ONE PUB ONLY? Museum CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND? Taxi to The Old Brown Jug, then the Museum and the Greyhound. The ground is miles away SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT? Malt 'n Hops                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Greyhound Address: George Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs ST5 1JT Tel: 01782 635814 W www.titanicbrewery.co.uk Guv’nor: Lee Farrington Food: soup, sandwiches, daily oatcake special Parking: street TV: none Music: jukebox Pub games: no Disabled access: ‘ambulant’ – no wheelchairs Open: 12-11.30 Sun - Tue  12- 12 Wed and Thu, 12-12.30 Fri and Sat           Rightly recommended by Bob of the Bull’s Head, Burslem (see Port Vale), this is another Titanic Brewery pub, only opened in its new guise in Autumn 2007. The Greyhound is on the Stoke to Newcastle road close to the Museum with the Jolly Potter on the way down to Stoke, its station and the Britannia Stadium. It is on major bus routes to the main shopping centre of Hanley. The pub benefits from a complete lack of a history of smoking, though the pursuit is well afforded in the nest of tables in front of the pub. It was realistic to choose a pale tone for the ceilings, initially an unfamiliar phenomenon. Everards and Titanic (Steerage and Iceberg) beers are permanently represented, as is Crow Valley, to wash down marvellous Staffordshire oatcakes, the special on this visit being Captain Smith’s – sausage and cheese. This fresh, bright u-shaped hostelry comprises a spacious ‘l’, with a separate snug at the bottom, suitable for quiet chats and meetings. Martin had management experience at the Bull’s Head and this is some promotion in a busy area with many and varied pubs. It serves a wide public, especially for real ale which dominates the place. Also prominent is the decoration themes on each wall, which could well pass the time to absorb: Titanic, (the story of the dead boat), local photos, always interesting in a diverse and changing area like this, and drinking memorabilia. It’s strangely easy to miss the Greyhound as it’s set back from the roads which join right outside. Seek it out. BWV 12.10.07: Titanic Steerage, Iceberg, Stout; Everards Tiger; Crow Valley Bitter, White Star; Mauldons Black Adder Mick Escott           The full Titanic range again, including the Chocolate & Vanilla Stout. If this is the last pint I ever have I will die a happy man. If you ever see it anywhere I urge you to try it. So good I tried it twice! Graham Privett                                                Jolly Potter Guv’nor: Pauline Bowker 296 Hartshill Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, ST4 7NH Tel:01782 845254 Food times: 12-2 daily; 5-8 Mon-Sat Smoking: shelter to be built from garden Parking: street parking TV: terrestrial (freeview) Music: jukebox, karaoke Pub games: quiz Disabled: flat front entrance Opening times: 12-12 Mon-Thu; 12-12.30am Fri, Sat; 12-11 Sun            On the trail over from Newcastle to Stoke, most likely by car, this is the closest pub to Stoke-upon-Trent, on the way to the Britannia Stadium, which lies a hop further south in Fenton. Entering from the busy A52 you are encouraged to choose the left hand room as the window carries the legend ‘Victoria Ground Bar’. Ah! Those were the days when the Jolly Potter was almost a local; when Stoke City was in Stoke, the town. Now you can go back in time perusing the Potters photos on the wall. And to get you up to date there a current Britannia boys calendar was on display. For your next pint try out the snug or lounge or ‘Teachers’, named after regular visits from exponents of that worthy profession. Meanwhile the Paranormal Club uses it from time to time. The regional hospital (North Staffs) is a short distance away, medics from there dropping in for a winding down session; also students, perchance. It is adjacent to a residential area: locals of all ages use it. The garden is worth a sojourn, with views to the spine of the Potteries. Home supporters like the pub after a game and away fans are welcome. Pauline’s family run it, including Ivan, who pulled me some lovely fresh Landlord. Not having been in residence for long, they enjoy a promising relationship with Punch Taverns’ area manager and hope to introduce food and a guest beer. It suggests a successful future with improvements both inside and out, including a better pub sign. I recommend including it with some of the other taverns up the road, e.g. the Old House at Home, the Greyhound and the Museum. BWV 19.4.07:  Bass, Charles Wells Bombardier, Timothy Taylor Landlord Mick Escott Malt N’ Hops 295 King St.  ST4 3EJ  T 01782 313406 G Scott Turner   F Sandwiches from 12   SP   SK   BM O 12 to 4, 7 to 11.            