The Shireburn Arms - Hurst Green

*Edit 2009*
As 'The Silver Fox' has commented, it get's livelier at other times of the day. We had been put off by a slightly unfortunate first visit and gave the review below. This is often the danger with pubs - go one time of the day or week and it can be completely different from another time. The food is very good too, by the way.

Hurst Green seems to be visited for two things - Stonyhurst public school, and walks in areas Tolkein undoubtably found inspiration from. So, three pubs seem to thrive there, which is always a good sign for such a small village. The Shireburn Arms is actually more of a hotel than a pub, and unfortunately more of a restaurant too. After yomping along the banks of the Hodder for a couple of hours, we were disappointed to find ourselves in the middle of an old folks convention. Sunday lunchtime probably isn't the ideal time to visit any rural pub, but the Shireburn Arms definitely had the feel of an old people's home. We'd already mentioned this was the vibe we were getting when an old lady and her older mother sat down next to us, and then pretended to read the paper while listening in to everything we said. So, not comfortable vibes at all, but a grand place to take the granny.

This John Smiths pub also were selling the excellent Bowland Brewery Hen Harrier when we visited. http://www.bowlandbrewery.com/