GOING FOR A BURTON

March 2026. Burton on Trent.

Last week seemed like mental torture, another weekend without making it to that Guisborough brewery tap that only opens 3:30 to 4 on Saturdays.

But in fact I did manage East Grinstead (whoopy doo) and Burton on Trent (whoop), the latter scratching a major itch.

Despite living a mere 42 minute rail journey away, I’d only visited Brew Town once since moving North, in 2021, and Coopers was closed then.

Let’s start correcting that omission, and ask the Bass fanclub what to do;

Also, let’s see if the town is useful for any more than a pub crawl and an eternal 3rd division relegation struggle.

Fans of red brick and shiny steel will love it.

Oh, good curry, too.

And a lot of pubs, according to the excellent CAMRA magazine. More branches should put a map in the middle.

Not all Bass pubs, mind, and as a dozen recommendations flooded in the old favourites seemed to dominate.

So let’s start with a really old favourite, just down this alley;

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

22 thoughts on “GOING FOR A BURTON”

  2. Have you got a new camera? Some of the buildings look like scale models and the skies look like CGI. 🤔

    Bring back the glare! 😛

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  3. Well at least you didn’t become a Scientologist in East Grinstead.
    Just saw a lunch menu for the House of Commons from 1950, drinks options included draught Bass at 1/9 a pint. Or a half of cider for sixpence.

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    1. Apparently the leader L Ron Hubbard (sci fi writer) had a bet he could start a religion. A friend in a vulnerable time almost got swept away with this cult.

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  5. It’s certainly a wonderful smell of hops that hits you on entering Burton. Something I recall from this town which I have not heard in any other towns is the automated voice announcement “Please do not drop litter.” I was impressed.

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    1. I grew up in Wrexham, a brewery town, and I well remember the wonderful smell of brewing. Also, the smell of pubs, stale beer, old dogs and fag smoke. Exquisite, never to be experienced again

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      1. Doesn’t the increase in dog whiff more than counterbalance the absence of cigarette smoke, Bill?

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      3. Bill, eleven days ago I had 106 minutes in Wrexham as my first visit in about forty years. Imagine my disappointment in finding the town centre full of football supporters, a dozen police outside the Wetherspoons ( I don’t know whether keeping trouble makers in or out ) but none at any of the proper pubs. I just had a pint in the Wynnstay.
        Then yesterday in Chester I found the Old Custom House virtually unrecognisable from my last visit there drinking Border ales.

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      5. Lana, Both my grandfathers smoked and I don’t much mind the smell of tobacco smoke. Not much better is the smell of chips in proper pubs. I’ve just enjoyed two days in Chester and the Albion remains one of its best two pubs, unchanged since forty years ago when it was “No fry-ups or chips included in pub food either at lunch or weekend evening meals”. The minced beef, mashed potato, carrots and cabbage were lovely.

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  6. Surely “that Guisborough brewery tap that only opens 3:30 to 4 on Saturdays” might claim the GBG’s shortest opening hours, 26 hours totalling just over one day per year.

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  7. Stafford Paul, nice to know The Albion is as good as ever. I used to enjoy the Staffordshire oatcakes in there.
    As far as smoke is concerned, I positively like the smell of tobacco smoke. Both my grandfathers smoked, as did my dad and I did too until a few years ago when I jacked it in due to the extortionate cost of fags.
    Which Wetherspoons had the police presence in Wrexham, the Elihu Yale or the North & South Wales Bank? Both are a bit rough if I’m honest. Town’s going to be busy for home games these days, since the meteoric rise of the Mighty Wrexham AFC.

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      1. Paul, the North & South Wales Bank is on the High Street. Come out of the Wynnstay, look up High St and it’s on the right. Used to be the Midland Bank, the one where I opened my first bank account.
        Thought the Elihu Yale might be the offending Spoons. Nearer the Racecourse. The bloke who took a horse in there tried to get it on a train as well.

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