Crooked Billet, Stoke Row

Hidden away down a narrow winding lane, this pub now primarily functions as a restaurant. However it still has an unspoilt interior with the two left-hand rooms retaining great historic character. Also, it does not have a bar counter (one of only eight such pubs remaining in the whole country) so beer is drawn directly from casks in the cellar and brought to your table. If you want to visit ‘just for a beer’ it is recommended you plan to arrive in the afternoon and best to ring ahead as the pub can close for parties. Otherwise, expect all the tables to be laid out for diners, but you can drink in the garden.

At least a 17th century brick building painted white with an extension to the right, also of brick, added in the 19th century. From the front door there is a passage formed by a part glazed partition wall. This leads into a very small room with a red tiled floor and large old wood surround & brick fireplace that almost reaches the beamed ceiling It has an ancient fireback and log fire. As well as the part glazed partition wall on the passage side there is another at the rear and both have old bench seating attached with cushions. There are just two scrubbed top tables and a tiny old cupboard in the top right of the wall by the fireplace.

A doorway on the other side of the entrance passage leads to another small room with a wood block floor, an old wood surround and brick fireplace with a log burning stove and a mantleshelf that almost reaches the beamed ceiling. The left and rear walls have a dado of old panelling and there is a corner cupboard.

The door on the right of the middle room leads into a red and black quarry tiled passage from the disused front door in the extension. A door on the other side leads to a large room originally a dormitory housing cherry pickers. Now a dining room it has an old wood surround fireplace with a stove.