Fenman took another trip to Shropshire recently, this time to the town, or is it a village, of Clun in the south of the county.

Famous for its Green Man Festival when the Frost Queen must be seen off on the Battle of the Bridge or there will be no summer. Wonder what the result was last year? Whilst on the very bridge Fenman popped into the hutlike ablutions, near the castle, and what a pleasant experience. A modern interior, background music, and a ladies voice telling "customers" that the convenience will automatically shut at 5pm and to make sure you are not locked in! Clun is also the resting place of the playwright John Osborne.

Be that as it may, Fenman was there to check out the beer and pubs in the area and the White Horse Inn hosts the Clun Brewery in its backyard and the Loophole, Pale Ale, and Citadel (5.9%) - all pale beers-were very quaffable, especially at £2.40/£2.60 a pint, along with Hobsons Bitter, Stonehouse, Butty Bach, and Sadlers Rainbird.

The Sun Inn, a Marstons pub, had Sunbeam on, and was up for sale. Unfortunately the Buffaloe was closed and shuttered.

Little Stretton has the picturesque Ragleth Inn serving a tasty pint of Hobsons Bitter.

Church Stretton boasts an interesting array of pubs and the Old Coppers Malt House is an old large town house with settles, wood panelling and interesting pictures from 1900. The Malt House must have been bustling in the past but sadly on Fenman's visit he was the only customer in the lounge with just 2 others in the bar, However the Shropshire Gold was in good form, if somewhat pricey.

The Kings Arms has TT Landlord and Bombardier, and the Bucks Head Hotel, a Marstons house, a tasty Banks Mild (£2.40), along with Wild Boar.

One of the surprises for the real ale imbiber in Church Stretton is Housmans, a restaurant with the Three Tuns 1642 and XXX, in excellent form.

Once again Salop proved to be a Mecca for pubs of character with a wide range of ales.