendant lights set across an open room. Pale panelling runs along the walls, broken up by old maps, brewery signs and small framed pieces that give the space a quiet sense of history. A long ledge holds rows of mugs and glasses, and internal windows look through to the working brewery, keeping everything closely connected. The room feels settled and easy to spend time in.

A fantastic welcome from Holly when I arrived and showed me around the brewery. Was great to meet brewers Tanisha and Rex aswell. On the bar a great selection of 6 cask ales and a fantastic keg selection including some from their craft brewery “Wild River”. Make sure you don’t miss the on site shop. I went for Red Hill by Bewdley Brewery — a smooth, rich red ale with gentle malt character. I also went for Sabrina by Wild River Brew Co — a crisp, refreshing pale ale with subtle hop notes.

The Black Boy

A uphill walk brought me to The Black Boy. The Black Boy on Wyre Hill is thought to be the oldest surviving pub building in Bewdley. It dates from the mid-1400s, when timber framing was the usual way to build. The oak beams were hand-cut and pegged together, using local wood that has lasted for centuries. This style allowed buildings to flex and survive floods, weather and time. The sloping floors, low ceilings and exposed timbers all tell the story of medieval craftsmanship. Although altered over the years, the core timber frame remains, making it a rare and tangible link to Bewdley’s late-medieval past.

Inside it feels cosy and gently worn in. Big old oak beams run low overhead, their surfaces rough and uneven from centuries of use. The rooms are small and slightly crooked, opening into each other in a way that feels natural rather than planned. Floors dip, doorways are low, and nothing feels hurried or new. Benches, stools and tables sit close together, encouraging you to settle in. With warm colours, soft lighting and plenty of timber on show, it feels more like an old house than a pub.

On the bar a selection of 5 cask ales, along with a great choice of craft keg lines. I went for Measures by Nothing Bound Brewing Co — a smooth, easy-drinking ale with balanced malt and hop character.

Weavers of Bewdley

An easier walk back down the hill brought me to Weavers of Bewdley. Weavers of Bewdley opened in November 2025 on Load Street, right in the centre of town. It moved into a building that had already been used as a bar, having most recently been home to the Wyre Inn Microbar. The Weavers name comes from a small chain of pubs already established in nearby towns such as Kidderminster, Worcester, Stourbridge and Malvern, making this the first time the name appeared in Bewdley. After opening, it quickly settled into everyday town life and became part of Bewdley’s more recent story.

Inside the space feels cosy and thoughtfully put together. Seating is arranged in small pockets rather than one big room, with wooden tables for couples and small groups. By the front window, a cushioned bench with throws and plants makes an inviting place to sit and watch the street outside. Deeper inside, darker walls, patterned wallpaper and exposed beams give the pub a snug, settled feel. The rooms flow easily from one to the next, with enough space to move around without feeling cramped. It’s the sort of place where it’s easy to sit down, relax, and feel at home.

Was great chatting to Sam on my visit. A line up on the bar of 6 cask ales, along with further options available on keg. I went for Frost Hammer by Fownd Brewing Company — a crisp, refreshing pale ale with bright hop notes.

Horn & Trumpet

My final call in Bewdley was to Horn & Trumpet. The Horn & Trumpet occupies an early-18th-century building that was later re-fronted in the same century. It began life as a private residence before being licensed as a pub in 1840. Inside, its thick walls, low ceilings, and traditional layout reflect centuries of use. The building has been repaired, altered, and restored many times, particularly following flooding, while retaining much of its original character. Now Grade II listed, it stands as a well-preserved example of a small historic town pub.

Inside is made up of small, comfortable rooms that feel easy and relaxed. The walls are painted in deep blues and warm tones, with wooden floors and solid tables that have clearly seen plenty of use. Soft lighting and wood-burning stoves give the rooms a gentle glow. There are benches, cosy corners, and a mix of chairs that invite you to sit and stay awhile. Pictures, old signs, and small details add character without fuss. Further back, the space opens up with daylight, plants, and room to play games.

On the bar 2 cask ales, a cider and a range of keg options to choose from. I went for Best Bitter by Bathams Brewery — a classic, easy-drinking bitter with smooth malt and gentle hops.