Why we love our forgotten Shropshire market town packed with history, charming shops, and picturesque streets

Recently the Shropshire Star’s Martyn Greswolde was asked why we hadn’t visited the town, so in the spirit of finding out what all the fuss was about he set about heading there to take a look for himself.

What he found were residents who love the town’s community, its independent traders, and its perfect position for get-aways to the Welsh coast or a day out in the West Midlands.

Martyn explained: “Fairly recently, an e-mail dropped into my inbox asking me why we never visit the beautiful village of Cleobury Mortimer.

“So today, here I am. And what better place to start than at Hobson's Brewery, right in the centre?”

The successful brewery is based in Cleobury Mortimer and made the perfect place to drop in for a quick chat.

Kyle Gittins, marketing manager at the brewery, explained it’s a great place to live - or work.

He said: “Hobson's is a great part of Cleobury Mortimer.

“I think everyone would agree that they love coming up here and being part of what we've got going on, and we love being part of Cleobury.

“Cleobury is great, I'm from Bewdley just down the road, but you know, you really get to feel that there's a great community here, a great sense of community, and everybody kind of looks out for each other - everybody knows each other, and it's just a great place to live and to work.”

Sally Sidu, who now lives in Kent, was in the perfect position to give an outsider’s view on the town.

She said: “It's just very attractive, there's nice cafes and there's a great second hand shop, and the brewery is fabulous.

“And I know a lot of people who are involved in that because I still have relatives in the area.

“And over the years it's it's changed. And, you know, I just love it just has a nice feel-good feel.”

Steve Todd is a longstanding resident of the town and he said: “We've been here for over 40 years off and on. We like the people, we like the place - it's not perfect, nowhere is.

“It is handy for Wales and the Welsh coast, or back if you go eastwards to the Black Country, Birmingham, so it's quite a good spot.”

Alan Kinver said it was the welcoming nature of the town that makes it special.

He said: “I've been here 25 years. It's so very inclusive and that's what I find about Cleobury. It's a very inclusive society.”

Andy Ford added: “I grew up around here on Clee Hill and I went to school at Lacon Childe, which is in Cleobury - and then I moved away and moved back when my children were little, and they went to the local primary school, which is absolutely fantastic.

“So there's lots of things going on, but it's just a really beautiful, pretty lovely town.”