AN ancient pub crowned the greatest in Britain has something for everyone including a 90s singer and a Coronation Street star, but the sunsets over the Malvern Hills capture its true beauty.
The Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke, near Worcester, may be 500 years old - not even the landlord, Andrew Goodall, knows for sure (although he already has an enthusiastic sleuth on the case).
Malcolm Walford, 90, who started working at the Croome Estate Trust 70 years ago, has offered to help shed light on the ancient building's history and perhaps unearth a few secrets along the way.
Are there ghosts or other spectral shenanigans? The cleaner, Mave Thomas, has detected 'a strange presence' amongst the pub's creaking timbers and remains convinced there's a ghost.
One thing is clear - The Rose and Crown has endured and thrived as a pub for as long as anyone can remember and remains the beating heart of the community.
The landlord certainly believes The Rose and Crown has the best beer garden in Worcestershire.
With its low ceiling and ancient timber frame, the pub has a quaint and quirky quality all its own but with all the modern comforts, earning a 4.5 rating on Tripadvisor after 347 reviews.
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The Rose and Crown certainly lived up to its name when it was crowned the greatest British pub in the Marston's awards in September. This placed it firmly on the throne after it came out on top amongst over 1,550 Marston's pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.
Mr Goodall said of the accolade: "It's amazing. It's not just for me, it's for the staff who all work extremely hard and our local suppliers."
The award is seen by Mr Goodall as a reflection of the quality of the beers, service, and classic food but also the resilience and adaptability of the team. This is periodically tested by Mother Nature, a cruel mistress at times, as the pub is prone to severe flooding.
There are even marks, conserved in the pub's door frame, which show the levels the waters reached, with 1947 being the worst year with a close second coming in 2007.
The pub also flooded in 2021 and 2022 but they just managed to keep the waters at bay in January 2023 (although the pub did have to close for five days).
Resin floors and a dampproof membrane have been installed at the grade II listed building with a plastic upstand to make the pub as flood resistant as possible. Tiles are used instead of carpets.
Each time the pub floods it costs £60,000 to put it right again so with three flooding events this saddled the pub with a £180,000 bill so being proactive in the fight is key.
"We know we are always going to flood. It's how we deal with it, how we adapt that matters. For us, it's about getting open again as quickly as possible. We employ 17 people," he said.
In a measure of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the pub's directors, they have not only had to adapt to flooding but the Covid-19 pandemic. They did this in spectacular style by spending £70,000 to £80,000 on improvements to the garden which officially opened in April 2021.
Mr Goodall's business partner, Matt Collins, based at the King's Head in Sidbury, is a master carpenter and together with Mr Goodall they built a shepherd's hut bar outside and a shelter so people could still enjoy a socially distanced pint during the pandemic.
"We have spectacular views towards the Malvern Hills. From here you can see quite possibly one of the best sunsets in Worcestershire with picturesque views of the Malverns. I would say this is one of the best beer gardens in Worcestershire. We had 200 people out here before," said Mr Goodall.
They have an open fire throughout the winter for cosy and romantic evenings, giving the pub year-round appeal.
The charms of the pub have not been lost on some big names from the world of television and music - Countryfile has featured the pub while actor Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald) could be forgiven for forgetting all about Weatherfield and The Rovers Return when he saw what The Rose and Crown had to offer.
The pub has also welcomed 90s singer Angie Brown on her way to the Sunshine Festival in Upton.
She is a co-artist on the hit single "I'm Gonna Get You" (1992) by Bizarre Inc and performed on a number of recordings with them as lead vocalist including the single "Took My Love" (1993) released by the record label Vinyl Solution. Brown also co-wrote and performed the single "Disco Heaven" with Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Mr Goodall, who was born and bred in St John's in Worcester, works closely with Matthew Collins who runs The King's Head in Sidbury in Worcester.
Mike Bateman, the head chef since 2015, has helped bring classic and quality food to the pub which prides itself both on its food and cask ales.
Meanwhile, bar managers Kirsten Fyfe and Michelle Abbott remain vital team members. Oxford Gold and Pedigree are amongst the most popular beers.
Peter Fryer, the former landlord of the pub, remains a big part of the community and runs the quiz every other week on Wednesdays at 8pm with the next one on October 25. Because 90 per cent of the quiz regulars eat it can be a challenge to find a table midweek.
One of the next big events for the pub - and the village of Severn Stoke - is the Christmas lights switch on which takes place on November 26. Last year between 350 and 400 people attended, enjoying hot pork rolls, live music and a visit from Father Christmas.
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