Shortlist: Ten Best Pubs In Shrewsbury That Locals Love!

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Last updated on October 7, 2022 by Wandering our World

Where do we begin? This historic market town has incredible architecture everywhere and is the birth place of Charles Darwin (yes you can visit his house). You can tour Shrewsbury Prison and take part in a cell escape game, join a ghost hunting expedition around town, or enjoy a night out at the Theatre Severn.

With all that going on, it’s a good job there’s some fantastic pubs in Shrewsbury where you can recharge and refuel after all of those adventures.

Related: 70+ Fun & Budget Friendly Things To Do In Shrewsbury!

If you’re like us, then grabbing some good food and a drink is always a priority. Luckily there are some wonderfully cosy pubs in Shrewsbury that are perfect for enjoying a real craft ale, relaxing in a beer garden, listening to live music or tucking into some classic pub grub.

As we know this place well, we’ve put together a list of our ten favourite pubs in Shrewsbury. Whether you’re looking for live music and pub food, somewhere dog-friendly or a bit of a party, we know the best spots for you. We even know where it’s possible to get a free burger – if you’re lucky!

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Drazen Zigic

The Ten Best Pubs in Shrewsbury For Fun, Food, Beer & Good Times

1. The Loopy Shrew

If you’ve spent the morning exploring the award winning Shrewsbury Market Hall, you will need somewhere nearby for a comfy seat, a lovely pint and possibly some food. The Loopy Shrew, one of the top gastropubs in the region, is just that.

This modern pub is classy and photogenic in every direction you look. The ceiling beams gives this place that classic pub look, while the use of darker colours creates a warm and cosy atmosphere perfect for sinking into one of their sofas while sipping on a drink.

You will often find a variety of locally made ale on offer here, including the Stonehouse Station Bitter which is a traditional tasting pint.

If you are looking for something to eat the menu is modern British, so expect traditional pub grub but done exceptionally well. And if you’re looking for entertainment, you’ll often find live music here during the evenings at the weekend.

Pop by on Sundays for the ‘Sound of Sunday’ where they have acoustic music and deals on cocktails and complimentary nibbles. Can you imagine a better way to end the week?

Address: 15/17 Bellstone, Shrewsbury SY1 1HU

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/David-Prado

2. The Hole in the Wall

If you’re a budding musician, or have too much confidence, we’ve found the place for you! The Hole in the Wall has an open mic night every Wednesday from 8pm and all performers will receive a free drink!

This is more than just a place to belt out a tune though. Situated within a beautiful traditional building, The Hole in the Wall is an ideal place to unwind with a pint in a friendly and unpretentious atmosphere.

The large wooden bar has plenty on tap, such as Doombar and Marston’s Pedigree, alongside a range of bottled ales and plenty of cider.

This is one of the best pubs in Shrewsbury for watching live sports too, and their menu has plenty of game food to enjoy while watching the big match, such as nachos and burgers.

On top of that they do 2 for 1 cocktails all day, every day, and have a mix & match tapas offer. All of which makes this a very easy place to spend several hours at.

Does it get even better? Yes! There’s not only music on Wednesday, but most Fridays there will be live musicians and Saturdays things kick up a notch with a DJ where things often get very lively. It’s easy to see why this place is usually busy all week long and can often be one of the liveliest pubs in Shrewsbury.  

Address: 1 Shoplatch, Shrewsbury, SY1 1HF

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Alessandro Biascioli

3. The Armoury

Time for something different. Something sophisticated, somewhere you can relax and read a book without having to worry if a band is going to start playing and a hen party might barge in.

Then welcome to The Armoury, a beautiful bar within a truly remarkable building. The vibe here is very laid back which is reinforced by the large bookshelf where you can choose a book and settle into their comfortable seating. Even better, check out their whiskey selection. It’s fantastic and perfect for enjoying while reading or watching the world go by.

Grab a seat by the window, watch the river flow by and have a look at the menu – it’s classic British dishes but presented exquisitely. The Deep Fried Cod in Beer Batter is delicious, as are the BBQ Chicken Wings (just make sure you’ve put your book away by this point!) but there’s plenty of options on the extensive menu.

There’s an impressive selection of ales available too, such as Woods’ Shropshire Lad which has a well-rounded malty flavour accompanied by fruity notes. If pale ale is more your thing, then Three Tuns XXX will be right up your street and worth a try.

On a sunny day enjoy your drink at one of their tables outside which have views of the river. Dogs are welcome too when the pub is quiet. In our opinion, this is definitely one of the most stylish pubs in Shrewsbury.

Address: Victoria Quay, Shrewsbury, SY1 1HH

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Daviles

4. The Vaults

You’ve managed to escape from Shrewsbury Prison and need a refreshing drink – head on over to The Vaults which is located nearby.

The interior has that classic traditional look where dark wood and dim lighting provides a relaxing atmosphere – perfect for trying one of the several ales available. Hobsons Best is a session bitter that’s very good, but if you’re after a golden ale be sure to try the Holden’s Golden Glow which is very moreish.

As there’s always local brews on offer, The Vaults are also ‘LocAle Accredited’ and have a member discount policy in place.

However one of our favourite things here is their incredible two-tier rooftop garden! From there you can enjoy your drink in the sun with views of the castle in the background – it’s got to be the most spectacular beer garden we’ve ever had a drink in.

Live music and entertainment are regular occurrences here, especially their ‘Cntrl Alt Disco’ nights where they play hip hop to funk and soul. The Vaults have got you covered for live sport too thanks to their big screens.

This is a good all round pub which has a little bit of everything and is easily one of our favourite pubs in Shrewsbury.

