The Albert, Newcastle - Excellent corner local run by friendly tenants, attracting all ages, one small bar and a meeting room behind.

Blue Bell, Hardingswood, Kidsgrove - Genuine free house; tour small rooms in a canalside location. Beers change rapidly - over 200 in 12 months. Always a cider, a perry and more than 20 Belgian bottles in stock. No TV, juke box, pool or bandits.

Blue Mugge, Leek - Corner local with several rooms (including an attractive lounge) radiating off an island bar, much larger than it appears from the outside. Ever changing guest beers. No food Sunday.

Butcher's Arms, Reapsmoor - Characterful moorland gem, approached down lovely roads. Stone built, its three drinking areas, dining and games/family room is furnished in an old family style. Excellent value food on a varied menu (not served Wed. eve).

Coachmaker's Arms, Hanley - Victorian mid-terrace pub comprising a tiny bar, lounge, snug and a rare drinking corridor. This unpretentious drinker's pub remains largely unaltered, a Potteries gem.

Corky's, Stoke - Large open-plan pub, but retaining two distinct areas, the right-hand side can be full of diners sampling the excellent Thai cuisine (no meals Tue). Another room contains two full-size snooker tables.

Cushion, Kidsgrove - Small well refurbished pub, now a free house. One bar, but gives the impression of two rooms, and offers a remarkably rural outlook for a town pub. Experienced local owners involve this popular pub in community affairs.

Den Engel, Leek - Authentic, single room Belgian-style bar, with waiter service. Huge windows make for bright sunny lunchtimes. A large range of draught and bottled beers, always served in the correct glass, plus a range of Genevers. A Flemish restaurant upstairs offers beer-based specialties (Wed-Sun).

Duke of Wellington, Blythe Bridge - A warm, friendly welcome is assured in this Victorian village pub. It attracts a good cross-section of people of all ages. Good food, ideal for business lunches, plus a carvery Sun. lunch (booking advised), No meals Sun eve.

Golden Cup, Hanley - Friendly local beer house - the last in Hanley to obtain a liquor licence - boasting splendid bar fittings. The ornate Edwardian exterior proudly proclaims "Bass Only". With a thriving pensioners club, it was voted Potteries Pub Preservation Group's "Community Pub of the Year", in 1998.

Gray's Corner, Stoke - Comfortable corner local on two levels serving excellent lunches. It has a particularly fine outside patio area.

Hogshead, Hanley - Large, city centre house with 10 handpumped and a couple of gravity beers, plus Belgian bottleds. Food is served 11(12 Sun.) -7.30 Mon-Sat.

Ironmarket, Hogshead, Newcastle - Well-run Hogshead Alehouse, offering the widest selection of beers in town. It can get extremely busy Fri and Sat eves. Open 10am for breakfast (served through until 7pm), eve meals end 7.45 Mon-Sat, no food Sun. eve. CAMRA Potteries Pub of the Year 1998.

Malt 'n' Hops, Fenton - Excellent example of a true free house - one of very few in the city. Two house beers are complemented by an ever-changing range of four guests, normally from small independents, also Belgian beers available.

Marquis of Granby, Penkhull - Red-brick, corner pub, opposite the church, a large, comfortable lounge and a busy public bar boasting fine etched windows. Table skittles played. A well-kept garden and outdoor drinking area complete the picture.

Old House at Home, Hartshill - Popular, two-roomed main road pub; a comfortable lounge and a basic but very friendly public bar with an emphasis on pub games (including Conkers!) and quizzes.

Pack Horse Inn, Longport - Ancient canalside pub, with a stable block to the rear, comprising a single room with a dining area, offering excellent value meals.

Paradise Inn, Tunstall - Popular town centre local.

The Plough Inn, Bignall End - Popular roadside hostelry, catering for local and passing trade in a traditional bar and a split-level lounge. The beer enthusiast landlord ensures constantly changing guest beers. Excellent value meals (not served Sun eve) 1995 Pub of the Year.

The Plough, Etruria - Popular friendly pub where the excellent food is all home-cooked. Can get busy with diners evenings.

Robin Hood, Ashley - Traditional pub with oak beams, open fire and a friendly clientele. An authentic Thai restaurant is open Wed-Sat.

Royal Oak, Harriseahead - Busy genuine free house in a semi rural location on the Kidsgrove side of Mow Cop folly (NT). A smallish bar and larger lounge cater for all ages. The background music is difficult to hear above the conversation.

The Vine, Burslem - 1930s pub converted from a few small rooms to one medium sized lounge, but it retains a local pub atmosphere.

White Hart, Tunstall - Friendly drinker's pub where quality is preferred to variety. It hosts occasional Karaoke (Sat).

White Swan, Middleport - Popular friendly free house, though regrettably no longer serving Vaux beers (a rare brew for Stoke on Trent).

Wilkes Head, Leek - Whim brewery tied house: three rooms where lively conversation is the norm. It regularly changes guest beers and ciders, and has an eclectic choice of music on the juke-box. No main meals, but a fine selection of Hartington cheeses. Note the Spanish style garden.

Ye Olde Smithy, Newcastle - Recently renovated and has a new lease of life as a free house: a lounge, large public bar at the back and a small games room. Situated just out of the town centre, it is convenient for the New Victoria Theatre. No meals Wed or Sun.

Yew Tree, Cauldon Low - Over 300 years old, this pub certainly has plenty of character and artefacts, including polyphons, pianolas and grandfather clocks, also a patent Acme Dog Carrier! Well worth a visit. Snacks available.

ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE

Front Page Pub of the Month Pints of View Potteries Pub Preservation Group Belgium in a Bottle

'BEER' Pub News Titanic News Other Items

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