So a cycling challenge that had been in the making since the 3rd Charnwood micro pub had opened up in Barrow upon Soar – The Fox Cub on September 3rd 2024, I’d a planned route already sorted, having been to the Hall Croft Tap in Shepshed a few times,
On Saturday 11th October, with summer daylight hours running out but the weather holding up, 2 fair-weather cyclists would set off, timing logistics had to fall into place, The Hall Croft opening at midday, the Fox Cub opening at 2pm, and finally The Sorrel Fox at Mountsorrel at 4pm.
.We departed Melton at 10am, giving us 2 hours to opening to cover the 23 mile to Shepshed, at 12 mile and an hour in I’d spot that the ‘Green Place‘ fairtrade café in Sileby was open, been trying to get to catch this place open for a while, a very quirky odd set up, lovely place and as it’s not all about the beer we’d be in for coffee and cake, well worth a visit, but check opening times via social media so as not to be disappointed, so already now running behind schedule ,into Barrow upon Soar, cycling the soar navigation onto Quorn up over the A6,the cycle path into Loughborough were I’d promptly lose Nigel, apparently these Garmin sat nav’s are amazing, I’m not so sure…..
The Hall Croft Tap, Shepshed
We rang each other, I’d then be at the Hall Croft Tap a good 20 mins before Nigel, As with a lot of micro pubs this one is a converted shop, a central courtyard to the rear, bar/lounge to the right, it has a snug room to the left, had a few locals in already and is Loughborough’s Micropub of the Year 2025, we’d enjoy halves of the Vixen and the Carousel pale, an hour late now on the timescale?
The Fox Cub, Barrow
Got off for 2pm and the 9 mile to the Fox cub in Barrow, arriving for 3pm, I’d say back on track with the timescale, This micro being converted from a hairdressers with a single room/bar inside and an outdoor drinking space to the front, here we enjoyed halves of Vixen and the By George, even a pork pie and samosa from the English ‘tapas’ menu.
The Sorrel Fox, Mountsorrel
And then with only 3 miles to the Sorrel Fox Mountsorrel, we felt like we’d done it, by now 1620, we did just the one half of Vixen here, again a converted shop and Charnwood Breweries first Micropub to open, a single cosy room and again well supported on an early Saturday evening.
As ever all the beers tasted so far had been as expected in excellent condition, so with 15 mile still to do back to Melton with the day cooling down and the dusk approaching, it was on with our lights, we’d be 3/4hr into the return and take a detour, The Bell at Frisby on the Wreake would call us, it’s one of 2 community run pubs within the Melton & District CAMRA local area, the other being the Black Horse at Grimston which has entered the GBG for 2026.
We arrived about 1810 and to my delight a fresh cask of Vixen being pulled through (there’s a theme running here!) so I’d have half of that, Nigel a half of Round Corner brewery’s aptly named Bicycle Thief, a lovely straw-coloured pale ale, crisp and refreshing, the Vixen would be superb.
So with all lights blazing, back home to Melton for 1930 nice and safe.
54 mile in total, The 3 taprooms in a day ticked off and an added bonus, Next time (?) let’s make it a Friday when the brewery itself has its bar open and then bookend the lot, am looking forward to it already.
Martin Hine
Nigel Wood