UK Horse Racing Meets - Ludlow October 13th, 2005

This is one meeting that I am very much forward to. Ludlow is a small little market town on the Welsh borders and boasts a wall around the town and a very strange castle which is well worth a visit.

The racecourse is a wonderful treat and is one of my favourite courses. The viewing from the top of the Victorian stand is excellent and the bar is large and roomy. Never a problem getting served.

The course is about half an hour's walk North of the town and it's best to walk there and back rather than having to rely on the very overpriced and less than wonderful local taxi service. But if there is a crowd of us then getting a taxi won't be so bad.

Ludlow is a wonderful little market town. A little too 'squeaky clean' for me to live in. You won't see an Ann Summers nor a tattoo parlour; even the betting shops are very much subdued and not obvious. It's that sort of prim and proper place. But nonetheless, it's nice to visit even if I couldn't live there.

Now, to the accomodation. I cannot recommend enough The Church Inn which is slap bang in the centre of the town next to the Buttercross which is at the junction of the main street down to the river and the market street.

The Church Inn contains a number of rooms still available (as of the 18th of June) which cost either £40 or £50 for single occupancy (the dearer rooms have a jacuzzi bath) whilst the double occupancy rooms are from £70 upwards. I have already booked my room.

One of the main reasons why I love staying in Inns, and this one in particular, is that the rooms are often unique and full of charm. Charm usually being an synonym for wonky floors and low ceilings. But not here. However the main reason is that inns tend to have fine bars and this one hosts one of the best bars on the Welsh Marches; I can't remember how many real ale pumps there were but I was struggling by the time I had gone through the first lap.

The inn can be contacted on 01584-872174. There are other hostelries in town, such as The Feathers Hotel (01584-875261) but I'll be the lad carried back to his room in the wee hours from the bar of The Church Inn.