The Riverside Inn Ross On Wye

So, picture this: you’ve had a week of life’s little absurdities—the kind where your inbox feels like a hostile takeover and your coffee machine gives you the silent treatment. What you need, my friend, is a proper escape. Not just any escape, but one with a view of the River Wye, a log fire that crackles like it’s telling secrets, and a menu that makes you forget your own name. Enter The Riverside Inn in Ross-on-Wye. It’s not just a pub with rooms; it’s a hug in brick form.

Let’s start with the location, because it’s the kind of setting that makes you slow down before you’ve even parked. The inn sits right on the riverbank, with a garden that practically dares you to sit outside with a glass of something fizzy, even if it’s drizzling (it’s the Wye Valley, after all—drizzle is a local craft beer). Inside, it’s all exposed beams and mismatched armchairs that look like they’ve been stealing stories for decades. The vibe? Unpretentiously chic. You could show up in muddy boots or a silk blouse and feel equally welcome. I once saw a man in a tweed cap eating a bowl of chips with the same reverence as a five-course tasting menu. This is that kind of place.

Now, the food. Oh, the food. The menu reads like a love letter to local produce: wild boar sausages from Herefordshire, Wye salmon that probably swam past the window, and a sticky toffee pudding that should have its own fan club. I’m not saying I licked the plate clean, but I’m not saying I didn’t. The chef clearly believes that butter is a food group, and I am here for that theology. Pair it with a pint of Butty Bach or a cheeky Sloe Gin, and you’ll be humming through dinner.

And the rooms? Forget any stuffy, floral wallpaper nightmares. Think deep bathtubs, rainfall showers, and beds so fluffy you’ll feel like you’re floating on a cloud made of goose feathers. My room had a window that framed the river like a living painting—I sat there for an hour, watching a heron judge me silently. It was zen, with a side of sarcasm.

Ross-on-Wye - Pubs and Inns

But here’s the real magic: the staff. They’re the sort of people who remember your drink order after one visit and actually care about the answer to “how’s your day going?” It’s rare. It’s lovely. It’s why you’ll leave feeling lighter, even if you arrived with the weight of the world on your shoulders.

So, whether you’re nursing a broken heart, celebrating a promotion, or just trying to escape your own laundry pile, The Riverside Inn is your place. It won’t solve everything—let’s not get dramatic—but it will serve you a damn good cheese board while you stare at a river and realize life is actually quite beautiful. Go on. Treat yourself. You’ve earned this. And if you don’t, I’ll be there, in the corner, eating your sticky toffee pudding. No regrets.