With a recommendation from Game of Thrones’ King of the North, I imagine this traditional country pub, deep in the wilds of Worcestershire, has hogs roasting over a spit fire and an earthiness that would make the Night’s Watch feel at home.
Of course I’m joking, but it is the actor behind Jon Snow, Kit Harington, who adores The Talbot at Knightwick calling it “the best pub in the world”.
He may be biased as he used to work at this rural pub, hotel and brewery, which was his local while growing up in the neighbouring village of Whitbourne, on the outskirts of Worcester.
The award-winning Talbot is in the tiny village of Knightwick, just off the A44 Bromyard-Worcester road, and is very much in the countryside. So much so that the landlady is out “shooting” when I visit. I think it’s for pheasant.
Harington may now live in New York with wife Rose Leslie, but the 35-year-old has always been proud to talk about his Worcestershire roots.
You can understand why when you encounter the friendliness of this wholesome, charming pub.
The atmosphere in Kit Harington’s local pub
Full of ye olde England character, there is a Talbot family crest and photos of morris dancers and even a winning racehorse owned by a local syndicate hanging proudly on the walls.
Don’t expect to find any photos of Harington, whose family still live nearby, as its much too classy for that. It’s been in the hands of the Clift family for over 35 years, who run the pub, hotel and bakery like a well oiled machine.
Roaring log fires warm those chatting and eating in the main lounge, while a billiard room is more practical with a large TV and dart board nearby. It feels a little more grand due to the wood panelled walls.
There’s a maze of rooms around this enchanting pub from centuries of extensions giving it a higglety pigglety charm full of nooks and crannies. The latest is a modern restaurant area where light flows in through the glass walls that is used for weddings, dining and hotel guests.
It’s dog-friendly and I noticed the friendly waitress bringing out a dog bowl for a family.
Despite its remote location, this 15th Century coaching inn attracts a gentle stream of people all the time, but that helps creates such a vibrant, cosy atmosphere.
As we were leaving, a shooting party in tweeds was filling up the bar for a quick snifter and amongst the stunning, misty hills nearby we saw a brave pheasant walk across a road. We most certainly weren’t in the city anymore.
Drinks from its own Teme Valley Brewery
A towering pyramid of Champagne bottles stands proudly in The Talbot’s car park, but this is a more down to earth pub than that implies – and famous for its home-made beers.
With its own Teme Valley Brewery on site, which opened in 1997, it sells its cask and bottle-conditioned beers exclusively at the pub. They use hops grown in Worcestershire and Herefordshire, which range from Talbot Blonde to Hearthwarmer and Hop Nouvelle.
The well-stocked bar has plenty of carefully-chosen wines and spirits too, so you won’t be short of choice.
Comfort food at the Talbot
There’s an extensive menu, partly as this pub has a hotel upstairs, but also as it takes its food seriously. It’s a previous winner of Worcestershire’s dining pub of the year award by The Good Food Guide.
It includes a sandwich menu, which is only served until 3pm, that ranges from bacon or sausage sarnies to smoked salmon and cream cheese and ham and mustard, all for between £7 and £8 that come with chips and slaw.
Hearty traditional choices are among a long list of main courses and daily specials, the likes of breaded brie, sirloin steak, lasagna, chicken dupiaza curry and more.
We tried the Talbot chicken and leek pie along with the Vegetable and ricotta quiche. They both were generously sized portions that came with the most delicious chips. Obviously fried, probably in goose fat or similar, they had a rich, delicious flavour and I would rush back for the chips alone.
The pie had a luxurious shortcrust pastry encasing a flavoursome creamy chicken filling. The salty cream sauce covered the whole top of the pie, which would have been better in a jug on the side. Along with the yummy chips was a selection of well seasoned greens from leeks to cabbage.
The quiche was warm with a deliciously crumbly pastry that melted in the mouth. Perfect with the chips, it satisfyingly hit just the spot.
Home-made desserts
Save room for a pudding as they are simply sublime. Once again, there’s a wealth of offerings from cheesecake and gluten free chocolate torte to treacle holygog – a sweet pastry dish that comes with custard.
We chose from the specials board. I couldn’t resist trying a raspberry bread and butter pudding. It was warm and gooey while sweet but laced with the tartness of the fruit. Incredible and something I am now going to try at home as it was a total revelation.
My guest opted for the apple strudel with custard – made with crispy pastry, a sticky concoction of apples and a lot of love.
These home-made desserts made us lick our spoons clean. Satisfying comfort food at its best.
Service and cost
Staff are super friendly and efficient with hardly any wait time at all on orders, which seems an ethos at The Talbot.
It’s funny to think how Harington would have once dazzled with his charm while serving a customer, unbeknown to them that he was destined to become one of the most famous actors in the country and world a few years’ later.
Prices are slightly higher than average pub grub and more akin to restaurant prices, but the quality of the food is excellent and more aligned to a brasserie.
Sandwiches start from £7 but come with chips and slaw, so that’s a fair price, while mains range from £8 to £18 (or £25 for a steak). Those must-have desserts are £6 each.
Verdict on The Talbot at Knightwick
The bubbling chatter echoing around its many snugs and rooms wraps around you like a comfort blanket and it’s easy to imagine how this has remained the same down the centuries.
It’s a little rough around the edges but that real-life wear and tear rather than over-slickness is what makes it so authentic.
The Talbot has all the ingredients you need for a trip out to a distinctive country pub. Hearty delicious food, log fires, friendliness and even its own beer made on site. Plus its in amongst the scenic, rural beauty of Worcestershire. Kit Harington knows and loves this pub, and for good reason. With its cosy charm, it’s worthy of an A-list star and even maybe the King or Queen of the Iron Throne.
The Talbot at Knightwick, Bromyard Rd, Knightwick, Worcester WR6 5PH. 01886 821235. Open 8am to 10pm daily and until 11pm on Friday and Saturday.
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