Northamptonshire Tourist Guide - Articles
Village Pubs in Northamptonshire
In fact, it has been argued, somewhat tongue in cheek admittedly, that visitors to Northamptonshire with limited time at their disposal, yet with a real desire to scratch beneath the surface of local culture, history and heritage would be much better off striking up a casual conversation at the village pub than doing an organised whistle-stop tour of the county’s main historic attractions. So, why not pop in to your ‘local’ for a swift half and a chat; catch up with the local gossip and get to know what makes the neighbourhood tick. For here, in the bar (often more interesting than in the lounge) you are sure to root out the unofficial interpretation of colourful, local culture. All of this you will find in abundance in Village Pubs in Northamptonshire
History & Heritage of Today’s Village Pubs in Northamptonshire
Many of today’s village pubs in Northamptonshire were originally coaching inns. During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the heyday of the stage coach and a time of increased travel, Northamptonshire’s strategic location, at the crossroads of English commerce, saw the emergence of countless coaching inns throughout the region. These establishments were set up to cater for the needs of travellers passing through, particularly between Oxford and Northampton, and further afield between London and Liverpool and Holyhead.
Business, for instance, was brisk in coaching inns and ale houses along the original Watling Street and the main route to Holyhead. Towcester, the oldest town in Northamptonshire, was the hub of coaching inn territory, at the time, with many famous British literary characters including Swift and Dickens staying in former coaching inns such as The Saracens Head in Towcester.
Character Village Pubs in Northamptonshire
In great British tradition, many village pubs in Northamptonshire are housed in centuries-old buildings that ooze character and charm. Too numerous to list, the following random selection of traditional countryside pubs should help you build up a thirst:
Chequered Skipper , The Green, Ashton, Nr Oundle PE8 5LD: Picturesque thatched village pub in equally picturesque setting on the village green; offers a good range of draught beers and ciders including Aspalls Suffolk Cider.
Dog & Partridge, 6 High Street, Titchmarsh, NN14 3DF: Welcoming, traditional village pub situated in the heart of the village of Titchmarsh; serves a great selection of real ales, e.g. Adnams Broadside, Wells Eagle IPA, Wells Bombardier, plus two weekly guest beers.
The Fox and Hounds, Main Street, Great Brington, NN7 4JA: Located on the Althorp estate, this ‘chocolate box’ style stone and thatch coaching inn has retained many of its original features and dates back to the sixteenth century; superb setting, oodles of character, real ales (e.g. Abbot Ale, Fullers London Pride, Greene King IPA, Speckled Hen) and inspirational home cooking.
Red Lion Hotel, East Haddon, Northamptonshire, NN6 8BU: Despite its hotel status, this delightful thatched inn, dating back to the seventeenth century, boasts a friendly local bar area and beer garden, with real ales and fine food.
The Overstone Arms, Stringers Hill, Pytchley, NN14 1EU: rave reviews of this delightful thatched inn that serves cask ales, decent wines and traditional pub grub include: ‘beautiful pub in a beautiful village’, ‘true traditional English pub … great food, excellent service’.
The Olde Coach House Inn, Ashby St Ledgers, CV23 8UN: Housed in converted cottages, in the village of Ashby St Ledgers, The Olde Coach House Inn offers traditional ales and big-portion bar meals. The Inn also hosts regular beer festivals.
The Hatton Arms, 14, Arnhill Road, Gretton NN17 3DN: Built in the fourteenth century as a gatehouse to Kirby Hall, The Hatton Arms is Northamptonshire’s second oldest pub. This delightful, stone-built pub which retains many of its original features has a terrace and outside seating area with panoramic views over the Welland Valley; has a fine reputation for serving excellent food, real ales as well as seasonal ciders such as Rockingham Forest Cider in the summertime.
The Queens Head, Bulwick, Near Corby, NN17 3DY: An attractive stone-built traditional village pub, dating back to the mid seventeenth century, The Queens Head is situated in the centre of the village of Bulwick; lots of charm and character; serves real ales and exceptional bar food.
