So why am I writing about the Ancient Camp Inn, which is in Ruckhall near Eaton Bishop in Herefordshire, when this blog is supposed to be about Hay?
Well, the owners of the pub are also the owners of The Swan Hotel, Hay, and the Bull's Head at Craswall. According the the Hereford Hopvine, the local CAMRA* newsletter, the Ancient Camp has been on the market for a couple of years now, at what they consider to be way above its true market value. CAMRA regularly campaigns to keep pubs as pubs, rather than them being sold off as residential buildings. One of the tricks that sellers use is to offer the pub at a vastly inflated price as a pub, claim that there's no interest in it as a licenced property, and then get permission to sell it as a dwelling. This has also recently happened in the case of the Prancing Pony at Stifford's Bridge.
Previous owners of the Ancient Camp had tried to convert the building into a house, and had been refused by the planners, so sold it on to the present owners. They only lasted about two years, and then put it on the market for more than double the price they had paid for it. The government planning inspector, when he was called in, decided in favour of the owners, and within three days (says the Hopvine) it was on sale as a private house, again for about double what they had paid for it.
Having lost the fight to keep the Ancient Camp as a pub, the local CAMRA group seem philosophical. They hope that the money raised by the sale will enable the owners to develop and enhance the Swan and the Bull's Head for the future.
*CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale
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13 comments:
Lesley, you need a visit to the Bull's Head at Craswall. Charles and Kathryn Mackintosh, the owners, have done miracles to the place with their improvements but have still kept the old feel of the place - and the food is just wonderful.
And the food in the Swan Bistro has improved a lot too.
I'd love to go up there again - I remember it when there was just the old serving hatch in the wall - and they got 20 pony trekkers piling in for cheese and pickle sandwiches!
However, I wrote about the Bull's Head a couple of years ago, when it was about to be bought and re-furbished - and there's a recent comment on that post from someone who had quite a bad experience of the service this summer.
Too bad to lose it as a pub, and by tricky means.
In the US, prices of all homes and buildings are determined by recent sales of similar and adjacent properties.
A vastly inflated price can't be put on a property by the owner, the price has to match what's considered "the going rate."
And especially if it looks like the owner is trying to pull an end run around zoning regulations in commercial districts, there will be "hell to pay"!
Nothing against the Swan folks though, last time I was there the food was very good.
I see that you've got someone posting glowing references on your site for the Swan and Bulls head -the same as on Trip advisor. Methinks it's an inside job
You're lucky to find the Bulls head open and its prices have rocketed
Ps they don't like Walkers, people with dogs and Children. Apart from that if you like steak and chips at around £18-20 it's the place to go (when they deign to open it)
I don't know who's left glowing reports about the Swan and the Bulls Head but they must have a very short memory of both establishments.
Under Colin at the Swan it was still a place where locals could go and food wasn't ridiculously expensive.
The Bulls Head was thriving 10 years ago- packed to the gunnels on a weekend. Now it's hardly open and the prices a joke. As for customer service...we won't even go down that path. They closed the ancient camp ..mark my words they'll eventually close the Bulls head
Golly, this seems to have opened up a minefield and I feel I just have to add my tuppencehalfpenny worth! I have been to the Bull on several occasions over the past two years and every time I have been absolutely delighted with the food and service. The atmosphere of the pub has been very friendly and the food excellent value and always good. The last time, Sunday lunch, where they obligingly fitted us in at a moments notice, we actually couldn't eat it all! We had our dog, and there was a family in the same room who were urged to bring their two dogs in from outside. One of the dogs made a terrific noise, but no one objected, least of all the owners of the pub. Another time, we took a five year old who, strangely enough, in these times, has been taught good manners and to behave well in public places.(I digress!) There was no objection to her presence, and there have always been children on the lunch times I have been there. Okay, the pub isn't open on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday but I doubt they get enough passing trade to justify being open on these days now. And it's not rocket science to remember these restrictions. I'd rather go there for the fresh (and apparently locally sourced) food they serve, than to the over priced and over rated (how did it get it's stars?) pub in Hay, or another one which serves reheated and disgusting food bought in and made who knows where?
Regarding costs, it seems to me you get what you deserve sometimes and I would suggest you go to the Bull with an open mind and less attitude.
And yes, I like the Swan too. They have always been tremendously helpful and obliging.
And no, I am not a relative of the owners, they haven't bribed me and they don't give me discount!
(I put this comment on before, but forgot to enter the password, so I hope my comment hasn't been repeated!)
Lesley, next time we are thinking of going we'll see if you're around to come with us!
I can assure you, second Anonymous poster, that my post was not an 'inside job' as you put it. I am a resident of Hay with no connection with the Bull's Head, the Swan at Hay, or the owners of both establishments. I'm a person who enjoys good food that has been sourced locally and cooked to order. What I don't like is going to restaurants that serve up food that has been bought in part-cooked from the likes of Brake Bros and then microwaved and presented as 'home-cooked'.
I see you also mention TripAdvisor, although I've not seen the reviews on their site for the Bull's Head. If I have a complaint to make or a compliment to give I make a point of saying it to the restaurant owners, management or chef. I certainly wouldn't whine about it on TripAdvisor.
The last couple of times I was at the Bull's Head both bars were full of cyclists, several walkers, riders (whose horses were in the paddock next to the pub), and I counted four dogs. Thankfully there weren't any children in there but I understand they are welcome. I personally like pubs without children and piped music but that's another matter entirely.
No, I don't remember it ten years ago and I don't much care because that was then and this is now, although I've heard conflicting reports about its popularity varying from one extreme to the other. I also don't think the owners will be selling it in the near future – not when they've just finished renovating the upper half of the building and moving into to it.
The Bull's Head is not the only pub in this area that is making the effort. There are several places similar to it – and there are also some ghastly dumps that should have closed down a long time ago.
Gosh, this does seem to have stirred up some strong feelings!
Thanks to the 'Anonymous' who's invited me to go with them - I don't know who you are, but you obviously know me. I'd love to see for myself what it's like now.
How on earth can the Bulls Head be "making an affort" when it's closed half the week and it's paptently obvious they don't like walkers, dogs or children....google bulls head and read the reviews!!!!!
Funnily enough, I've just gone to Google and trawled through the first seven pages of their entries on the Bulls Head - and I can't find a single bad review. I found plenty of short descriptions of the pub, usually with "dog friendly" somewhere in there, and information about a campsite. There were also opening times - it seems they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and also Sunday evenings.
I found two actual customer reviews. One, on the AA website basically said "Wow! What a place! We'll be returning soon".
The second, on Geograph, said "Atmospheric inn with good food on the day we called."
Someone suggested that TripAdvisor was the website to look at - all I can say is that any comments on there didn't come up on the first seven pages of Google.
I personally have found the owners nothing but rude!
I personally have found the owners very nice!
LOL!!br
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