Prior to 2015, we'd only ever stopped at Husbands Bosworth once in all of our canal trips.
This was on the evening of Tuesday 22nd July 1986 on a journey that would take us to Leicester. As I recall, it was a pleasant pub that served food, but back then we probably ate on the boat anyway (Aaah! Those were the days!). In 1986, it was just called The Bell and was an Ind Coope pub.
On this visit, we popped into both pubs in Husbands Bosworth, but the Cherry Tree is no longer there as recounted in #093 on this blog.
I was passing by towards the end 2012, so I took the opportunity to get a photo of how it looks now.
This picture was taken on Sunday 16th December 2012 and in the intervening 26 years there has been a relatively small amount of change on the outside! It is now called The Bell Inn and they stress the history of it as an 18th Century coaching inn. Having looked at the menu on their website, it looks like they serve proper pub food at a reasonable price.
Last year we were again on the Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal and, because we'd taken a detour to the previously unexplored Market Harborough, we found ourselves having to moor up near Husbands Bosworth Tunnel for the first time in almost 30 years. It is a bit of a stroll into the village and we were pleased to see that The Bell Inn was still there.
This was on the evening of Saturday 29th August 2015. Outside it has been repainted since my last picture and inside, it was a pleasant pub with good food. Just what we needed after a good day's boating which had included the Foxton Locks.
That bit of Leics/Northants borderland is particularly attractive, though I've never done it from a boat. The Wharf at Welford may well be in my top 100 pubs; not sure if you've got that far. Lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteWe've only once made it to Welford, back in 2009. We had lunch in The Wharf, but I really don't remember what it was like. (It must've been OK as I don't remember being disappointed or upset!).
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