Good food in an idyllic setting at The Charlton Arms in Ludlow

It was fifth time lucky when booking a table at The Charlton Arms, in Ludlow.

The Charlton Arms in Ludlow, which is run by Cedric Bosi and his wife Amy, has become one of the busiest pubs in the region

It’s become one of the busiest pub-restaurants in the region – and with good reason. Under the leadership of owner, Cedric Bosi, it’s improved standards year upon year, by offering a magnificent menu that embraces such pub classics as fish and chips and steak and chips, while also offering restaurant-standard dining.

It’s become a staple of the Michelin Guide, which conferred a Bib Gourmand in recent times, and offered the following recommendation: “A number of terraces offer lovely waterside views at this substantial pub on the banks of the River Teme. The cooking is a mixture of British and French classical recipes, with traditional and appealing options like fish & chips, fish soup and confit duck leg. These straightforward, well-priced dishes don’t disappoint and pack in plenty of flavour. Be sure to hang around for dessert, where a sticky toffee pudding is hard to resist. There are cosy bedrooms upstairs and the location is great for exploring nearby Ludlow.”

Delightful views are part of The Charlton Arms's charm

And so, it seems, every time I try to book a late table, it’s perpetually full. Until this week, where I was able to book a cheeky and early table-for-one, on a quiet-ish Tuesday evening.

Cedric and his wife, Amy, have proved to be a great asset to Ludlow. Originally from Lyon, Cedric arrived in the UK to work alongside his brother Claude at the famed Hibiscus Restaurant in Ludlow, which graduated to two Michelin stars. It was there, whilst living in the Shropshire countryside, that he developed a passion for the age-old customs and traditions that surround English pubs.

From Ludlow, Cedric moved to the small but lively village of Ballycotton in Cork, where he enjoyed living and working around traditional Irish pubs. In 2005 Cedric returned to England to start a new adventure with Claude, opening a small village pub, The Bell Inn at Yarpole in Herefordshire. He was extremely proud when the pub won a Bib Gourmand. It was during this time that he met Amy, a Herefordshire girl, and started a young famiy.

Following the relocation of Hibiscus to London in 2010, Cedric and Amy also headed south where he and Claude open the Fox and Grapes pub, on Wimbledon Common, and subsequently The Malt House, in Fulham.