Discover ‘Royal’ Cider Country With The Crown Inn And Kings This Autumn

• Award winning pub with rooms the perfect place for an autumn or winter staycation in the countryside
• In-house drinks company Kings produces a new breed of boutique cider and perry
• 7 bedroom accommodation offered at an exceptional standard
• Part of the ‘Discover Cider’ campaign, set up by local producers to overcome the challenges faced by Covid-19

The Crown Inn, Woolhope, is a well-established local pub offering exceptional food that’s paired with local ciders and perry and has adjoining accommodation that sleeps up to 14 people and includes a private kitchen and dining area.

The pub, a winner of the Great British Pub Awards, also has its very own cider brand, Kings, and serves many other local ciders, all from within a 12 mile area of The Crown. They are part of the leading group of artisan cider and perry producers that the county of Herefordshire is becoming well-known for, following in the footsteps of household brands such as Weston’s Cider, where The Crown Inn owner and publican Matt Slocombe started his hospitality career.

During the autumn harvest period, the scent of apples permeates the valleys that lie between the city of Hereford, the River Wye and the Malvern Hills AOB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), and because the county of Herefordshire is one of the only regions not to have a motorway running through it (the M50 skirts round the southern edge), the region feels like a forgotten corner of England with a low population density and views stretching from the Cotswold Hills to the Black Mountains of Wales.

As well as cider tasting and visits to producers such as Oliver’s Cider and Perry, Little Pomona, Ross on Wye Cider, Gwatkins & Newton Court. Other activities in the area include walking and hiking, canoeing on the River Wye (summer) and cycling (road cycling and mountain biking in nearby Forest of Dean). Both the Hay and Cheltenham Festivals are within easy reach.

Matt Slocombe said:

Whilst we enjoy a drop of Claret or white Burgundy once in a while, we’ve been working on pairing our food with local cider and perry since we started in the restaurant trade in 2000 and we have been building on that at the Crown since 2007. Real Cider can often be clouded by the image of the old guy in a field with a straw in the mouth, but it’s misunderstood. Today, Herefordshire is at the forefront of a fine cider revolution. There are so many producers on our doorstep that are creating top quality beverages that can be enjoyed with food, a sparkling perry that can be as good or better as prosecco or a fine cider that works so well with sustainable, local meats. Herefordshire is a wonderful place to come to get away from it all, we can give you a feast of experiences at any time of the year.

High resolution images can be downloaded here (includes exterior and interior photos).

Covid-19 note: as a hospitality business The Crown Inn complies with current UK Government guidelines and as such, the private dining room is arranged as two tables of 6. The property has committed to an enhanced cleaning protocol foe the times of Covid-19 and beyond.

Accommodation

The Crown Inn sleeps up to 14 people in 7 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms and can be booked as an entire property via Airbnb.

Prices start at £450 per night accommodation only for the entire property. A minimum of 2 nights stay is required (3 nights for holiday and peak periods, 5 nights over Christmas and New Year). The accommodation includes an open plan kitchen and private dining area, a snug, private garden.

Travel

Woolhope is a Herefordshire village located approximately 7 miles from the city of Hereford and 8 miles from the town of Ledbury, in a valley between the River Wye and the Marcle Ridge.

It’s approximately 3 hours’ drive from Central London to the west on the M4/A419/A40, via Gloucester and 3 hours from Manchester to the south, via the M6/M50.

Regular train services from London Paddington to Ledbury or Hereford depart daily (2 hours, 40 minutes direct) or from Euston via Birmingham. Trains from the north or east of England go via Birmingham.

About The Crown Inn

Opening times
Wednesday to Friday, 12-2pm and 5-10pm
Saturday and Sunday, 12-10pm

Table bookings: 01432 860 468, kitchen@thecrowninn.pub

Example Main Course Menu

CHICKEN. Bacon, girolle mushrooms, purple sprouting, black garlic & rosemary roasted baby potatoes £14
COD. Line caught, charred courgette, celeriac & honey cream, crushed baby potatoes £16
QUICHE. Mediterranean vegetables, garlic & oregano bulgur wheat & salad £10
BURGER. Slow braised ox cheek, Monterey Jack cheese, Crown relish, French fries £13
STEAK FRITE. 6 oz. sirloin steak, French fries, garlic & chive butter, salad garnish £16

Download full menu’s, including cider and perry lists.

About Cider Press

The team at Cider Press all have one thing in common – their knowledge of the 3 Counties area of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

Cider Press is a media relations company and part of the Mountain Press group that also includes Ski Press and Mountain Press. Its purpose is to help business such as hotels, restaurants, local producers, leisure facilities, holiday parks, adventure operators, tourism companies, share news and tell stories to a wide audience.

Cider Press is based in Ledbury, right in the heart of this incredible region of Great Britain that has so much potential to offer visitors, but is yet relatively unknown to many people.

Rob Stewart – Cider Press, robert@cider-press.com.