If you’ve walked along Newmarket in Louth and spotted The Brown Cow, you might have popped your head in out of curiosity. And if you have, there’s a fair chance you’ve been back since. It’s that kind of place.
It’s a proper pub. Not a gastro-concept with mood lighting and a menu that needs a glossary. Just a well-kept, welcoming local with good food, good ale, and a landlord who clearly takes pride in what he puts in front of you.
The Ales Are Worth Talking About
Real ale fans will find plenty to like here. The Brown Cow runs a regular rotation of guest ales, and they change often enough to give regulars a reason to check what’s on before they arrive. Recent additions to the bar have included Conehead West Coast Pale from Grasshopper Brewery, Step On and Elsie Mo from Castle Rock, Golden Paddy from Milestone Brewery, and Wayfarer – a hazy New Zealand pale from Trig Brewery.
They’ve also had Buzz Light Beer from Settle Brewery on (yes, that’s actually the name, and yes, it’s better than the joke suggests), plus a collaboration ale between Bateman’s Brewery and Titanic called Wainfleet – a modern amber that went down very well by all accounts.
If you missed Trip Hop 2 from Ossett Brewery a few weeks back, Trip Hop 3 has landed in time for the bank holiday. Worth trying if you’re passing.
It’s not a museum piece of a pub obsessing over cask ale for its own sake. It’s just a place that puts decent stuff on and keeps it rotating. Which is exactly what you want.
The Food – Nige’s Pies and Fresh Fish Fridays
The Brown Cow does food, and it does it well. The kitchen is run by Nige, who has something of a reputation locally for his pies. British Pie Week might come and go once a year on the calendar, but at The Brown Cow it’s fairly safe to say pie is on the menu year-round – both set regulars from the Pie Club and guest pies that change things up a bit. If you haven’t tried one, it’s probably worth correcting that.
Fridays bring fish and chips to the fore, and the fish comes from St. Peter’s at Louth Market Hall, so it’s local and fresh. They’re upfront about that, which is good to see. Availability on a Friday evening isn’t guaranteed, so worth ringing ahead if you’ve got your heart set on it.
Events Through the Year
St Patrick’s Day this year had live Irish tunes and pipes courtesy of Patrick Purves, Simon, Reg and Pete – and Bateman’s Brewery came through with Guinness bucket hats, which probably tells you something about the spirit of the evening.
Charity quiz nights, seasonal events, and the general social life of a pub that’s actually used by its community – that’s the sort of thing The Brown Cow does. Worth following their social media if you want to know what’s on when.
Worth a Visit
The Brown Cow is on Newmarket in Louth. It’s a pub that’s clearly looked after – the food, the ales, and the events all point to a place that’s actually trying rather than just filling a spot on the street. Whether you’re after a quiet pint on a weekday or a Friday night fish supper, it holds up.