Come Eat, Drink and Relax at The Bateman Arms.

The Bateman Arms
Shobdon
Nr Leominster
Herefordshire
HR6 9LX

01568 708374

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The Bateman Arms is an 18th Century, three storey coaching inn situated in the small village of Shobdon in the unspoilt County of Herefordshire, just a few miles from the Welsh Border.

This listed building is of striking and unusual design, and plays host to some of the last of the old cobbled paving in the area, just outside our front door.

The Inn itself offers a wealth of character; you can sit in the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of the bar, with its oak beams and large fireplace, where we serve a selection of light meals. Alternatively you can eat in our restaurant, which offers a menu of locally produced and sourced dishes.

Photographs of The Restaurant and a sample menu are available on our Food Page.

We also have a games room offering the opportunity to play Pool and Darts, and a large beer garden with seating, which is accessed via the games room or through the car park at the rear. Our Drink Page provides further details on The Bar area, Games Room and Garden.

Bookings or More Information

Please feel free to phone us on 01568 708374 for booking enquiries, our latest offers, more information about the Inn or about the local area.

Outside Activities

Situated as we are, right on the English / Welsh border, we are surrounded by some wonderful countryside. Why stay indoors? Use The Bateman as your 'Base of Operations' and strike out into the wild blue yonder! Whichever way you choose to go, however you intend to travel and whatever you intend to do when you get there, we have provided some helpful information on the following pages:

If you need any more help or advice then please feel free to ask...

Enjoyed your time here? Then why leave?

The Bateman Arms has three main guest rooms situated on the first floor. These are furnished in traditional style, but equipped with modern conveniences such as remote control digital television, WIFI internet access and ensuite bath or shower. In addition there are tea and coffee making facilities, supplied bath robes and hair dryer.

In the 'Coach House' we have a further six rooms offering a more contempory style yet the same, high quality facilities. Two of our rooms can be used as family rooms providing comfortable accommodation for up to two adults and two children.

Well behaved dogs are welcome. However, we ask that you consult the staff before bringing them in to the public areas as Bing and Lui, the pub dogs (pictured left), get “first shout”... ;)

There are photographs and details of our current accommodation deals over on our Accommodation Page.

'Inn' and Around Shobdon...

Our little village has, for its size, an impressive list of local attractions. We have provided some links you may find interesting over on our News Page.

We have one of the oldest Oak trees in the country, the largest natural lake in Herefordshire, the remains of a 'motte-and-bailey' castle dating back to before the Norman conquest, an 80 acre leisure park and a little church which is nationally renowned for its unique mix of Gothic and Rococco architecture (shown to the left). This is the third church to stand on the current site, and was built on the instructions of the Second Viscount Bateman in 1756. The Batemans, from whom the pub takes its name, were a powerfull and influential family which owned Shobdon Court until the early 1930's.

And last, but by no means least, there is of course 'Shobdon Aerodrome'...

Pegasus Bridge - 6th June 1944

One of the 'ticks in the boxes' for us when we purchased the Bateman Arms was (due to our military background) the connection between the Pub, the village of Shobdon, and the D-Day landings of 1944.

The Glider Pilot Regiment was a specialist unit that was responsible for crewing the British gliders that saw action in the European Theatre, transporting Allied Airborne troops and their Equipment. The men who flew Operation Tonga, the opening blow against Axis forces on D-Day, were trained at Shobdon Aerodrome which lies just beyond the field behind the Bateman Arms.

The officers were based at Shobdon Court, just up the hill opposite the Pub, and 'Local Legend' says that before leaving Shobdon they held a final meeting in our Games Room. At the end of the evening all those present signed the ceiling of the room to mark the occasion.

Today the ceiling has been papered over but we are, in partnership with the Archaeology Department of Herefordshire Council, currently investigating whether the signatures still exist and if so recovering and preserving them. We will keep you posted...