AN historic Black Mountains pub, where drovers slaked their thirst on their long journey to market in England, has reopened after being closed for seven years, reports Nick Hartland.

The Bull’s Head in Craswall is one of the last unspoilt drovers pubs, from the days when livestock was walked all the way from Wales to markets in London.

And the remote 200-year-old pub’s closure - about 10 miles away from Abergavenny as the crow flies – sparked a long campaign from former customers and real ale fans for its reopening after shutting its doors in 2014.

Longtown-based Wild By Nature has now answered their prayers by buying and relaunching the pub and serving fine ales and food again.

Three and a half years ago, 200 protestors gathered outside the Golden Valley hostelrie at the foot of the Black Hill - which belonged until the late 1990s for more than 125 years to the Lewis family - calling for its reopening amid fears that attempts might be made to turn it into a house.

Local artist Jim Ursell, who organised the protest and helped raise a 700-name petition, said at the time: “I think everyone who passes the pub feels strongly about it.

“We think that if we don’t take a stand the pub will just slip away.”

Mark Haslam of the Herefordshire Campaign for Real Ale added: “The Bull’s Head is a real treasure. It is nothing short of a travesty that it remains closed, especially as there is no stated intention by the owners as to what their plans are for the place.

“It has been a tremendously successful pub in the recent past, and it is our view that it can be so once more.

“The owners should now either open up for business or sell it to others willing and able to do so.”

Popular with walkers and foodies in the 2000s, it was also listed after its closure as an Asset of Community Value, offering the chance for local people to buy it before it could be sold for another use.

And now Wild By Nature, which already runs a farm shop, farm-to-table restaurant and accommodation in the Golden Valley, has acquired the rural pub, spending lockdown renovating and now relaunching the remote hostelrie.

Spokesman Jon Stead said visitors would find a traditional Black Mountains pub with a hole-in-the-wall bar, flagstone floors, traditional fireplace, well-kept ales and low-intervention wines.

“A place rich in history and beloved by many, it was on the brink of being lost around six years ago but the community rallied together and luckily we managed to buy it off the previous owners at the end of 2019, so it has very much been our lockdown project!

“We’ve put a lot of work in to make sure you’ll find the pub pretty much as we did, with of course, a few additions for your pleasure.”

Food will be served all day, with menus designed to put the history, tradition and food culture of the Black Mountains on a plate, using meat from Wild By Nature’s Lower House Farm and produce from the surrounding area.

Wild by Nature uses regenerative farming methods to produce food billed as “great in taste and great for the environment.”

Jake Townley, one of the owners, said: “It’s very exciting times. It’s a very special place. There’s something really special about this area and the food that is produced here.

“We want to tell this story by connecting visitors with the food. Our goal with the pub is tell the story of the area through the food, giving people the chance to see things from farm to table.”