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For my 4 day trip around Staffordshire I was based at The Borough Arms in Newcastle-Under-Lyme. Over 3 evenings I visited a number of micropubs, traditional pubs and craft bars in Newcastle-Under-Lyme and Wolstanton. Newcastle-Under-Lyme features The Hopwater Cellar, Bridge Street Ale House, Ten Green Bottles, Mellards, Crossways, The Crows Nest, Boat & Horses, Castletown Distillery, Cask Bar & Kitchen, Hopinn and The Greyhound. Wolstanton features The Whippet Inn, 4 Candles and The Archer.
Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Hopwater Cellar
My first call is to “Hopwater Cellar”, a small cellar bar which comprises of 3 separate drinking areas, 2 main drinking areas, one to the left and one to the right after the bar, with the centre area being taken up by the bar area. A huge selection of cans and bottles for drinking in or taking away, with a large choices of styles, strengths and countries. A superb selection of spirits behind the bar including over 50 premium whiskeys. Was great chatting to Craig aswell in here.
A cracking line up of 10 keg lines to choose from in a vast array of styles and strengths and quickly changing. Some great choices but in the end I decided to go with a sour from Vault City, “Summer Berry Pineapple Pavlova”, described as sunshine in a glass, this sums it up well.
Bridge Street Ale House
Directly over the road is the “Bridge Street Ale House”, dropped in Friday and Saturday and managed to catch up with owner Grum on Saturday. A great warm welcome from the staff on both visits and was great chatting to them all. This opened in July 2014 and was the first Micropub within the Potteries area, being an antiques shop beforehand. The bar being on the right hand side as you enter with the barrels stored next to the bar in a temperature controlled room.
A cracking range of 5 cask beers available with the board showing whats on next and whats coming soon. A great line up of ciders to add to this list. Love the colourful beer menu over the 2 walls, really adds something to the pub and makes it feel more unique. I went with “Moonage” from Nottingham based Castle Rock Brewery, a crisp and light pale ale.
Ten Green Bottles
Next call is to “Ten Green Bottles”, a very well designed café bar style bar. A large selection of spirits are available alongside the beers. A lovely outdoor seating area which spreads around the back adds extra seating for in the warmer months.
A selection of 10 keg lines to choose from with a selection of different beers on. I went with a beer from Cornish brewery Verdant. “Catch the Colours”, a delicious dry hopped session pale ale with some lovely flavours. I love the old style sink underneath the taps as a drip tray.
The Greyhound
A bit of a walk out of the town centre and on the very edge of town is “The Greyhound”. Another pub operated by Burslem based Titanic Brewery. Another great example. A pub which seems at the heart of the community and seems very popular. Seating at both sides of the central bar inside as well as a lovely seating area to the front of the pub to watch the world pass by,
Up to 9 cask beers on including Titanic’s own beers alongside some guests as well as a selection of keg beers to choose from. I started with “Iceberg” from Titanic Brewery, a refreshing and zesty pale ale. I went onto “Silhouette” from Shrewsbury based Salopian Brewery. Another great Blonde beer.
The Cask Bar
A short walk from The Greyhound heading back towards town brings me to “The Cask Bar” which opened in 2017. A pub which has different seating levels and areas, and also serves a food menu from Wednesday through to Sunday, and the pub arranges numerous day trips out for local customers which is great to see. Was brilliant chatting with the owner whilst in here.
A selection of 5 cask ales on the bar today with “Dark Ruby Mild” from Sarah Hughes Brewery being a permanent line. A great beer and 2 keg lines alongside the cask beers. Today I went with “Doilem”, a very tasty and refreshing hazy pale ale. Was Donald Trumps face on the pump clip that made me go for this one.
hopinn
A short walk to another pub on the edge of town. This pub was built in 1871 and until 2014 was run by Punch Taverns until the pub was purchased from them. A great refurbishment over the 3 rooms and a great small outdoor smoking/seating area to the rear of the pub. This is the sister pub to The Whippet Inn in Wolstanton. Great to chat to Matt in here, and great to see the pub busy.
A brilliant line up of 8 cask beers alongside 4 rotating keg beers and a few other keg options. I decided to go with “Paradise Lost” from Bristol Beer Factory in here, a delicious session IPA using 2 different hops. Managed to bump into friends from Nottingham Beer Festival Dave and Michelle again in here.
The Crows Nest
Back down into town next, calling into “The Crows Nest”. This was formerly Wellers bar which had closed and the new owners have only just opened this at the back end of February 2024. A small pub split over 2 rooms and the place was really busy which is awesome to see for a new opening. Great chatting to the owners behind the bar.
