‘Twas a dark and stormy night (in July) when we drove up to the newly reopened Tally Ho in Bouldon. A warm glow from the windows and big smiles when we walked through the door immediately lifted our spirits, and we fell instantly in love with this gem of a country pub.
First licensed in 1844 and nestled in the Corvedale Valley, The Tally Ho has long been popular with walkers and locals. But like many local pubs, the Tally Ho was hit hard by Covid. Now, it’s been given a new lease of life under the management of Sarah and Mark Cowley, the husband and wife team behind the award-winning Pheasant in nearby Neenton.
According to a recent report by Reuters, the number of pubs operating in England and Wales is the lowest on record, with the West Midlands seeing the biggest drop of 28 in just half a year. Altus Group UK President Robert Hayton stated that those still operating now face the challenge of “soaring energy costs, inflationary pressures and tax rises”.
After an incredible meal from the talented Mark – a mouthwatering starter of grilled mackerel on sourdough, followed by succulent chicken schnitzel for Claire and a perfect plate of plaice with crispy kale for Lucy – we sat down with Sarah. We asked her what had brought them to the Tally Ho and what plans they had for the future.
Sarah, this is an exciting move for you and Mark; what inspired you to take on another pub in this current climate? And how will it differ from The Pheasant?
We’ve been at the Pheasant for nine years, and before Covid, we were getting to the stage where we’d like to do another project. Then Covid hit, and we had to refocus and ensure The Pheasant was still at the level everyone expected. When the landlord (of the Tally Ho) approached us about running it, we wanted to do it because it’s completely different from the Pheasant. The Tally Ho is very much a pub; we want to keep it that way. We want drinkers at the bar and the food a little bit simpler. People go to the Pheasant for a celebration, but we wanted somewhere that was an everyday pub that people could come to in their work overalls or come to after work and have a bit of tea.
Is there a reason you wanted to come closer to Ludlow?
There’s a gap in the market for excellent quality pub food. In the Cotswolds, there are many pubs doing traditional country well, which we wanted to emulate here. The Pheasant is closer to Bridgnorth, and we’d like to draw people out of Ludlow. I think there is a gap in the market in Shropshire for great quality food, so our goal is to get people to drive out and have some delicious food. Ludlow is known for having a foodie vibe, so being so close to Ludlow and using the town as more of a base has been nice.
The Pheasant is a community-owned pub; how important is a community for you here at the Tally Ho?
The benefit of a community pub is that it brings everyone together, which is something we don’t want to lose here. We still want to invite all the community in, and even by having a pub quiz or a Christmas party, I think it involves the Ludlow community. One of the benefits The Pheasant has shown us is that having the community on board and having that support there is important in ensuring the pub survives, so we want to continue doing that here.
With a scattering of traditional hunting paraphernalia, rural prints, local maps and a few brass plaques, the new owners have chosen a real country pub vibe for the recent refurbishment. William Morris curtains, a single candle on the wooden tables, deep red Persian rugs and a large central fireplace with a log burner make the interior warm, relaxed and inviting. Tally Ho is a pub made for cosy winter evenings.
There’s also a lovely, large beer garden at the back for summer months with stunning views across the Corvedale. And with a menu that makes the best of locally sourced food, specially selected wines and local ales, we’ll certainly be back soon. We need a bit of sunshine.
Note to reader: Claire’s planned 20-minute journey from Ludlow turned into an unexpected 40-minute tour around the rabbit warren of the Corvedale country lanes. Bouldon is just 9 miles from the centre of Ludlow but your GPS may have other ideas! Please check the map before you go or follow’s Sarah’s simple instructions: “If coming from Ludlow, head towards Fishmore Hall, keep left at the fork and keep going until you get to the Tally!
To book a meal or find out more about the Tally Ho, have a look at their WEBSITE or follow them on social media via Instagram, Facebook or Twitter
