retiredmartin

July 2024. Stafford.

Culture ticked, I still had half an hour till the Official CAMRA unapproved North Stafford Pub exploration.

Perhaps I could log all the sad pubs,

or craft bars,

or find out what sours “Hot Yoga” were pouring.

Nope. Back to St Mary for half an hour of Bach.

You can here a bit here by pressing the button;

I’d sat at the back of the choir seats, or whatever the posh seats are called, so I could make a quick getaway to the Shrewsbury Arms spot on 13:30 per Will’s instructions.

So, rather than enjoying Felicity’s Cello (isn’t that a West Wales beer ?) I spent 26 minutes looking at my phone clock. Should have just set an alarm for 13:26.

13:29 on the dot, outside the Shrewsbury Arms.

A gorgeous Black Country Ales pub, but possibly exhibit “A” in my case for “less is more” in the BCA estate. I think I may have even steered Will away from here last year after quality concerns.

But it’s not called The Cask Ale Lottery for nothing, and Stafford Paul reports improvements, and it is a Proper Pub, so here we are.

Well, here’s Paul, saving pubs in pints.

His pint of Pig has lost its head quite quickly, as does mine.

But its rich and chewy™, an easy 3.5. to recommend to Will, who goes his own way, like Fleetwood Mac.

No Fleetwood Mac in the Shrewsbury, just a soundtrack of “New Wave 1980”. “Up The Junction” (twice), The Jam, Martha and the Muffins.

We’re being spoilt, even more so when we get joined by the estimable Peter from Marple (they’re all called Peter in Greater Stockport). Peter looks familiar, he reckons from volunteering at the Sheffield CAMRA weekend).

Like Will, Peter goes in search of these fancy guest beers that young folk like.

Ah, so that’s why Black Country have so many beers on.