CAMRA
PUB OF THE MONTH ARCHIVE
NOVEMBER - CATCHEMS CORNER, MEIR
On the outskirts of Meir, travelling along the A50 opposite Tesco, is where you will find our Pub of the Month for November, Catchems Corner.
So where so I start to tell you about this little piece of Heaven? Well, let’s start at the top: this gem of a watering hole is one of the Marstons chain of pubs, and is run by landlady Nikki. Nikki is helped by her wonderful bar staff, June, Stacey and Steve.
OCTOBER - CLOUGH HALL, KIDSGROVE
October's Pub of the Month takes its name from the 19th century Clough Hall, demolished in 1927, which stood just a hundred yards away. A few remnants of the extensive estate can still be found, but the most splendid is the hall's ornamental lake, which comes right up to the pub's garden. Built in the 1930s by Parkers of Burslem, it is a fine free-standing example of the style of architecture...
SEPTEMBER - CROWN, WRINEHILL
The Crown at Wrinehill (CW3 9BT) can be found on the Staffordshire/ Cheshire Borders, lying just off the main road on Den Lane; a gem of a pub which serves excellent food and a good range of real ale. The building was a coaching inn in the 19th century and today still has the feel of bygone days with open fires and low beamed ceilings. The pub has been owned by Charles & Sue Davenhill...
AUGUST 2011 - SWAN, BIGNALL END
The Swan at Bignall End is no stranger to readers of Potters Bar, but, after Carl and Sarah Smith left some time ago, standards fell. It is good to report that in October last year new licensees took over, and the Swan (the Duck to you) is back to its old self. Paul and Linda Shaw ran the Audley WMC for three years, but had only one real ale on, and really wanted to spread their wings. They’ve chosen the right place.
JULY 2011 - NEW INN, FLASH
The New Inn at Flash, seven miles beyond Leek on the A53 to Buxton, is not too remote to reach. The No. 118 bus from Hanley to Buxton stops at the bottom of the lane leading up to the village. Flash's first claim to fame is that it is the highest village in England, which makes the New Inn the highest village pub in England at an altitude of 1518 feet. The second claim to fame is that it is the origin of the term flash...
JUNE 2011 - TOP PUB, BROWN EDGE
The Potteries CAMRA top pub for June 2011 is The Top Pub at Hill Top, Brown Edge, ST6 8TX, lying about three quarters of a mile from the village, on a hill, and set on the edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands. The pub was built in 1840 and was known as The Rose and Crown until it re-opened under its new guise in summer 2010, comprising of one spacious, single room...
MAY 2011 - RAILWAY, HALMEREND
Hands up who doesn't know where Halmerend is. It is well worth brushing up on your local geography, so you can find your way to the Railway. This is a lovely local pub, which has been turned round in the past eighteen months by Steve and Julie Johnson. On the right as you enter is the bar, with four hand pumps, a real fire, and the dart board...
APRIL 2011 - BRINDLEY'S LOCK, PACKMOOR
Brindley's Lock is a large estate pub built in 1995 by Robinsons Brewery of Stockport. The pub is open-plan in design, but with separate areas for pool, darts and sports on TV, plus a small, raised area under the conservatory acts as a restaurant, with good value meals served Monday-Friday 12noon- 2.30pm & 6pm-8.30pm, and 12noon-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays...
MARCH 2011 - GRESLEY ARMS, ALSAGERS BANK
Brindley's Lock is a large estate pub built in 1995 by Robinsons Brewery of Stockport. The pub is open-plan in design, but with separate areas for pool, darts and sports on TV, plus a small, raised area under the conservatory acts as a restaurant, with good value meals served Monday-Friday 12noon- 2.30pm & 6pm-8.30pm, and 12noon-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays...
FEBRUARY 2011 - ALBERT, NEWCASTLE
Not to be confused with the NEW Albert in Albert Street, or the one on Tynemouth road in the other Newcastle, for those visiting virtually.
The Albert is a quiet pub, just outside Newcastle town centre, situated between the old and new Sainsbury's. Walk from the centre of Newcastle, past the Full Moon and the old Sainsbury's...
JANUARY 2011 - OLD SAL, SANDFORD HILL
The Old Sal is a large estate pub, owned by Marstons. The pub is situated in the area of Sandford Hill, which is on the outskirts of Longton and is easily accessible from both King Street and Anchor Road. The pub is run by partners Matt Cartwright and Rich Higgins who came to the pub just under a year ago, after the pub underwent a major refurbishment...
DECEMBER 2010 - DUKE WILLIAM, BURSLEM
The Duke William in St. John's Square, Burslem was believed to have been originally built in 1815 as a two-storey pub before being re-developed towards the end of the 19th century with another floor being added. The mock Tudor frontage was added after 1930. Past landlords included Hannah Sheldon in 1818 and James Lockett in 1851...
NOVEMBER 2010 - COCK INN, LEEK
Bang in the middle of the town, at 19 Derby Street, stands The Cock Inn, once a Bass house but since 2009 owned by Joules of Market Drayton. Joules is a small pub company of around 15 pubs which owns the rights to the Joules brand, and by the time you are reading this they should have opened their brand-new £1.6 million brewery behind the Red Lion in Market Drayton...
OCTOBER 2010 - TERRACE, SHELTON
This pub can be found at 185 Leek Road, ST4 2BW, in the heart of student land, directly across from Staffs University; however, you don't need to be a student to feel welcome there. On my visit there were people of all ages enjoying a quiet pint whilst reading the paper or catching up with friends. Everybody was made welcome...
SEPTEMBER 2010 - QUEENS ARMS, CHEADLE
The "Pub of the Month" for September is the Queens Arms, Queen Street, Cheadle, ST10 1BQ. It was built approximately 150 years ago at the end of a row of terraced houses, which are thought to have been built to provide accommodation for textile workers at a local silk mill, the site of which is now occupied by JCB...
AUGUST 2010 - FOXHOUND, BIDDULPH MOOR
Our Pub of the Month for August is the excellent Foxhound in the village of Biddulph Moor. A traditional, three-roomed stone building that was built in 1834, it has a small car park and beer garden, where you can sit out on those hot, sunny August days and admire the gorgeous views of the Moorlands...
JULY 2010 - STAFF OF LIFE, STOKE
Situated just off Stoke Town Centre on Hill Street, this is one of the hidden gems of the Potteries, with a classic frontage and beautiful Minton flooring as you walk down the drinking passage; the bar has a cosy and friendly feel to it. It also has the feel of a traditional pub, a factor that so many pubs have lost these days. The bar serves three traditional ales: Bass, Marstons Pedigree and a rotating guest ale...