Here’s the thing: you have a choice when you walk in. You can plonk yourself in the bar area, which is all low beams, crackling fireplaces, and worn-out floorboards that creak like a friendly ghost. Or you can step into Haywards Restaurant, which is more chic—white linen, modern art on the walls, and a wine list that uses words like “bouquet” without irony. I love both, but for different moods. If I’m wearing muddy boots and just want a half-pint and a cheese board? Bar, obviously. If it’s a date night or my birthday, I’m going straight for Haywards.
Bat & Ball Country Pub and Haywards Restaurant in Newpound Common | Pub
But here’s a little secret: the restaurant isn’t stuffy. I once saw a farmer in a flat cap sitting at a table next to a couple in suits, and nobody blinked. The service is warm without being intrusive, which is a rare skill. They refill your water without hovering, and they know when to recommend the local lamb versus the fish. That lamb, by the way, is from a farm literally three miles down the road. You can taste the grass in it—assuming grass tastes magical.
The Garden and the Ghosts
If the weather’s decent—and let’s face it, in Britain that’s a gamble—go sit in the beer garden. It’s a huge, sloping lawn with picnic tables and a view that stretches forever. I’ve spent entire afternoons there, nursing a pint of cider, watching kids chase dogs and couples argue about who forgot the sunscreen. It’s the kind of place where time gets slippery. You check your watch, and suddenly it’s three hours later and you’ve somehow eaten two desserts. (No regrets on that sticky toffee pudding, by the way. It was like a hug made of sugar.)
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Rumour has it the pub is haunted. Staff talk about a friendly Victorian ghost in the dining room who rearranges the cutlery. I haven’t seen him, but I did once find my napkin folded into a perfect crown while I was in the loo. I’m not saying it was paranormal—but I’m not saying it wasn’t. Either way, it adds to the charm. You feel like you’re part of a story that’s been running for centuries.
