WE are blessed with some weird and wonderful pubs in Worcestershire, from a tiny Victorian taproom inside a couple’s living room to an old-world boozer with its own dungeon (and devils).
From the brilliant to the frankly bizarre, the county is spoiled for choice when it comes to quirky pubs, bars and taprooms, all eccentric in their own way in the best possible sense.
All the ones on this list have something unusual and memorable to offer, from bars that seem to have been transplanted here from the Titanic to one boasting perhaps the strangest and most eccentrically English toilets in the western world.
Here is a list of some of the best – and a bit about why they have made the list and what makes them worth a visit.
King Charles House in New Street, Worcester
The building dates back to 1577 and is famous as the pub from which Charles II fled after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. This year is the 375th anniversary of the battle, the last of the English Civil War, making it an opportune time to visit. The battle changed the course of British history, sowing the seeds of democracy and limiting the power of the monarchy forever, which some feared was descending into tyranny.
This pub is notable for its dungeon (oubliette) and strange and slightly sinister carved oak fireplace featuring devils with pitchforks tormenting gamblers.
Dating from 1634, the fireplace was removed from Sidbury House but fits in perfectly with the Tudor/Jacobean atmosphere of the place. The pub is known for its roast dinners and homemade pies where everyone can eat like a king. But booking is advised.
WEIRD: The oubliette at King Charles House in New Street, Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
J Maverick & Co, Upton
More a taproom than a pub, this is believed to be the smallest taproom in the county. But sometimes good things come in small packages. Decked out in a Victorian style, the taproom is 13ft by 11ft and can squeeze in around 20 to 25 people. Think Ripper Street without the murders or something dropped from the set of Harry Potter.
It is known for its wide selection of ales and craft beers. But it is the dim and slightly Dickensian décor which catches the eye. Cans of beer and ale (from all over Europe) with their weird and wonderful designs provide a vibrant dash of vivid colour against the dark panelling.
The atmosphere is something like a Victorian gentleman’s club or an apothecary’s shop and is gaining a growing following.
ATMOSPHERIC: The Three Kings in Hanley Castle (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Three Kings Inn in Hanley Castle
The fabric of the Three Kings dates back to around 1500. The pub is notable for being ‘cash only’ and for the reasonable price of its beer (including a good variety of real ales).
The £3.60 cost of a pint is hard to beat. Sue Roberts, the licensee, is reluctant to put up prices, even when some of the locals tell her she should.
The pub is unique for having no mod cons, including no television screens, radios and exceptionally poor mobile phone reception, which is really a blessing in disguise as it forces customers to talk to one another in an old-fashioned sense. It also has a superb beer festival and fascinating talks put on by people with specialist knowledge in their chosen field, dubbed ‘Interesting Tuesdays’.
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It is also unique for having been in the same family – the Roberts family – for over a century. This sense of tradition, continuity and connection to the community makes it well loved among regulars.
NOVEL: If you want to feel like you’re ‘In Bruges’, TripelB Beer Cafe in Copenhagen Street is the place to be. (Image: James Connell/Newsquest photos)
TripelB Beer Cafe, Copenhagen Street, Worcester
This beer cafe, which opened in 2019, is unique for its colossal variety of Belgian beers. Few people, unless they have been to the best bars in Belgium, will have experienced anything like it. Owned by Craig Finn and Ryan Smith, the Belgian Beer Cafe sells over 100 Belgian beers, all carefully selected for their quality and variety. If you want to feel like you’re ‘In Bruges’ (or Ghent) rather than Worcester, this is the place to be. Outdoor seating gives it a continental vibe that few other city venues have managed to replicate. This is what makes it so unique and unusual. With the colourful Civil War banners now up in Copenhagen Street and other bars like Oil Basin Brewhouse and Alcove close by, this has become a little high culture quarter with its own distinctive identity.
CUSTODIAN: Nigel Smith, landlord of The Fleece Inn in Bretforton, is a custodian of English traditions (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Fleece Inn in Bretforton
The Fleece Inn is an award-winning pub owned by the National Trust. It is unusual because of its unique state of preservation and some peculiar features, including its witch circles or witch marks which may date back to the Middle Ages. The marks are said to protect the building from evil forces and to stop witches coming down the chimney. Its picturesque qualities have resulted in it being recognised as Best Country Pub at the Great British Pub Awards. Known for its folk music traditions and as a filming location (including for Father Brown), the pub’s staff have been instrumental in the promotion of the Vale’s most important vegetable, asparagus. The Fleece is also said to be Taylor Swift’s favourite pub.
BIZARRE: The clock bogs in the Cocky Anchor in Broad Street, Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest photos)
Cocky Anchor in Broad Street, Worcester
The Cocky Anchor is famous for its weird carved heads and original architectural features. It is celebrated for its unusual narrow, vertical profile (said to be the narrowest in the county), strong maritime theme and quirky ‘clock bogs’ which feature a unique flush mechanism built using grandfather clocks.
The pub also has a tiny rooftop terrace commanding good views over Worcester (if you can stand the squawking gulls. The pub is replete with antiques, models and paintings which conjure from the grave Britain’s rich nautical history when Britannia ruled the waves.
The building, dating to around 1740, is historically known as Cupola House. The three heads looking out over Broad Street are traditionally believed to represent three pillars of local 18th-century society – a cleric, soldier and merchant. In city folklore, one is reputed to be the head of a rabbi.
INTEREST: Darren Yong (left) and Sam Roberts behind the iconic bar of The Bush and Vine (formerly the Bush) in St John’s, Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
The Bush and Vine in St John’s in Worcester
This beautiful boozer is known for its unusual floor plan and ornate bar which seems like it belongs on the Titanic or one of her sister ships.
Outside, the new beer garden—once a graveyard of fridges and a derelict loo—became a continental courtyard, a curious oasis framed by looming tower blocks. Inside, copper fittings by a local craftsman glow like relics from a steampunk workshop. Fires inside mean it is good in winter as well as summer.
Most delightful of all were the stencilled names of past landlords, watching from the walls like benevolent ghosts. This pub has suffered from periods of temporary closure, so it’s great to see it brought back to life by experienced publicans like Darren Yong and Sam Roberts, who already run successful city pubs at a time when the trade is under increased pressure.
