Shropshire's cheapest pint of beer revealed

Could Shropshire be selling one of the cheapest pints in the UK? Judges from the Good Pub Guide have carried out a survey which reveals a pint of bitter averages £2.87 in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and up to £3.15 in London and the South East.

It says a pint averages £2.88 in the Heart of England, £2.90 in Wales, £2.95 in the South West, £2.99 in the East Midlands, £3.04 and £3.11 in Scotland.

But one of the cheapest pints found in Shropshire is being sold for just £1.65 by the Jewel of the Severn in High Street, Bridgnorth.

Punters can get a pint of Ruddles best bitter for the knock-down price.

Dan Davey, manager of the Wetherspoons pub, said: "It's quite popular. I would not say it was just down to the price. We are more of a food pub."

The annual guide also discovered the most popular pub food was steak and ale pie, closely followed by fish and chips, often in beer-battered.

Meanwhile, lasagne scored zero in a list of top food choices, with curry, sausage and mash and ham and egg also slipping well down the popularity stakes.

Decent coffee was said to be available in nearly all good pubs, although the guide said it was a 'shame' almost half of pubs in the UK did not open until noon.

The Highwayman in Oswestry also has a reasonably priced pint with Banks Bitter at £2.35 and a guest beer featured this week at £2.60.

John Cartwright, one of the staff at the pub, said steak and kidney pudding was popular as was the fish and chips. But he said the BBQ chicken and bacon melts and the extensive range of burgers were also a big favourite.

"We have our Sunday and Wednesday carvery which is popular and our extremely good value for money, Golden Greats," he added.

The guide also questioned why few town and city pubs had the character and charm found in country inns, describing them as 'pleasant enough', with 'okay' levels of service, while furnishings came from a vast warehouse hidden away in an anonymous 'off-motorway wasteland'.

The guide, launched 30 years ago, lists its pubs, landlords and dining pubs of the year.

The Cheapest Beers in Shropshire

The Shrewsbury Hotel, Smithfield Road:

• Carlsberg – £2.65

• Ruddles – £1.85

The Crown, Longden Coleham, Shrewsbury:

• Banks’s – £2.20

• Carlsberg – £2.30

The Albion, Wem:

• Tetley’s cask ale – £2.75.

Tudor House Hotel, Market Drayton:

• Tetley’s cask ale – £2.70.

The Boathouse, Port Hill Road, Shrewsbury:

• Fosters – £3.10.

• Darwin’s Origin – £3.05.

The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford:

• Hobsons – £2.50.

The Highwayman, Oswestry:

• Banks Bitter – £2.35.

Jewel of the Severn, High Street, Bridgnorth:

• Ruddles – £1.65.

By Jason Lavan