The Coachmakers Arms, Stoke-On-Trent

A great traditional pub with 4 separate drinking rooms that are free of Sky sports and fruit machines and where the dying art of conversation rules.On my visit there were 4 real ales on with more about to come on.Very friendly locals who are very sad that this pub is going to be demolished to make way for a (yet another)shopping centre.That's the bad news.The good news is that the developers have run out of money so it has another 3 years of life.If you like a truly traditional pub then do not miss this one.

A small cottage style terrace pub in creamy render and black paintwork. I had visited this place before, some several years back after giving a talk to the Friends of the Potteries Museum and found i recognised it at once - it hadn't changed. The interior is a nesting of four little rooms, with the front room, where we managed to get a seat, being in white, with wood seating. Decoration was supplied by the beermats all over the ceiling and walls, with some photos and prints distracting from them! There was a nice iron fireplace and some great tiling in the corridor, where there was a serving hatch. A petition was floating to help save it from demolition, as the Council want to build a wall - insane, or what? this is a class little traditional boozer. The service was friendly, considering a coach party swelled the ranks and the locals were friendly, chatting about the pub and its fate. Beer; some tap stuff, with around 8 real ales on handpull. I couldn't get closed enough to list them - a too be honest, i didn't care about you lot reading this when i saw Hobson's MILD was on - it was great, as was the O'Hanlons Stout. A gem - heed me and use it, oh! people of Hanley. I will be back.