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My day on Saturday starts in Burslem just outside Hanley visiting “The Bulls Head” and “Bursley Ale House”, before heading back into Hanley visiting “The Unicorn Inn” and “Bottlecraft”. Over to Stoke to visit “Glebe”, “Bru”, “The Sutherland Arms” and “London Road Ale House”. A big uphill walk to Penkhull to “Manor Court Ale House” before finishing in Hartshill with “Sanctuary” and “Artisan Tap”. Sundays visit was to the impressive “The Holy Inadequate” pub and brewery tap.
Burslem
The Bulls Head
My first call of the day after jumping on the number 3 bus from Hanley Bus Station is to “The Bulls Head” in Burslem. This pub acts as Titanic Brewery’s Tap and was the first pub that they opened. The pub itself is thought to have been built around 1832, and Titanic Brewery running the pub for over 30 years. A great central bar with a room either side and a large outdoor seating area at the back of the pub.
A great line up of 9 cask beers, most been from Titanic Brewery alongside a few guest beers. 4 keg beers are also available in a few different styles. I went with “White Star”, a delicious Blonde Beer named after the company that owned the Titanic. Love these names of the beers.
Hog Noggins and Johnys Micro Pub
Both these did not open until later, but if you get there when they are open they both serve a range of real ale. Ill hopefully get back and visit them soon.
Bursley Ale House
My second call in Burslem is the “Bursley Ale House”. A beautiful building which has a great outdoor seating area at the front. On entering it is split into 2 floors, the bar being on the ground floor. Great to see another cellar next to the bar, being a temperature controlled cabinet containing the beers. Looks really good in pubs.
3 cask beers on the bar today alongside a couple of ciders, and keg lagers. I went with “JHB – Jeffrey Hudson Bitter” from Oakham Brewery. A delicious easy drinking traditional English Bitter. Good beers as always from Oakham Brewery.
A jump on bus number 3 back down into Hanley Bus Station for my next couple of visits.
The Unicorn Inn
My first call in Hanley is to “The Unicorn Inn”, located opposite the Regent Theatre. One of the nicest traditional pubs that I have been into, Mock Tudor fake beams and half-timbering on the walls looks brilliant. A beautiful copper topped bar counter as well as the red upholstery add to the great character of this pub.
A choice of 4 cask beers as well as a cider on the bar, alongside a number of keg lagers and ciders. I went with one of my local beers “White Rat” from Ossett Brewery. A delicious hoppy pale ale. Managed to get a seat in the small backyard seating area in the sun to enjoy my drink.
Bottlecraft
Over the road from The Unicorn Inn is “Bottlecraft”. A fabulous craft beer bar. Was great chatting to Nile behind the bar. A large indoor seating area downstairs with more seating upstairs. Unsurprisingly outside at the front was busy with the sun being out for a change. They were hosting an event with Shiny Brewing called “The Easter Keg Hunt”, at various venues over the UK where you got a prize for each beer you had. Keyrings, Badges, Stickers and more with a glass if you had them all. #ShinyEasterKegHunt will show up some photos from around the country.
10 keg lines on today alongside a cask beer from Manchester based Sureshot Brewery. I started with “Bring Ya Jukebox Money” from Shiny Brewery, a delicious and interesting cherry and chocolate sour beer. I then went onto “Vortex”, a tasty and easy drinking Nitro stout.
The Glebe
A bus out from Hanley Bus Station again, this time to “The Glebe”. The number 23 bus runs directly past the pub. A beautiful pub owned by Joules Brewery. A beautifully restored corner tavern. The stained glass windows around the pub are stunning. Wooden panelling around the pub and a great open fire. A range of food selections are available and a great deli counter for cheeseboards and more.
A choice of 4 cask beers on here, 3 being their standard range with a seasonal beer on the bar at the other side. “Slumbering Monk” for me, a great tasty traditional English Bitter.
Bru
A short 5 minute walk brings me to “Bru”. A small bar that opened in October 2019 having being converted from a cobblers shop. A main room as you walk in with the bar on the right, with another small room on a raised level further back. A really nicely decorated bar with the wooden panels including door/drawer fronts from furniture.