The Ship Inn, West Street, Oundle, PE8 4EF: Located in the picturesque town of Oundle, The Ship Inn with its original beamed ceilings, log fires, real ales and ‘no-fuss’ pub grub exudes ‘village inn’ charm and a real sense of local community.
The Tollemache Arms, High Street, Harrington, NN6 9NU: A quintessential thatched English inn, the Tollemache Arms dates back to the sixteenth century; lovely village atmosphere, real ales, bar food and fine dining.
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History & Heritage of Today’s Village Pubs in Northamptonshire
Many of today’s village pubs in Northamptonshire were originally coaching inns. During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the heyday of the stage coach and a time of increased travel, Northamptonshire’s strategic location, at the crossroads of English commerce, saw the emergence of countless coaching inns throughout the region. These establishments were set up to cater for the needs of travellers passing through, particularly between Oxford and Northampton, and further afield between London and Liverpool and Holyhead.
Business, for instance, was brisk in coaching inns and ale houses along the original Watling Street and the main route to Holyhead. Towcester, the oldest town in Northamptonshire, was the hub of coaching inn territory, at the time, with many famous British literary characters including Swift and Dickens staying in former coaching inns such as The Saracens Head in Towcester.
Character Village Pubs in Northamptonshire
In great British tradition, many village pubs in Northamptonshire are housed in centuries-old buildings that ooze character and charm. Too numerous to list, the following random selection of traditional countryside pubs should help you build up a thirst:
Chequered Skipper , The Green, Ashton, Nr Oundle PE8 5LD: Picturesque thatched village pub in equally picturesque setting on the village green; offers a good range of draught beers and ciders including Aspalls Suffolk Cider.
Dog & Partridge, 6 High Street, Titchmarsh, NN14 3DF: Welcoming, traditional village pub situated in the heart of the village of Titchmarsh; serves a great selection of real ales, e.g. Adnams Broadside, Wells Eagle IPA, Wells Bombardier, plus two weekly guest beers.
The Fox and Hounds, Main Street, Great Brington, NN7 4JA: Located on the Althorp estate, this ‘chocolate box’ style stone and thatch coaching inn has retained many of its original features and dates back to the sixteenth century; superb setting, oodles of character, real ales (e.g. Abbot Ale, Fullers London Pride, Greene King IPA, Speckled Hen) and inspirational home cooking.
Red Lion Hotel, East Haddon, Northamptonshire, NN6 8BU: Despite its hotel status, this delightful thatched inn, dating back to the seventeenth century, boasts a friendly local bar area and beer garden, with real ales and fine food.
The Overstone Arms, Stringers Hill, Pytchley, NN14 1EU: rave reviews of this delightful thatched inn that serves cask ales, decent wines and traditional pub grub include: ‘beautiful pub in a beautiful village’, ‘true traditional English pub … great food, excellent service’.
The Olde Coach House Inn, Ashby St Ledgers, CV23 8UN: Housed in converted cottages, in the village of Ashby St Ledgers, The Olde Coach House Inn offers traditional ales and big-portion bar meals. The Inn also hosts regular beer festivals.
The Hatton Arms, 14, Arnhill Road, Gretton NN17 3DN: Built in the fourteenth century as a gatehouse to Kirby Hall, The Hatton Arms is Northamptonshire’s second oldest pub. This delightful, stone-built pub which retains many of its original features has a terrace and outside seating area with panoramic views over the Welland Valley; has a fine reputation for serving excellent food, real ales as well as seasonal ciders such as Rockingham Forest Cider in the summertime.
The Queens Head, Bulwick, Near Corby, NN17 3DY: An attractive stone-built traditional village pub, dating back to the mid seventeenth century, The Queens Head is situated in the centre of the village of Bulwick; lots of charm and character; serves real ales and exceptional bar food.
The Ship Inn, West Street, Oundle, PE8 4EF: Located in the picturesque town of Oundle, The Ship Inn with its original beamed ceilings, log fires, real ales and ‘no-fuss’ pub grub exudes ‘village inn’ charm and a real sense of local community.
The Tollemache Arms, High Street, Harrington, NN6 9NU: A quintessential thatched English inn, the Tollemache Arms dates back to the sixteenth century; lovely village atmosphere, real ales, bar food and fine dining.
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