7th December 2022. I enjoyed Stafford, a lot. Ten (10) varied pubs, half of them new, and a sense of getting to grips with the town. The two Mudgies performed their sacred duty to CAMRA by declaring the Grapes cask-free, so we met up a minute away in the Sun. Now, pubs called the Sun… Continue reading A STAFFORD (IM)PERFECT 10
Tag: Stafford
STAFFORD GOES ALL BLUEBERRY MARTINI SOUR
7th December 2022. It was all going swimmingly. Seven (7) pubs in 3.5 hours, some good beer, some bad beer, some lively debate. But now to the schism. Will and I wanted to visit the new craft bar Ship Aground, Peter and Paul said (figuratively) “Away from me, craft Devil” and opted to try out… Continue reading STAFFORD GOES ALL BLUEBERRY MARTINI SOUR
BEER v COMFORT
7th December 2022. It’s taking longer to write up Stafford than we actually spend in the town (about 4 hours). Here’s pubs 6 and 7. From the disappointing and empty Vine we crossed a couple of roads to the Rose & Crown, where Joules’s gleaming handpumps appealed, but not as much as the Old No.… Continue reading BEER v COMFORT
Sometimes, one beer is MORE than enough
7th December 2022. Pub No. 5 on the Great Stafford Winter Wander, which came after the massive disappointment for Paul that the brand new craft keg Empourium was shut. I look forward to Paul revisiting and giving his verdict on the games area; I really wanted to go in the Vine Hotel, rather than the… Continue reading Sometimes, one beer is MORE than enough
THE MARKET VAULTS – THE GOOD, THE DULL AND THE BONO
7th December 2022. Pub No. 3 (of 10) on the Stafford “pub crawl”, sorry tutored pub exploration, and one of the few places in town I hadn’t been in before. Actually, I didn’t think I’d been in the Market Vaults before, but now I see it used to be the Joxer Brady when it had… Continue reading THE MARKET VAULTS – THE GOOD, THE DULL AND THE BONO
STAFFORD CRAWLING PART 2
The Annual Awards post is always the hardest to compile; the fear of making it too long, or missing out something vital or witty. So I’m pleased to put that one to bed and get back to the diary, even if it returns us to, 7th December 2022. The number of pub visits ticked past… Continue reading STAFFORD CRAWLING PART 2
OFF TO STAFFORD TO MEET THE MUDG(I)ES
One more post, possibly a couple, before the Awards issue; you’ll need to be sitting down with your cocoa to find out which was my favourite pint of Doom Bar in 2022. 7th December 2022. A highlight of the year, as I make an overdue trip to meet up with Stafford’s Paul Mudge and Pub… Continue reading OFF TO STAFFORD TO MEET THE MUDG(I)ES
NO BASS AT STAFFORD’S RAILWAY INN
One more day of Stafford posts from last Thursday, then I can bring you November highlights AND a little series of posts moaning celebrating the detail in the new GBG. You left me at the Bird In Hand, where I nipped off to check in to my digs at Bridgewood House, leaving Will and Paul… Continue reading NO BASS AT STAFFORD’S RAILWAY INN
COB, PINT OF MILD, FIRE
Yes, more Stafford, it never ends. Next we did the cultural bit. For a bit, anyway. Oh, yes, the Hovis street, I wanted Will to see that. “What’s keeping you ?” said Paul, who’d made the Bird In Hand half an hour before. His pace is undiminished in 18 months. Now this was Black Country… Continue reading COB, PINT OF MILD, FIRE
A STAFFORD JOULE, BUT IS IT A JEWEL ?
I rather disclosed the rest of the itinerary in that last post, didn’t I ? On to the most photogenic part of the trail, as Stafford’s Ancient High House retains its majesty, despite being sullied by Savers Health & Beauty and Fone Giant. As always, look UP (and expect to bump into someone). Joule’s Rose… Continue reading A STAFFORD JOULE, BUT IS IT A JEWEL ?