Visiting the pubs of Charnwood Forest

There are many country pubs in Leicestershire that are worth visiting, but the impression that many people have is that they are hard to get to without using a car. However many pubs can be reached by public transport even if operators seem to want to make the system as complex as possible.

This article will look at pubs in the Charnwood Forest area, in Thurcaston, Cropston, Swithland and Woodhouse Eaves that can be visited on one particular bus route, or what you would hope would be one bus route, but which differs according to the time of day and the day of the week.

During the day on Monday to Friday it is route 54 operated by Centrebus, who extend one bus per hour from Beaumont Leys to Loughborough via the Charnwood Forest. This route leaves from Charles Street in the city and runs via Beaumont Leys to Anstey. Centrebus offer a county rover ticket for £2.50.

Monday to Friday evenings and all day Saturday it is route 123 operated by Woods Coaches which starts from St. Margaret’s Bus Station runs up Groby Road to County Hall and then to Anstey. This service runs about every two hours, the last bus leaves Loughborough at 2305.

On Sunday it is route 121 operated by Woods Coaches, starting at St. Margaret’s Bus Station, running up Groby Road to the ring road and then to Beaumont Leys, Anstey and to Swithland via Newtown Linford avoiding Thurcaston and Cropston. This route runs every two hours, the last bus leaves Loughborough at 2000.

If you can follow that you can set out to the pubs. I shall be considering the pubs in Thurcaston, Cropston, Swithland and Woodhouse Eaves. The route also passes through Anstey and Quorn where there are a number of pubs but space precludes consideration of these pubs here.

The whitewashed walls of the Wheatsheaf in Leicester Road, Thurcaston mean that it stands out as you approach it. It is a large old building. I would guess the original inn expanded into neighbouring cottages. Inside there are several distinct drinking areas around a central bar. There are some low beams to avoid as you walk around. The beams and wood panelling have a light stain giving a light feel to the pub. Much of the seating is wooden pews and stools. This is an Everards pub serving Beacon, Tiger and two guest beers, Adnams Bitter and Steamin’ Billy Scrum Down, when we visited. Food is served and the pub has a skittle alley.

The Good Beer Guide listed Bradgate Arms at Cropston is another old building that has been extended, the higher level where the bar is situated being original and the lower level with the food counter being a later extension. On summer days you might prefer to sit out on the lawn. At this Marstons pub you might again play skittles while drinking excellent value Banks’s Bitter and Marston’s Pedigree.

Close by is the Badger’s Sett. This is a large building set well back from the road in expensive grounds. When we visited the beers available were Black Sheep Bitter, Batemans XXXB and Everards Tiger. The long queue to be served and the labels telling us how cool the beers were put us off having a drink here. If you go at a quieter time and like your beer cold you might get on better with it.

The bus approaches Swithland on Leicester Lane and turns left into Main Street. You will to get off the bus near this corner and walk a short distance the other way down Main Street to reach the Griffin. This Everards pub has been a Good Beer Guide regular for a number of years. The pub has several rooms including a restaurant, with a patio seating area outside. The Griffin is another pub with a skittle alley. Real ales sold are Beacon, Tiger and Original with three guests.

On the road into Woodhouse Eaves, the bus passes the Wheatsheaf. This pub may look like a cottage from the front but it stretches along way back from the road. There are several rooms which become more modern in décor as you go back. There are prints on the walls. Material in the pub shows an interest in aviation and in country sports. The outside courtyard area is popular in good weather for diners and drinkers. Beers available on our visit were Tetley Bitter, Taylors Landlord, Adnams Broadside and Greene King IPA.

The Curzon Arms in Maplewell Road, Woodhouse Eaves is set back from the road, with the lawn in front of the pub providing space for children to play. Inside the bar the décor is a mixture of traditional and modern with a red tinge. There is also a restaurant serving good value food. Beers available on our visit were Taylors Golden Best, Theakston Old Peculier and Fullers London Pride.

Back on Main Street, the Pear Tree appears to be mainly an Italian restaurant. There were two hand pumps on the bar but they didn’t appear to be in use.

Finally we came to the Old Bull’s Head, which is the largest pub on our trip. It is an L-shape and you enter on the short side. The furthest part of the pub is laid out as a restaurant. The pub appears to have been refurbished recently. There is a bull theme to the decoration, with bulls heads etched into glass panels, pictures and leather sofas. Logs have also been used in an interesting way in the walls. Beers available were Taylors Landlord and Marstons Pedigree.

So in this area we find an interesting range of pubs in which to spend some time. Most of the pubs are close enough together to be able to walk between them if the bus is not convenient. There is also good walking to be had through the woods and beside the reservoir.

Bus information can be found at www.leics.gov.uk/transport_downloads, www.traveline.info, www.centrebus.co.uk, and www.woodscoaches.com, or phone Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 (10p per min plus 6p from BT)

Philip Tiplady

This page last updated: July 30, 2008

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