The Fleur De Lys is a welcoming family-run country pub nestled in the picturesque village of Lowsonford on the banks of the Stratford Canal between winding roads which used to be part of The Forest of Arden.

The garden boasts an acre of land and is also popular as a stop-off for canal users.

Husband and wife Nick and Emma Woodhouse are passionate about hospitality and have a combined 30 years of experience in the industry. They work hard to protect the legacy and integrity of the inn, which they recognise as a valued part of local history.

The Fleur De Lys started out as a row of three 15th-century cottages which became canal workers’ accommodation that were later knocked together. Subsequent uses included a blacksmith’s forge and even a mortuary, from where the bodies were taken to Rowington Church in the absence of a village church at the time.

It wasn’t until the early 20th century when it first opened as a tavern, later going on to introduce the ‘pioneering’ idea of serving food and giving rise to the now famous – and multi-award-winning - Fleur De Lys pies, which eventually became Pukka Pies.

The inn was mainly frequented by farmers who'd come in for a pie and a pint after they'd finished harvesting. The licensee at the time bought Emscote Mill in Warwick, from where they distributed nationwide but eventually the original pie recipe was sold, becoming what are now Pukka Pies. But, under Emma and Nick’s auspices, in 2018, Lowsonford Pies was born.

Today, the dog-friendly pub also has a 4-star rating on Tripadvisor, 4.4-star rating on Google reviews and a 4.5 out of 5 on OpenTable.

The Fleur de Lys is celebrated not just for its history, but its hearty fulsome pub grub, including no less than 11 flavours of homemade Lowsonford pies (you can even buy to take out!)

Emma said: “It's the perfect location and exactly what you think an Old English country pub should be like. It's so cozy with the log fires going in the winter and a beautiful canal-side garden to enjoy in the summer months.

“Despite certain changes over the last 10 years, we have tried hard to keep honouring the character of the building. The biggest compliment for us is when people say, ‘oh, I used to come here in the 50s for a pie through the kitchen hatch, and it's just the same as it was then, but a bit nicer!’

“If you think, how many people must have been in and out of this building over the years. - If these walls could talk!”

A Fleur de Lys is an ancient heraldic symbol of a lily flower with three petals and features on many coats of arms, including that of the British Royal Family.

Despite its idyllic location, the pub is easily accessible from the M40 and M42, on the Warwickshire and West Midlands border.