The Blue Bell, Hardingswood, Kidsgrove, has been overwhelmingly elected CAMRA (Potteries Branch) Pub of the Year by the local membership. A full report of this genuine free house will appear in the next edition of Potters Bar.

The Coach & Horses, Oldcourt St, Tunstall has a new lease of life. After being closed for six months, it reopened in December last year under the ownership of Paramount Leisure, with licensees Harry and Joyce Tulip. Formerly of the Wheatsheaf, Tunstall, Harry wants to run the Coach as a traditional real ale pub, and at present is selling Bass, Worthington bitter and one guest ale each month.

There are four dominoes teams, two ladies' and two men's darts teams, and two quiz teams. Hours: 11 - 11 Monday to Saturday, and 12-10.30 Sunday.

The Crown Inn, Horton, is yet another village pub to have closed to become a private house.

Ruth Mawson is the new landlady of the Old Swan, Stoke.

Another addition to the Tunstall scene is the newly refurbished Cottage, at the junction of Nash Peake St and Chatterley Rd. Dating from 1875, this fine building bas been decorated and furnished to a high standard, including an excellent function meeting room upstairs, for which no charge is made. Licensee Sharon Cole tells us that the Cottage is a free house, which has not yet settled on a particular beer range. On our visit there was Tetley bitter (£1.30), Morland Old Speckled Hen (£1.45) and guest Greene King Triumph (£1.50), and since then Titanic Premium has been on. It is good to have a new outlet for the expanding Titanic range locally. Other guests will come from the Tapster's Choice list of 16 beers from 15 breweries. Food is available all day from 12-9, and with specials at only £1.99, it's hardly worth doing the washing up at home! Tel. 251691

Grays Corner, Hartshill Rd, Stoke, is showing that traditional pubs can fight back against the big beer halls. This splendid pub is offering Banks's Original mild at £1.10 and Marston's Pedigree and Taylor's Landlord at £1.65. At lunchtime, the food is excellent value, and can be enjoyed in the pleasant beer garden.

The Malt 'n' Hops, Fenton, now sells the excellent Highgate and Walsall Dark Mild as a regular beer.

The Crown Inn, Rushton Spencer has been closed, de-licensed, and is to be a private dwelling.

The Newtown, Fenton, has reopened and has a choice of three Real Ales. Morland Old Speckled Hen, Courage Directors and Worthington Bitter have been available, and Ruddles' County will be on by popular demand! Following a quality refurbishment, this hostelry of former doubtful reputation is now a respectable establishment with a developing food menu.

Yet another new cafe' bar will open shortly in Newcastle at 38 Ironmarket. This establishment will be named Limes Cafe' Bar, and is on the site of the former Browning's chemist shop.

After a brief period as "Sherberts", The Swan with Two Necks at Blackbrook has had its name restored. For many years, until the 1970s, his hostelry displayed no name sign due to Maer Hall landowner, Miss Harrison, not wishing to acknowledge a pub on her estate. Now, owners Whitbread appear to have a fixation of renaming venerable old inns after items from a nursery. Here's hoping the Ash Bank Hotel can shake off its present "Jinks" tag as well.

Andy (Topsy) Topham and Julie are leaving the Paramount owned King's Shilling in Silverdale Road, Newcastle, after establishing a thriving Real Ale 'tavern' there. There is no news of what fate awaits this pub, which presently has a military theme due to Andy's links with the forces. It is believed that the present unlimited range of Real Ales may become somewhat restricted.

CAMRA (Potteries Branch) wish to express their sincere thanks to Keith and Barbara of the Pack Horse, Longport, for their support of the 19th Stoke Beer Festival. The Pack Horse has an excellent range of cask beers, and will be open when the festival closes in the afternoon. It is only 5 minutes walk from Longport station.

Ray Ford, CAMRA stalwart, and founder member of the Potteries Branch, has died suddenly, aged 76. Though less active in CAMRA circles in recent years, Ray always helped out for a couple of sessions at the Stoke Beer Festival.

This year, he will be sadly missed

Stoke Beer Festival Pub of the Month Pints of View Potteries Pub Preservation Group Titanic News Belgium in a Bottle Other Articles

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