A selection of keg beers on the bar, I chose to go with “Grand Central APA” from Manchester based Hydes Brewery. A delicious 6 hop hazy IPA, very tasty beer.
The Sutherland Arms
Heading further down London Road brings me to “The Sutherland Arms”. A lovely corner freehouse which has been run by CAMRA award winning licensees since October 2020 with them having brought real ale back into the pub. A really nicely decorated pub which looks very traditional and some lovely seating areas. The outside area at the back looks really good as well.
A choice of 3 cask ales on the bar in here, a house beer brewed by Facers as well as another from them alongside Bass. I went with the house beer “Sutherland Blonde”, brewed by Flintshire based Facers Brewery. A really light pale ale.
London Road Ale House
Another short walk along London Road brings me to “London Road Ale House”. This originally opened in December 2015 with the new owners who were great to chat to only 4 months ago. A great single room pub with lots of character around with different styles of seating with some looking out of the window, games machines and more. The new owners introduced Thai food as well (available to takeaway also). I was given a Thai Green Curry to try during my visit, which was excellent and tasted really good.
A fabulous selection of beers on here, with a choice of 6 cask ales, 6 keg beers and a great choice of ciders. I started with “Frassasi” from Nottingham based Hollow Stone Brewing Co. A delicious Blood Red Orange IPA. I went onto trying “People, Money, Space, Time” from Cornish based Verdant Brewery, a great hazy pale IPA. I finished with “If I Were a Song” from Manchester based Cloudwater Brewery. A bold and juicy hazy IPA.
Manor Court Ale House
A huge hill to walk up into Penkhull for my next visit to “Manor Court Ale House”. This opened in December 2017 and is owned by the same owners at Johny’s in Burslem. It was formerly a Newsagents. Very deceiving as you walk in as the place is one long narrow building extending back a lot further past the bar. Looks to be a really popular bar with the locals.
A choice of 2 cask beers on the bar alongside a selection of your normal lagers and ciders. I went with “Nice Weather 4 Ducks” from Derby based Dancing Duck Brewery. A fruity summer ale full of flavour. Enjoyed this sat at the front in the sun.
Sanctuary
Either around a 25 minute walk (or grab a taxi) to my next call in Hartshill which is to “Sanctuary”. This was opened in August 2016 by a husband and wife team, previously being a café. Was great chatting to them at the bar today. A fantastic seating area which is decorated with lots of bric-a-brac and other items, with a unique mix of seating. Very quirky.
Some great choices on the bar, with 2 cask beers alongside a number of keg options to choose from. I went with “Hoppings”, which is a brew by Stone based Lymestone Brewery which the Sanctuary add extra hops to. Really great beer with Cascade and Chinook hops.
Artisan Tap
A couple of minutes walk down the road brings me to “Artisan Tap”. This has the first impression of being a cellar bar without actually being downstairs which is great. Some quirky and different seating areas both inside and outside. A really great sign at the entrance as well.
A line up of 4 cask beers on the front bar, complimented by a choice of 5 keg beers and ciders. I went with “Kodiak” from Congleton based Beartown Brewery. Kodiak is their flagship pale. A really great session pale ale.
From here you can walk to The Greyhound at Newcastle-Under-Lyme (which is included on a separate blog post from the weekend).
Etruria
The Holy Inadequate
My Sunday morning takes me over to Etruria which is between Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-Under-Lyme. Buses 4 and 4a run past. “The Holy Inadequate” is a superb freehouse that also has its own brewery on site. A stunning bar inside with a great fire, a fantastic wooden bar and some great pictures and other items around the bar. A great large outdoor seating area as well as a couple of rooms inside.
Was nice meeting Paul who brews the beers who showed me around the recently moved brewery. Its great to see someone brewing a wide variety of styles of beer to be served in the pub. Makes somewhere more of a “go to” place as they offer something different that you cant get elsewhere.
A great line up of 9 cask beers with 5 being brewed on site, alongside guests, and a choice of 7 keg beers and a number of ciders. Tried a few of their own beers in here, starting with “Etruscan Dark Mild” a delicious Dark Mild beer, one of my favourite styles. I went onto “Tickety Boo” a lovely smooth American IPA. I finished off with “Citra Pale Ale”, a beautiful Citra hopped pale ale. Some great beers on here and well worth the trip out.
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