A choice of 3 cask ales on the front bar, a great selection of ciders on a keg feature on the back wall alongside a number of other keg beers and lagers. I went with a beer from Buxton Brewery, something I have not seen on cask for a while. “Deepdale” is a hoppy, light and refreshing pale ale.
Castletown Distillery
A short walk through town to my next calling point which is “Castletown Distillery”. One of the newer bars in town to visit, this one being slightly different as they create their own Gin, Vodka and Rum on the premises and even offer classes to try for yourself. Great chatting to the owner in here, and again great to see bars busy and doing well.
A range of keg beers on, with a number permanent with a couple of rotating guest kegs (one of which had just finished). I went with “Unchained” from Knutsford based Mobberley Brew House. A great delicious session New England IPA. Lots of flavour in this.
Mellards
Last couple of Newcastle-Under-Lyme pubs to finish were done on Sunday afternoon. My first call was to “Mellards”. A beautiful pub which is housed in an old warehouse building. The seating areas are split over 2 levels, the bar and seating on the ground floor plus more seating upstairs. A great modern feel to the place. A large outdoor beer garden for the warmer months as well. Had a great conversation with the manager here.
A great line up of beers in here having 10 keg beer lines alongside 3 cask beers and a cider. A couple of fridges behind the bar full of different cans and bottles as well. I went with “Best” from Birmingham based Three Tuns Brewery. A tasty traditional English Bitter.
Crossways
My next call is to “Crossways”, sister pub to Bottlecraft visited in Hanley. This building opened as a pub as far back at 1790 known as the Compasses until the 1970s when it became Crossways, closing in 2000. It opened in 2007 as a Gentleman’s Club, closing in 2007 and opening in 2021 as Crossways. A great large pub with the seating area winding around the bar. Was great chatting to Rich and Will in here.
A great line up of beers in here having 3 cask ales on and an impressive 12 keg line up. I started on “Magic Mushroom Mild” from Buxton based Whim Ales. A great style of beer that is not seen as often. I went onto “Axis” from Birmingham based Three Tuns Brewery. A delicious citrus pale ale.
Boat & Horses
My last call in Newcastle-Under-Lyme is to the “Boat & Horses”. This pub reopened in November 2019. A very traditional looking pub on entering which seems to be split into a number of different areas around the bar. A beautiful tiled floor in here. Great warm welcome from behind the bar in here.
5 cask ales on the bar, along with a couple of ciders. “Harvest Pale” was my drink of choice from Nottingham based Castle Rock Brewery. Always a good decent pint whenever I have had this before. I can see why this place is popular with its choice of beers for regular customers.
Wolstanton
The Whippet Inn
My first of 3 calls in Wolstanton was to “The Whippet Inn” located in Morris Square. This was opened by couple Richard and Hilary in July 2018, it was great meeting them today. A very busy bar which is great to see. The seating area is in a L shape around the bar with a front and a back room. Love seeing all the pump clips on the wall showing the range of beers they have had on before.
A selection of 5 cask ales ranging in styles, alongside a number of ciders to choose from. A keg beer from SALT Brewery is also available. I started with “Hoppily Ever After” from Nottingham based Magpie Brewery, a very light and drinkable pale ale. I went onto “Higher Orbit” from Marsden based Riverhead Brewery, a fruity and juicy pale ale.
4 Candles
A walk around the corner brings me to the “4 Candles” bar. This opened in December 2022 having being a hardware store in the past. Really interesting to see the bare brick walls around the bar and a very unique sink in the toilets made from a keg. Love seeing items like this in pubs. This place has a good reputation for live music events.
Only one beer available on the bar today, being “Old Speckled Hen” from Greene King Brewery. A very standard pale ale, easy drinking. A Lilleys fruit cider is also available on the bar, alongside other keg lagers and ciders.
The Archer
My last call is a short walk heading back towards Newcastle-Under-Lyme, this being “The Archer”. This is owned by Wiltshire based Hopback Brewery and is their most northern pub. The pub itself is split into 3 different drinking areas and a brilliant outdoor seating area at the front. Looks really good from the outside. Was great talking to the team behind the bar.
A cracking line up of 7 cask beers, some of which were from Hopback Brewery alongside a number of guest beers which is great to see. I went with “Winter Lightning” from Hopback Brewery, I have had the Summer Lightning several times but never the winter version. A delicious lightly spiced beer.
Micropub Adventures 
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