STAFFORD AND STONE BRANCH

PUB OF THE MONTH

STAFFORD ARMS, STAFFORD

A pub of the month certificate was recently presented to the Stafford Arms, the only pub in the CAMRA Stafford and Stone branch area to have twice, in 1994 and 1996, gained the prestigious Pub of the Year award, writes Paul Mudge.

Since being taken over by Titanic Inns in December 1993, the Stafford Arms has stocked a superb range of cask conditioned beers, with ten, all in excellent condition, on sale at any time.

Four guest beers from other independent brewers supplement the full Titanic range - Best Bitter, Lifeboat, Premium, Stout, White Star, Captain Smith's and, in winter, Wreckage.

Twice a year beer festivals are held at the Stafford Arms, with about forty beers available during the weekend, and live entertainment in the evenings. The 1999 beer festivals are scheduled for 10th to 13th June and 26th to 30th August.

Straightforward, sensibly priced meals are available from noon to 2pm, except Sunday, and between 5pm and 8pm from Monday to Friday.

Pub games include bar billiards.

The accommodation now provided at the Stafford Arms is proving very popular. There are 6ften discounts for. CAMRA members, such as an evening meal, pint of Best Bitter, bed and breakfast for £20 on a Friday night.

Ian Casson has managed the Railway Street pub since November, and it is a favourite haunt not only of many Staffordians, but also of rail travellers taking advantage of the pub's situation opposite Stafford railway station.

The Stafford Arms is open all day from noon onwards, except Sundays when it closes between 4pm and 7pm.