Address: 16 Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AB

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/William87

5. Wheatsheaf

Much of the High Street in Shrewsbury is made up of incredible Tudor architecture, and located amongst all of those beautiful buildings is the humble Wheatsheaf.

Modern furnishings have been carefully selected here to give that cosy feel inside what feels and looks like a traditional English pub. Like any good pub there’s a good ale selection, with eight on offer when we visited, including the delicious Banks’s Amber Ale and Marston’s Wheatsheaf Ale.

On top of that there’s affordable pub grub available – and in generous portion sizes. Even better, you can enjoy classic British dishes in their outside area when the weather is nice.

But what we really love is that Wheatsheaf is a popular music venue (expect folk and acoustic), and when passing you’ll be able to spot on the chalkboard if there’s anything happening on that particular day. There always seems to be something happening here.

Side note; there’s actually two pubs named Wheatsheaf in Shrewbury, so just make sure you find the right one! 
 
Address: 50 High Street, Shrewsbury SY1 1ST

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Pro2sound

6. The Anchor Inn

We all deserve a night out at the theatre and luckily there’s plenty happening at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn – from musicals to stand up comedy. However, before and after a show we all want to grab a drink or two in a relaxing atmosphere. The Anchor Inn – located opposite the theatre – is a great choice for just that.

The bar area’s mix of exposed brickwork and wood panelling gives this place a rustic feel, but we love lounging in the very comfortable lounge area and enjoying one of the several ales on offer.

Brains’ Rev James, Hobsons’ Town Crier and Wye Valley Butty Bach are all available here, and make for a delicious pint. Several TVs are dotted round the place, so if your better half has dragged you to the theatre – but your team is playing – you can still keep an eye on a game,

There’s occasional live music and good pub food which is more affordable than most pre-theatre options. The Fish & Chips in particular is very good, and their burgers are huge!

However with that good affordable pub grub, alongside their cosy beer garden, it’s worth visiting The Anchor Inn any time of the day.  Definitely a worthy edition on out list of best pubs in Shrewsbury.

Address: 137 Frankwell, Shrewsbury SY3 8JX

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/DGLimages

7. House of Grain

House of Grain? This is the House of Fun!

When walking in you may think… why metal seats? Well the House of Grain wanted to pay tribute to their Grade 2 listed building’s history which is why wood and tile are also featured throughout. It looks classy and modern, yet traditional at the same time.

The ground floor is the pub area where there’s a bar with a fantastic drinks selection. Try the Salopian Oracle if you can – it stand outs thanks to its crisp, refreshing taste with a hint of citrus.

A staircase leads up to a restaurant which serves British dishes and a few international classics (pizza anyone?) made from fresh local ingredients. Try one of their delicious burgers or chicken wings – you won’t be disappointed!

We did say this place is fun and we weren’t lying. House of Grain can get lively, and no wonder when they have a bottomless disco brunch with music and free flowing bubbles! There’s also their ‘big fat quiz’ which is popular with locals, and on busy evenings they often have DJs spinning tunes.
 
Address: 59A Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/ValentynVolkov

8. Severn Social

We’ve mentioned a few places you can go to watch sports, however arguably one of the best pubs in Shrewsbury for this is Severn Social.

Boasting an impressive numbers of TVs above the bar, it’s easy to grab a stool and have an unobstructed view. As this is a gastropub the standard of food available is very good, with the Peppercorn Steak one of the standouts, but their burgers also looked delicious.

The staff like to have a bit of fun here and on Wednesdays they will often give out free burgers to people depending on their name. One week they gave out burgers to anyone who was Scottish, on another they gave out some for free if your name was Jess, Jessica or Jessie. Check out their Facebook on Tuesday, as they will often announce the lucky names for the following day then!

There’s not a focus on ale here, however there is still plenty to choose from when it comes to drinks. Plus they have popcorn!

A good selection of music playing in the background adds to the atmosphere and Severn Social even have a conservatory garden to enjoy your drink in. So even on colder or rainy days you can eat under the sky.

Address: 9-10 Frankwell, Shrewsbury SY3 8JY

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/NatashaPhoto

9. The Charles Darwin

The great man was from Shrewsbury, so there was always going to be a pub named after him.

If you’re a football fan and have been to a Shrewbury FC game, then this is actually the nearest pub to the football ground. Home and away supporters are both welcome here, and there is a really friendly feel and plenty of fun to be had.

The Charles Darwin offers several cask ales, food through the afternoon and often has bands playing during the weekend. Of course they always have live sport showing on their TVs, dogs are welcome, there’s a beer garden and it’s a family friendly place.

It really is the whole package, which is why we enjoy popping in when in the area.  

Address: Sutton Road, Shrewsbury SY2 6HN

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Mikhail Rudenko

10. Ashley’s

Looking for somewhere bright and modern to enjoy a coffee and some lunch, or a lively pub dinner in the evening while you throw back a few pints? Ashley’s Bar can be both and much more.

Located near the Museum and Art Gallery, this is the perfect place to stop in for some refreshments or to put a cap on your day. Or be like us and people watch as they have a great outside space that looks onto the street.

With wraps and pizza available it’s easy to grab something filling while at this bar/pub. And if it’s sports you’re after then enjoy your food while watching the game on one of the large screens available.

The bar area is spacious and well laid out and there’s plenty of room for dancing when the entertainment starts. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday there will be music – which is advertised in advance on their Facebook page – so get yourself down and have some fun!

 Address: 9 Shoplatch, Shrewsbury SY1 1HF

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/DisobeyArt

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    Hi and welcome to Wandering our World! This article was written by one of the Wandering our World team - a team of travel enthusiasts who live around the globe.