Fleur De Lys: Hidden country pub on the outskirts of Birmingham that's famous for its pies

Squirrelled away in beautiful Warwickshire countryside on the outskirts of Birmingham the journey to The Fleur de Lys is part of the appeal. A deer darts out ahead in the enchanting country lane among glorious old oak trees and sun-kissed fields.

When I get to The Fleur de Lys pub in the tiny village of Lowsonford close to Henley-in-Arden, it's a traditional affair with a large car park aside the Stratford Canal. Barges are pulled up alongside its huge beer garden that has expanded to the reaches of the water.

There's plenty of choice on where to sit on a Summer's day from the pub's cool interior to shade under a canape or catching some rays on the grass. Inside, charming old beams, creaky floors and original fireplaces (that will roar with flames in the winter) greet me.

You can tell this family-run, independent pub is old from its higgledy-piggledy nature of extensions over the years. So, it’s no surprise when I find out it dates back to the 15th Century. More remarkable is its fascinating pie history.

I nestle into a window seat where rows of awards proudly stand. They are for ‘best pie’ or a close runner-up at the British Pie Awards. There’s no mistaking that pies are a big thing at The Fleur, as locals call it.

The menu has a prominent section with 11 offerings including vegetarian and gluten-free choices, and I notice most of the diners are having one. Like the acclaimed Pie Factory in Tipton, this pub also has pies you can take home chilled or frozen to cook anytime.

The Fleur’s award-winning pies are hand-made at the pub, a tradition that was started in the 1950s by a former landlord Mr Brookes. His steak and kidney and chicken and mushroom pies paved the way for the recipes to later be sold to Pukka pies - available in fish and chip shops up and down the country.

Since then, the Fleur hascreated more of its own selection that are still sold at the pub. Pretty interiors with hops and polished wooden beams bring added charm to this lovely pub with its many nooks and crannies. There's two bars bustling with staff so there’s quick service for food or a drink, from a large choice of wines to beers like Timothy Taylors.

I quickly realise it’s a pub for all seasons, cosy inside in the winter and a beauty spot to enjoy the sunshine by the water in the Summer. The manager tells me how she loves Autumn and the lead up to Christmas when The Fleur’s fires bring smoky scents and a rustic ambience.

Menu at award-winning Fleur De Lys pub

While pies are a key part of the menu, there’s a wealth of other mains, starters and desserts too.

My guest and I plump for crispy breaded whitebait at £6.50 and chicken parfait at £7.50 for starters, and when they arrive one thing is obvious. The Fleur is very, very generous with its servings.

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The large pot of whitebait has a crunchy moorish orange crumb batter. It’s a very generous portion that I just can’t finish on my own. The high standard chicken liver parfait is smooth and very rich, and a large slab that comes with mounds of fresh bread, salad and fruity chutney.

Moving on to the mains, although there’s sirloin steak, duck breast, burgers and pan seared tuna steak on offer for between £15 and £28, it would be rude not to try a pie. They each cost £18 and come with mash or chunky chips, veg and a jug of gravy.

The award-winning steak and ale pie lives up to the hype and turns up looking picture perfect. It's the kind of pie that looks like something out of a magazine. It’s the epitome of how a pie should look and gives the Black Country’s Pie Factory a run for its money.

It has heavenly shortcrust crumbly pastry encasing a generous tasty filling with a slightly puff pastry top. Baked til its golden to dark brown and domed to perfection. The mash is a creamy accompaniment but the star of the show is obvious.

We also tried the roasted breast of chicken with caesar salad with skinny fries. Once again, the portion size is huge with large chicken pieces, a freshly made herb and cheese puff pastry straw, crispy streaky bacon pieces and home-made croutons amongst anchovies.

It’s a caesar salad with a difference for £20 and comes with a big dish of chips.

Save room for dessert - and with the large helpings I know that will be hard. Yet it's worth it as the puddings are unmissable. While I loved the pies, it’s the desserts that stole my heart.

Amazing desserts at country pub near Birmingham

Costing between £5 and £7, there’s six puddings to choose from including warm sticky toffee pudding with custard, a vegan brownie with peanut butter, a selection of ice creams or choice of fresh sorbet scoops.

We picked the other options of a warm double chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and a warm treacle tart with caramel sauce and honeycomb ice cream. Both were lick your lips delicious.

Even though the sizes were large, I had no trouble finishing off the treacle tart with its sticky, sweet, chewy combinations. Just divine. It was a close match with the double chocolate brownie with first class gooiness as soon as it hit the tongue.

Service and price at The Fleur De Lys

There’s plenty of staff who are friendly and efficient. They keep the pub and its many tables spotlessly clean and there isn’t a long wait for food.

A well-run and managed pub, the impressive service is part of the appeal of The Fleur.

The price of food and drinks are average for mainstream restaurants of around £7 for a starter, between £16 and £20 for most of the main meals and £7 for a dessert. The portion sizes means diners may be more likely to opt for two courses rather than three and the pies are very good value for money considering their high quality.

Overall verdict

With a beautiful setting - inside and out - this enchanting country pub with a fascinating history is a treat on so many levels. Idyllic for a drive out for its beer garden, the food is a temptation too hard to resist at the Fleur De Lys.

Its pies and puddings make it a perfect trip into the country.

The Fleur de Lys can be found in Lapworth Street, Lowsonford, Henley-in-Arden, B95 5HJ. See the website www.thefleur.co.uk for bookings or call 01564 782431. It is open every day from 10am to 10pm with food served from midday to 8pm.