I was not far from Shrewsbury a few weekends ago, and decided that there were three very good reasons to visit this fine, medieval market town where I had spent five years acquiring an education.
1 - Tanners of Shrewsbury
Walking into the ‘cellars’ of Tanners is a time warp moment.
On the left you have a retail environment that is a million miles away from some of the show-cases you might find in St James’s. Nestled amongst old racks, sitting on creaky, uneven wooden floors, are an array of wines that overwhelm you for the choice they offer.
On the right is the old office containing ledgers dating back many decades, and beyond that the cooperage where there are tools to repair barrels, tools to put corks into bottles, tools to decant and filter. Dusty shelves and old tools from a different time.
Born in 1839, William Tanners had served as a ship's captain until returning to Shrewsbury in 1872 and setting up as a wine merchant with his brother, Henry.
As wine merchants, Tanners has a long history of supplying hotels and restaurants in the West Midlands, hence a broad selection of half-bottles sits in their wine list to meet the needs of local eateries. With autumn approaching, and long winter nights ahead, identifying a couple of wines that could match cheeses, stews, casseroles and wholesome pies, might be helpful.
A panel was assembled to taste halves of reds and pudding wines, and there were two very easily identified winners:
Château Musar 2017, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon 2017
Tanners - £24.00 - half-bottle
With vineyards perched at 1,000m above sea-level, 15 miles north of Beirut, this winery has been producing wine since 1930. A focused determination has meant that the Hochar family have only missed two vintages during this nearly 100 years of production. I first met Serge Hochar in London back in 1984, and was bowled over by the quality of this Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault blend. The style and quality has not changed. Complex, long, with hidden avenues and corners to ponder and enjoy. Drinking now.
Stanton & Killeen Muscat, Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia
Tanners - £17.30 - half-bottle
As one member of the panel stated, “where is the oozing Gorgonzola”. Settling down with a half or two, a few friends, an array of ripe, soft cheeses, a wealth of crusty bread and waiting for the rugby to start would be a good reason to gather noon-ish on a Saturday.
Raisins, caramel, an unctuous richness that has concentrated length and helping yourself to another glass of this dark amber-coloured, intoxicatingly impeccable wine to chat away several hours.
On the other side of the coin, this would also match Christmas Pudding to perfection.
I like the range that Tanners offers, and the ability to buy many of rarer offerings by the bottle. I think they will feature on a regular basis in future missives as their delivery service is as good as any other merchant that I use.
2 - Beefy Boys
For those who have been watching Tom Kerridge's 'The Hidden World of Hospitality', you may recall his visit to Hereford and meeting the team who recently started a burger chain called 'Beefy Boys'. Their burgers came second at the World Food Championships in Las Vegas a couple of years ago.
The interior of their Shrewsbury branch hankers back to early 1980s heavy-metal, so there is not the open, light, contemporary feel to greet you as you enter this emporium, but quickly brushing aside initial concerns, the burger I chose this Saturday lunch-time was simply outstanding.
It was the local 'Shrewsbury' version that had a wondrous Shropshire Blue cheese mayonnaise covering the top, and layers of scrummy meat, onions, tomatoes, lettuce - matched with exquisite fries - that created a very memorable meal. It is almost worth driving back to Shrewsbury for another, but a six-hour round trip is probably - even for me - a mile or two too far. I can still taste the components of this burger, and how they worked together in perfect harmony.
With branches in Hereford, Shrewsbury and Cheltenham, I can only hope that Winchester is on their list of sites in the not too distant future, as I might become a very, very regular customer. Site.
3 - The Latent Image
I'm aware that not everyone reading this missive has quite the enthusiasm and dedication that I possess for analogue Leica cameras and lenses.
I became aware of The Latent Image a couple of years ago, had bought two lenses since finding them online, and being in the town, I rang the door bell and walked up to their first floor offices in Shrewsbury’s market square.
Three oak-panelled rooms contain a wealth of kit that was breath-taking. Not only old Leicas, but historic Hasselblads, Nikons, Canons and a collection of other esoteric brands, many that I had never heard of before. As sweety shops go, my wallet is delighted that this shop is far, far away in Shrewsbury!
The owner of this emporium, William Temple, opened his doors 7 years ago. Early 40s, charming, engaging, and very knowledgeable.
If the Leica ‘bug’ is amongst anyone reading this column, or you know those who might be interested, then please let them know about this operation. Site.
Shrewsbury is somewhat off the beaten track. Driving that Saturday morning from Worcester on the cross-country route, demonstrated how little this landscape has changed. A few new developments here and there, but a farming environment that has not really altered since the First World War. It is a strikingly beautiful part of rural England. The old centre of Shrewsbury is a gem. Apparently in contains more independent retailers than any other town in England, and strolling along the river bank brought back memories of where I had spent the vast majority of my five years in this town.