A great pub these days can be difficult to find. It seems strange, however it’s true.

It’s a unusual thing when you walk into a drinking establishment as well as the personnel are delighted with you being there, the beer on tap is drinkable as well as you don’t feel like you’re going to be robbed… either by the beer costs or by the locals!

We discovered one – nearly by mishap – on a recent trip back to the UK.

Tucked away on the backwaters of the east Anglian countryside is a bit town called Rowhedge. It’s one of those quaint bit riverside villages that, unless you’re heading to, you’ll never pass through.

On the banks of the River Colne in the south-east coastline of England this bit town has existed quietly for numerous years. At its beery heart (there utilized to be 10 pubs as well as six beer shops a hundred years or so ago) is Ye Olde Albion.

This photo was taken in the early 1900s – the Albion is the building on the left side of the photo.

We had been walking along the banks of the Colne for a couple of hours as well as were looking ahead to a great beer extremely much. however when we shown up at the Albion, we discovered it was shut. Despondent we sat in the park opposite the pub not understanding what to do.

It was then that a guy walking two dogs came by.

“Are you waiting on the pub to open?” he gestured.

“Yes,” we croaked, clearly parched.

“Well, I won’t be opening for one more half an hour,” he explained – of program he was the landlord! “But if you tell me what you want, I’ll bring it out to you.”

We couldn’t believe it. even for country hospitality this was something else. however true to his word, the publican brought us out a pint each of his tasty beers.

“You can do me a favour now,” he directed at the a lot more used of the two dogs. “Look after her for a minute. She hates walking as well as I’ve just got a couple of tasks to do the other side of the village.”

We were astounded with his level of depend on in us – not that we were looking especially endangering that day. however still.

When he returned as well as opened up, we ensconced ourselves in comfy seats as well as began working our method with the beer options while the pub filled up.

Some hours later, as well as a number of pints later too, we enquired about food.

“You can have some crisps if you want,” the barman offered. “But if you want food, you requirement to go to the other pub – the anchor – just down the street.”

Again, we were astounded. This pub was just for drinking. as well as rightly so. The beers – all from locally sourced microbreweries – were exceptional. I fell in like with the twister Smith Eccentric pale Ale from Mill eco-friendly Brewery in Suffolk – now unfortunately no longer runnning.

Anyway, out we marched to the Anchor, whose beer wasn’t as great however whose food was extremely welcome indeed. This pub is ideal on the riverside as well as we handled to score a table on the water’s edge.

It was charming to see two pubs working together symbiotically like this. It was remove that a person was a beer pub as well as the other was the food pub. What an arrangement. as well as it indicated that not only would both stay open, however both would prosper as well.

We can’t keep in mind when the Albion is open, however if you just turn up, we’re sure the landlord – Simon – will pass you a pity beer!

The anchor is open Monday – Friday: 12:00 twelve noon – 3:00pm & 5:30pm – 11:00pm Saturday & Sunday 12:00 twelve noon – 11:00pm

Ye Olde Albion as well as The Anchor
High Street
Rowhedge
England

Where’s your much-loved watering hole? tell us about it in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance. Old picture courtesy of The Rowhedger – past & present by Bob Mason.