The bar slogan below the bar says “If you want to stay longer, come early.” This is good advice for this simple, honest, street boozer that offers beers from the Tower stable under their own house label. This is the closest decent pub to the Britannia but not on the obvious trail over the myriad of sky walks. Amidst the ever-declining factory workshops “this pub gives glimpses of the reality of Potteries life.” My visit found the locals in the smaller TV bar, ready for the horse-racing and beer session. The range of forthcoming beers on the chalk board showed that there is a real demand for quality alternatives to national chain ales. To complement this list are masses of rarer bottled ales and the option of hand - pull or from the wood. It will be busy on matchdays, yet has ample room as the rear lounge offers extra room, and the welcome is guaranteed to be good. This is a damn good boozer. UPDATE: An impressive list of European beers is added to by the 7 or 8 ever-changing guest ales. BWV 10.3.05:  Archers Special,  Beowulf Mercian Slave,  Greene King Abbot,  Malt n’ Hops Dark  Bursley Bitter, Mild,  Tower Tower of Strength,  Weetwood Ambush BWV 2.11.05:  Acorn Barnsley Gold,  Caledonian Edinburgh Strong Ale,  Cottage GWR,  Fuller’s ESB,  Greene King Abbot,  Malt n’ Hops Bursley Bitter, Dark Mild Museum 24 George St.  Newcastle Under Lyme,  ST5 1JU T 01782 623866  Guv’nor: Steve Adnam F LIght snacks from 12   SP TV BM P O 12 to 11 Mon. to Sat, 12 to 10.30 Sun.            I instantly fell for the simple charms of this must-not-miss pub in the Potteries. The place was busy, early evening with groups of regulars that made it somewhere to remember. The professionals in their suits congregated in the right hand bar, the educated artisans found their regular spaces in the cosy and comfortable public bar. This pub has an obvious self-regulating nature brought about by the love of considered conversation and quality ale. Judging by the conversation regarding their footie teams, the punters are not always locals. This is a hostelry for cigars as well as ciggies, for beer rather than brawn, for conversation not idle chat. It is a great pub, no doubt. On my visit the footie match on the TV was almost incidental to the serious supping. Once the game was over little changed, apart that the beer choices kept changing as others punters arrived to get settled into what appeared to be a regular and easy-going real ale fest. Stedders Guides 2006 - 07 UPDATE The Museum is lovingly still the same. The Museum Brew is from Tower!            Just inside the Newcastle-under-Lyme border, this is a busy corner pub attracting a wide clientele, from builders on a break to pre-prandial restaurant customers. Stephanie looked good in her bar uniform aping the Potters’ team colours: red shirts, white shorts. Indeed Steve, in charge since summer 2006 when refurbishment was undertaken, seems a mite obsessive in his obeisance to the club. Local history is represented on the lounge walls by late lamented Joule’s Brewery memorabilia, and of the Museum in times of yore, but pride of place goes to Stoke City – everywhere. Right up to date Karen, a nutritionist, has introduced a good food selection and sunflower seeds to peck at. Yum, so good with the Tiger! The Mordue was the guest beer, a different one every week. I could also have chosen from the six malt whiskies on offer. For £3 you are offered transport to the Britannia (or Vale Park, but no one’s taken that up yet). There is a link ferry wise with the Old House at Home, nearby, Steve’s previous house. Other signage is also in evidence: one a warning to drug users and ‘This way to the patio area’, which can now be seen from the pavement outside and has a tent for smokers incorporated. Back inside, after your post match quaff on Saturday night stay on for music, listed in the Music Gig Guide. I just missed Dave Ellis Blues. The bar offers 3 plasma screens presenting simultaneous different games, to maximize thrill potential perhaps? Stanley Matthews looks on from the wall. Mick Escott BWV 10.3.05:  Bass Draught,  Elgood’s Old Wagg,  Holden's Thigh Bones,  Worthington’s Bitter,  Biddenden's Cider BWV 2.12.05:  Holden’s Golden Glow,  Museum Brewing Co. Joules Bitter,  Shepherd Neame Spitfire,  Worthington’s Bitter BWV:  19.4.07 (ME) Everard Tiger, Marston Pedigree, Bass, Worthington, Mordue Radgie Gadgie Old Brown Jug 41 Bridge St. ST5 2RY T 07751 964815 G Nigel and Louise Woolliscroft F Home- cooked, freshly prepared English cuisine from 12 CP JB D O 3 - 11.30 Mon 3 -12 Tue - Thu 12 - 1 Fri. and Sat. 12 to 12 Sun.           This pub lies near the A34 ring road, a quick spurt from the Britannia Stadium. It’s therefore convenient in car bound footy terms. It’s also at the back end of Newcastle-under-Lyme and identifies strongly with the local fraternity of teachers and students, not much at all to do with Potteries life (Keele University being a short journey away). It has a live music tradition which continues after many generations of jazz and blues, during the Sunday lunchtime session largely for its older clientele and Irish or folk the same evening which all ages attend. It’s a well known real ale boozer whose patrons contribute to future beer decisions. About 90% are regulars – they don’t favour mild. Pedigree is omnipresent and supplied by the kilderkin. The rest are bought in 9’s. There is also a cider and perry list, comprising 13 varieties of which Old Rosie (7.3%, and Bridge Street is on a slope) and Thatchers Katy on draught along with Herefordshire County Perry.           