Yes, I know Hollington near Uttoxeter isn’t strictly in the Potteries, but anything past the JCB factory counts as Stoke to me. So cut your pedantry. Attractive part of the world, underrated despite or because of Alton Towers. The weirdness of Cauldon’s Yew Tree to the north, the simple pleasures of Pedi to the east.… Continue reading POTTERIES, PHIL POWER, PEDIGREE & PODS
Tag: Staffordshire
WHEN I DREAM, I DREAM ABOUT TAMWORTH MICROPUBS
Yes, when in Tamworth, it is obligatory to reference Julian Cope, whose views on micro pubs are eagerly anticipated. Last time here I celebrated the joys of the parish church in an Emergency Guide to Tamworth that is still handed out to all UK visitors on arrival at Dover. This time I bring the alternate… Continue reading WHEN I DREAM, I DREAM ABOUT TAMWORTH MICROPUBS
HOPWAS – WORTH THE HOP
Tonight, dear readers, I’m staying in lovely Chesterfield at Flags Lodge. The recent GBG pub across the road is bustling, and offers Draught Bass and Hartington IPA. Somehow, I have resisted. But a week ago I couldn’t resist the Hopwas Social Club, 2 miles walk from my Lichfield Premier Inn. Such is the life of… Continue reading HOPWAS – WORTH THE HOP
“ONE ALE’S PLENTY, NUMBER TWENTY”
On to my last Staffordshire GBG pub. The Hednesford Ex-Servicemens Club joins the similarly social Bridge which you might remember so delighted me last year. My preparatory reading tells me that; “The club plays host to many sports teams including darts, dominoes, bowls, snooker and pool. A pigeon flying club is also based at… Continue reading “ONE ALE’S PLENTY, NUMBER TWENTY”
MORE MERCIAN MICROS
I won’t lie. My heart sank when I came to the next tranche of photos and I realised I’d have to start writing about micro pubs again. Partly because there’s not an obvious “M” word you can bung in to your blog title. “Morose” ?, “Mediocre” ?, “Middle-aged” ?. All could be true but… Continue reading MORE MERCIAN MICROS
STAFFORDSHIRE DOES BASS BEST
I don’t care what anyone says, nothing is better looking* than a pint of Draught Bass. Mind you, the views from outside the Mitre Hotel in central Manchester aren’t far behind. Sadly the WiFi in the Mitre is, to say the least, disappointing. The Red Lion in Newborough is a short hop from the Real,… Continue reading STAFFORDSHIRE DOES BASS BEST
ALTON SOURS
Well, we got some nice photos, anyway. And a decent title. It’s a start. I’ve always wondered why the Staffordshire Moorlands between Stoke, Uttoxeter and Ashbourne is so poorly represented in the Beer Guide, bar the Yew Tree of course. There’s plenty of pubs, 5 in Alton alone, so I guess it all comes down… Continue reading ALTON SOURS
BLYTHE SPIRIT
I could tell you this was the 27th micro pub I’ve visited this Guide year, and you’d believe me. Russ wouldn’t. He’s checked and it’s the 28th. What an exciting place Blythe Bridge is. Home to a steam railway with a recent Beer Guide entry, one of four recent GBG entries if I generously count… Continue reading BLYTHE SPIRIT
MORE CASTLE, M’DUCK
A return to Newcastle-under-Lyme can mean only one thing. Underpass street art. Folk fuss about Bristol and Manchester, but N-u-L is the place to go to see images of people you actually recognise. The tourist office (is there one ?) should do a leaflet showing these artistic high points, interspersed with Oatcake shops and micro… Continue reading MORE CASTLE, M’DUCK
BURNING ULLAGE – HERETICS IN BURTON UPON TRENT
As Newbury Tim will know, all publicity is good publicity. So here’s a plug for the ever-excellent Ullage, which I can confirm has equally excellent combustible qualities when read over a candle in a Burton micropub. As is traditional, a totally pointless route map for the next leg of our journey; I suppose I could… Continue reading BURNING ULLAGE – HERETICS IN BURTON UPON TRENT
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