We visited a cosy countryside pub which prides itself on teamwork and 'doing the basics exceptionally well'

The Manor House of Whittington sits on the edge of Kinver amid the greenery of the South Staffordshire countryside not far from Bridgnorth.

The Manor House of Whittington is described by owners Marston's as a "majestic roadside pub", with the heart of the site dating back to the 14th century with its Grade I-listed manor house.

The pub’s interior has art deco touches and has a light and spacious interior, with a modern open kitchen and separate pizza prep area and oven.

There are attractive outdoor spaces at both the front and the rear of the pub, which make it a popular destination for diners and a welcome stop-off for walkers in the summer months.

Retaining plenty of original fixtures, the original manor house also has an atmospheric function room with wooden panels and its own bar, which mean private events are an all-year-round feature and is a pub which aims to combine tradition and modernity for a 21st-century take on a proper pub.

It has been a pillar of the Kinver community for generations, having stood for more than 700 years, and is managed by Chris Todd, who said it was something of a dream to run a pub he used to drive by and fantasise about running.

He said: "I've been with the company for about 15 years now, starting off as a pot washer and eventually working my way up to head chef, and then just wanted to go further and manage the whole business, rather than just the kitchen.

"I went through the company's procedures and the courses and became general manager, which I've been doing for six years, and I used to drive past this pub and always think that I wasn't good enough to get it, that was my honest assessment.

"However, after I ran a few pubs for Marston's, this one came up and so I applied for it and I was very pleased to get it."

The pub has become a market leader over the last few years, including being named Marston’s Pub of the Year 2025, and has become very popular among foodies for the meals it provides.

The Manor House offers "something for everyone", including lunchtime classics, sizzling grill options and meat-free choices, and Mr Todd said it was curated to offer something for everyone. 

He said: "We've got something for everyone, from our pub classics to the dishes which take a little bit more time to put together and we've got our pizzas, which are freshly made and very popular.

"There's also our Sunday roast, which I'm very proud of, as it's all fresh and locally sourced and I think it's a fantastic Sunday roast."

There is always a place for drinkers and real ale fans, with Pedigree and Wainwrights always on the hand pulls, plus a lighter type of ale in the warmer months, and Mr Todd talked about the other drinks on offer.

He said: "For lagers, we have Moretti, Estrella and Amstel, plus we also have Peroni, Sol and Budweiser in the fridge, but I think we're starting to really pick up with the different spirits on offer.

"We have 22 gins and my whisky selection is picking up this year, particularly coming into the colder months, and we're looking to have a few more, which works out well with the people who visit.

"We get a phenomenal walking trade and our passing trade on the road is really good, particularly when we've got our 40 per cent offers on as we get booked out."

Having taken over a pub he had long admired, Mr Todd said he felt proud to be at the helm and for the pub to be as successful as it was.

He said: "I'm proud of the fact that we do the basics exceptionally well and I think I've got a keen eye for what the guest wants and needs.

"However, I also believe that we are quite good at looking after our team as well, and the team is what makes it, so I work very hard for the team and they work very hard for me.

"The guest responses are really good as well as we've got something for everyone, we're dog friendly and we welcome everyone, whether they're in work clothes or on a hot date."