Long gone are the days when a pub was just a pub. The ever increasing rate of changes to pubs, or their names, is evident from a look at Stafford during 1998.

Last winter saw refurbishment work carried out at the SHREWSBURY ARMS and since the spring the Pitcher Bank pub has sold Wadsworth's 6X.

The RAILWAY INN, Castle Street, was sensitively refurbished in June, and now sells three or four Real Ales including a guest beer.

It is nice when pubs revert to their original name, but rarely does this take 160 years for this to happen. The SPITTAL BROOK INN opened in the hamlet of Spittal Brook early last century and changed its name to the CROWN in 1838 when the district became Queensville to commemorate Queen Victoria's coronation. In early July owners Pubmaster restored the Spittal Brook name to the pub. Once supplied by Buntings of Uttoxeter, it now sells Marston's Pedigree, Tetley's Bitter and Boddington's Bitter.

The BEAR in Greengate Street was reopened by Banks's as a Tap House on 17th September after several weeks of refurbishment work. What is thought to be Stafford's oldest pub was severely modernised over twenty years ago and the recent conversion has re-introduced a traditional feel to the town centre pub. Banks's, Cameron's, Tap House Bitter and Marston's Pedigree are sold, but unfortunately there is no sign of the guest beers which are on sale in other Tap Houses.

The HOGSHEAD in Earl Street opened on 26th October. Having used much of the ground floor of the former County Education offices, it is one of the town's largest pubs and has forty tables. Several Real Ales are on offer, some from regional brewers, but others, such as Boddington's Bitter, come from owners Whitbread.

The ANTELOPE reopened on 20th November with Scottish and Newcastle having devastated the Stone Road pub's original layout. Sanderson's livery attempts to disguise the pub's ownership by Britain's largest brewer.