The layout is a square with substantial central pillar. The walls, a deep ruby red, sport mountd black and white photos of jazz legends. To help the uninitiated, while waiting your turn in the queue at the bar, there is a family tree to mull over: ‘Highlights of the Jazz Story in USA’. There are no pubs games or TV except for the World Cup. Maralyn, behind the bar for 18 years already, told me about the plans for a smoking room to be built in the garden, the site of the beer festival, each March, and fortunately one of the largest around, as it would still leave plenty of space for customers to quaff and sun themselves.  It’s a good place inside and out. BWV 10.3.05:  Brains Rev James, Marston’s Pedigree, Old Empire,  Weston's Old Rosie Cider, Bounds Brand Cider BWV 2.12.05:  Jennings Cocker Hoop, Cumberland Ale, Snecklifter,  Marston’s Owd Roger, Pedigree, Weston’s Scrumpy BWV 3/2/07:  Marston’s Pedigree, Smiles Best, Riding Bitter, Empire Bitter, Jennings Bitter Mick Escott         Firstly, we had great difficulty finding the place, but once we did we were duly rewarded. If you have any cider drinkers in your party, you simply have to get to the Old Brown Jug. It had the most extensive range of real ciders I have seen north of Bristol. Lots of Westons including County Perry, Bounds Brand (excellent & fairly safe at 4.8%), Old Rosie & Vintage Organic, not to mention a good range of bottles as well. The ale included 2 from Jennings (Tom Fool & Sneck Lifter - a personal favourite of mine & well kept), Marston's Pedegree, Breakspeare's Oxford Gold & 2 from Ringwood (Best & Old Thumper). A Titanic free zone, which is probably no bad thing if you are touring a few. Graham Privett White Star 63 Kingsway, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST4 1JB T 01782 848732 W: www.titanicbrewery.co.uk   Licensee: Pam Rowlands Food: 12 - 2.30 everyday with raosts on Sundays. There is a special menu on when Stoke play at home which includes regular favourites such as lobby, Titanic sausage & mash, burger - all made on the premises. Parking: neighbouring car park TV: no Music: background, acoustic evening Wednesdays Pub games: pool, chess, backgammon tables, Disabled: top door in bar Smoking: front of pub Open: 11-11 Mon to Thu, 11-12pm Fri and Sat, 12-11 Sun Taxi: Stokelink 01782 844344 Bus: Shuttle service from beside Stoke parish church across the car park from the pub to the stadium. £3 (£2) in 2008-09           This makes up four in the ever-burgeoning Titanic (Burslem) empire and three are in this guide. This one is in the town of Stoke-upon-Trent, one of the Potteries six, and the one which spawned the sadly-missed Victoria Ground, just down the road from what is now the White Star (formerly Kingsway, after the address in the middle of the town and before that the Gordon Hotel, when this was a more vibrant area). A most appealing facility is the bus stop by the church over the adjacent car park. It offers an efficient quick return to the Britannia Stadium, this avoiding the thankless trudge to the ground (2.24 miles per Routefinder), and affording the duration of at least one more pint in this excellent addition to the portfolio of Stoke taverns. Very much a home supporters’ venue, unless you’re discreet, and this IS a friendly place, it bursts at the seams on matchday. Landlady Pam used to run the Greyhound in Penkhull for ten years. The Southern Supporters Club, on day trips from the capital, have followed her here. There is a champagne offer – Vollereaux on this visit at £25 per bottle, for those home victory celebrations later on. Also regular beer festivals are held, e.g. at Easter, but consult the website. Something quirkily welcome was the forthcoming Titanic last dinner on 14 April, harking back to that dread happening in 1912.           Pub games are encouraged, assisted by lack of TV, and advertised on a  prominent blackboard. You might choose some backgammon or scrabble, chess, dominoes or cribbage. There is also a book exchange system. During the week this multi-spaced pub hosts council workers and shoppers. It’s a local, as was evident when I returned off peak on Sunday. Families were very much in evidence before the Saturday game, too. Highly recommended to try out and stay for a while, there’s so much to choose from. And pay a return visit. BWV 21/2/09: Always Titanic Steerage, Iceberg, Anchor, White Star; Everards Tiger Guest Titanic Port, Starboard, Wentworth WPA, Greene King Morland Original. Mick Escott  23/3/09 Pam has updated us with the following info:- Email address is white.star@live.co.uk We also have a Facebook page - The White Star -- on which you can find all our activities and what beers are on that week.  We always have 10 guest beers and will have another 10 for our next beer fest which includes the last Stoke home match (1st May) I think thats it except to say that all Stokies are welcome and we especially like families as it makes a friendly and safe atmosphere for all to enjoy. PHOTO TAKEN FROM WEBSITE POTTERIES CAMRA BRITANNIA STADIUM  LOCAL BREWERY Slater's Ales St Albans Road Common Road Industrial Estate  Stafford ST16 3DR www.slatersales.co.uk WETHERSPOONS The Wheatsheaf  84-92 Church Street  Stoke-on-Trent  ST4 1BU  Opening Times:  Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am