Howtown Hotel, Howtown

Victorian hotel in the same family ownership for 108 years and attached to 400 acres of farmland. The Residents Bar is directly in front of you as you enter the hotel and has a figure ‘3’ on the door and is formed by a leaded partition/screen with rising lower sections. Until 50 years ago it was a formal office/reception – prior to then beer was fetched from behind the counter and served through one of the hatches. The small room has a panelled counter, which is possibly Victorian, with a 1960s Formica top and above it a row of 5 ceramic spirit casks. There is an old bar back with slender columns holding up the shelves, 1930s tiled and wood surround fireplace, carved antique settle and an ancient till which takes up to 5/6 rings to record each transactions. There is a door between the Residents Bar and the Public Bar which is kept locked!

The Public Bar situated at the rear of the hotel and accessed down the left hand side of the building was added in the 1960s. It is a small room with a modern quarry tiled floor, a dado of fielded panelling, a small counter more like a hatch with a Formica shelf, new cast fireplace, just three small round cast-iron tables, an oblong table and two antique settles. There are outside ladies’ and gents’ toilets (modernised). Public Bar opens at 12 noon. If you want to visit the Residents Bar just ask as they seem quite happy for non-customers to take a look – please be aware that a sign states if you have muddy boots you must use the Public Bar. Stopping for the night at the hotel is the experience of an overnight stay in an hotel in the 1950s!