The Horseshoes in Tilstock, just south of Whitchurch, is just about my favourite pub in a very closely contended field that includes such strong local runners as The Cholmondeley Arms on the A41 near Malpas, The Willeymoor Lock on Tarporley Road near Whitchurch, and The Bhurtpore Inn at Aston.
Graham and Sally run that now rare establishment, a truly local local. Graham, a true countryman, always affable and welcoming, Sally, behind the bar, with an encyclopedic knowledge of her customers “usual”, great beer (Golden Thread 5%, highly recommended) and a very friendly bunch of locals.
last Friday, when I arrived, there was a young lady building a four storey “house of beer mats” with amazing skill and a very firm hand. When I reluctantly left about an hour later she was just starting on level eight and had used over three hundred beer mats. how bout that.