Rose and Crown (Co.Durham)

“The Rose and Crown stands in the picturesque village of Romaldkirk near Barnard Castle in Teesdale where the Durham and Yorkshire dales meet in spectacular landscapes.” The Rose seems to be a well-known venue, recommended by, for example, Living North, Sainsbury’s Magazine, Which?, The Field…Hang on. The pro-shooting Field, the “monthly glossy dedicated to those brave souls who shoot, fish and hunt way beyond the call of duty”? Ah, yes, the Rose – along with a page about how ‘green’ they are – has a section on their site devoted to killing the local birdlife, writing that “The moors in upper Teesdale are regarded as some of the best in the world for grouse shooting and the R&C is perfectly placed to provide a luxurious base for shooters with secure gun storage and kit cleaning areas.” No mention of the region’s status as a raptor persecution hotspot of course, or the mass slaughter of native wildlife on the moors to ‘protect’ grouse long enough for the likes of the ‘R&C’s’ customers to shoot them, just another typical pitch for the money…