Pubs in Ludlow and Shrewsbury

That's quite a niche question!

I've never been to Ludlow or Shrewsbury, but for the sake of your post going unanswered, I did a quick Google search in Ludlow.

The Queens looks to have food front and centre. Maybe a bit upscale for your needs?

The Church Inn is another free house. Their food offering may be more to your taste?

Ye Olde Bull Ring Tavern is another traditional looking pub which also appears to be a free house. Decent looking menu.

Remember, a pub is not a restaurant. The ones listed above are quite nice free houses. Food in pubs can often be bland, cooked from frozen and well below average. You can often have a better eating experience going somewhere other than a pub, especially if you catch it at a time where there's heavy socialising with booze going on. The trend of gourmet burgers has taken hold everywhere these days and is often a good casual eat.

I don't want to second guess Shrewsbury. Too risky. If it's anything like the big town in other rural places I've been, some pubs can be a bit hairy. The boys get off the farm and like a drink or two... that sort of thing. With your thread bumped back to the top, others may know more about Shropshire than me, maybe even the pubs I saw online in Ludlow.

Just to clarify if you weren't aware but a 'free house' that Gerry refers to means a pub that isn't tied to a particular brewery and is therefore free to stock whatever beer they want rather than a particular brewery's offerings. These pubs typically serve a greater selection of beer and other drinks.

Yes, sometimes a free house will have more liberty with their food offering too. Town centre pubs run by the big brewery chains are where you're more likely to find decidedly average food.

When I went to Ludlow in 2017, I discovered it had become a big foodie destination. That had driven up the cost of lodging and increased the likelihood of needing restaurant reservations. I don't eat in pubs and I don't remember where I ate in Ludlow, but thought I should warn you that it may not be easy to just stop in somewhere and get a meal.