From the birthplace of Bass to its spiritual home. Shamefully, this was our first trip to Burton since I started this blog in 2015, and it’s been prompted by a rather seismic, some would say heretical, event. The new Beer Guide has lost the Coopers* (of which more later) and the Elms, and gained… Continue reading MICRO PUBS & SWINGING LEGS IN BURTON UPON TRENT
Tag: Staffordshire
ON THE HOP IN NEWPORT, SALOP
My last Staffordshire GBG tick came just outside Newport, Salop. As is traditional, this is what a completed Staffs looks like, Mr BRAPA (I expect Pubmeister first completed it when it was still called Ye Middle Mercia). The last tick was the Red Lion in Sutton, another place name that pops up in multiple counties. Another… Continue reading ON THE HOP IN NEWPORT, SALOP
CHASING CANNOCK CHARM
Staffordshire is an underrated county, tainted by association with scandals (Mid Staffs Hospital, the Julian Cope cover for “Fried”, a short pint in Tutbury etc) and some fairly poor social housing (the Tamworth towers, the Kinver Caves). Scandalously, some pubs only serve one beer. Like this one. But it has Bass, it has the toilet museum… Continue reading CHASING CANNOCK CHARM
BARTON-UNDER-NEEDWOOD – PEDI HANDLED WITH CARE
After finishing Derbyshire, thoughts turn naturally to Staffs, where frankly there’s an even better chance of Bass/Pedi and of being called “M’duck“. That’s pretty much all I really need from pubs these days. Barton-u-L, as the kids call it, is handily placed between the National Arboretum and that place where they brew Bass. Since Lord Buckethead… Continue reading BARTON-UNDER-NEEDWOOD – PEDI HANDLED WITH CARE
LEEK – BASS, BUCKETS, BALTI
Interesting series of Twits* about Leek last night, kicked off by this, "Got my 27,000th beer tick last Thursday" announced the rather excited & proud punter in a Leek pub who didn't appear to have any friends — Martin (@6TownsMart) March 26, 2017 reminding me to write up our mini-trip to “The Queen of the Moorlands“,… Continue reading LEEK – BASS, BUCKETS, BALTI
ABBOTS BROMLEY – BACK ON THE BASS
My pub heroes of 2016 were Stockport CAMRA, for making a pub with one real ale their Pub of the Year. This year may well be the turn of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury CAMRA, for getting Draught Bass into two of their GBG pubs. Drink it up, Rochdale. The downside of the Beer Guide route… Continue reading ABBOTS BROMLEY – BACK ON THE BASS
PENKHULL – YOU’RE MY HONEYWALL
I could have lumped my walk round Penkhull in with the post on Newcastle-under-Lyme, but it’s quite parochial round here. And while I wouldn’t call N-u-L posh, it positively flaunts its wealth at the townships down the A52. Even their Travelodge feels like The Carlyle when you’ve spent a night at Stoke’s top railway hotel. Rarely will… Continue reading PENKHULL – YOU’RE MY HONEYWALL
LOVELY LYMESTONE
A very quick post from the Piccadilly Tap (updated in the North Staffs Hotel) to reassure our US readers I haven’t been murdered by Stokies furious at my choosing London murk over their Plum Porter on Saturday. I’m staying in Stoke, which is fun. Good train connections for Manchester and Stone, which has a rare… Continue reading LOVELY LYMESTONE
CHEAP AS CHIPS IN CHESLYN HAY
Staffordshire is in my Top 3 counties for proper pubs; traditional seating, old codgers drinking Bass and Pedi, a lack of pretension. It’s also one of the cheapest counties, producing that virtuous circle of high turnover, high quality and low waste. That applies as much to food as beer. I’ll wager few folk outside of South… Continue reading CHEAP AS CHIPS IN CHESLYN HAY
BANKS’S AT SOURCE
The demise of Boring Brown Bitters, replaced by a sea of exotic craft, is much overstated. Particularly in the suburbs of the Black Country. What Oxley lacks in architectural interest it makes up for with an ability to get you lost, always a bonus. The Claregate is right on the border with Staffordshire, except of course… Continue reading BANKS’S AT SOURCE
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