The Old Bush

The Old Bush sits just outside the idyllic village of Callow End in the Malvern Hills district of Worcestershire; a traditional and quintessentially English pub with a lovely campsite in the gardens behind it. The pub serves a variety of homemade favourites along with local beers and ciders and a pudding menu so tempting you’ll be very pleased that you only have a few feet to stagger back to your bed for the night! It has a large outdoor patio, a children’s play area and a very pretty garden with beautiful views over the Malvern Hills.

The campsite itself has a touring area for tents, caravans and motorhomes and good facilities including electric hook ups if you need it, showers and toilets, drinking water taps and chemical waste disposal. The Old Bush also has a separate glamping section, housing several pretty wooden pods which have everything you need for a mini break including a bed, TV, kettle, crockery and a private outdoor seating area. Matt and Karen have run this lovely family friendly place since 2015 and have firmly become a thriving part of the community in Callow End. When the pandemic of 2020 hit and the pub was forced to close, the brilliant team at The Old Bush decided to make the best of what they had, and that turned out to be quite an inspiring project. Instead of stocking beers and soft drinks behind the bar, they instead filled the shelves with groceries and essentials, and became a liferaft for those struggling with supermarket shopping. Chef Karen cooked takeaway meals for those who could collect, and right from the start, deliveries of groceries to the old and vulnerable in the area were made top priority. This awesome triumph over adversity has stayed - thankfully - firmly in place, and the deli (which it is now called) has a permanent home selling a wide variety of produce. There is also now a cafe too, where locals, as well as campers, can come to have a cuppa and a slice of homemade cake. There is even a pizza takeaway service at weekends. So a stay at The Old Bush means no staggering off to the supermarket and no cooking if you don’t want to. A proper break!

Many people visit The Old Bush for the brilliant location. Just 20 minutes in the car is the glorious Malvern Hills - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - a unique landscape full of exhilarating hill climbs, gentle walks and colourful wildflower meadows. It is also a great place for mountain biking or road cycling, and horse riders have right of access over the Hills and Commons. Aside from the beautiful walks and stunning views, there are many picturesque towns and villages to explore including the Victorian spa town of Malvern itself, the ancient market town Tenbury Wells and the historic riverside town of Upton upon Severn.

The Old Bush is in an enviable location to appreciate all that this lovely part of the country has to offer. And there is no easier place to come back to in the evening, where you can settle down, enjoy a delicious home cooked meal and a short stroll back to bed. A lovely little gem of a place with a great story.