The Woodman, Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent

Traditional corner pub with a striking mural above the entranceway. You enter into the main bar, with a small snug to the side and with the main room continuing up some steps to further drinking areas to the rear, including a small undercover yard. Notably there was a large (although not quite life-size) toy ostrich next to the bar. There were a few customers in, some of whom appeared to be local characters. One was reading the newspaper and drinking a mug of coffee. I didn't really notice him until he came bounding through the bar like a child sporting a pair of Biggles goggles. It takes all sorts! On the bar, Titanic Plum Porter is the regular beer. Guests were Bass, Salopian Oracle & Wincle Bad Bill. Since the last review, the number of handpulls has been reduced to 4, but the pub can be found in the Good Beer Guide. SALT Jute & Wye Valley Nightjar were the pick of the keg choices. With no real cider available anymore, the keg selection was Carling Black Fruit & Stowford Press. I found this to be a nicely decorated pub with friendly service and at least one eccentric character to maintain amusement levels.

The Woodman is a thin pub with a bar counter on the right-hand wall that faces banquettes along the left. At the end of the bar some steps lead up to two more seating areas. Darts is advertised, but I didn’t spot a board so I may have missed a room. There was some background music playing, which was a bit niche, and a few eccentrics were in during a recent late afternoon midweek visit. This pub opens at 14:00 Monday to Thursday. The bar supports a premium keg selection, but the main draw are the ten hand pumps that line the bar. Available cask ales were Burton Bridge’s Damn Dog and Stairway to Heaven, Bishops Castle’s Three Tuns Best and XXX, Mobberley’s 1924, Kraken Porter, Woodman Blonde and Facer’s Flintshire Brewery’s Splendid Ale. There were also two cask cider offerings from Lilley’s. The service was polite. This place is worth a look.

A beautiful pub, with an impressive exterior and a very nice interior. The bar had an impressive line up (see photos), augmented by a few extra beers for a Tiny Rebel tap takeover. The main beer offering on hand pump came from Burton Bridge, Titanic and Flint breweries. I went for the Burton Bridge Bitter, which was very good and made up for the slight disappointment at finding this pub no longer stocking Bass. Date of visit: 2nd September 2022

Facebook page of The Woodman - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Woodman - www.facebook.com

A significant refurb has taken place here and has recreated a traditional pub feel to this large Victorian building.Opposite a 60's shopping centre is being demolished,which surely must be replaced by something better,hopefully allowing views of the Stafforsdshire moorlands in the distance. You enter by an apex door into the tap room with a good light wooden bar ,an impressive bar back and bench seating around the irregular walls.There is a charming carpeted side snug with dark leather bench seating and brittania tables which was a very calm area.Beyond the bar there is a raised section which extends into a back room.I like the way a traditional interior with different sections has been restored.Sadly the muzak was rather loud. There are 10 handpumps offering two Lilly's real ciders,Bass,Rudyard Ruby Premium,Wye Valley Butty Bach,Burton Bridge Stairway to Heaven,Burton Town Thom Cat,Dancing Duck Ay Up (cloudy,a bit tired yet drinkable) with another pump with beer settling. Money has been spent here and it's all very clean and tidy.The ale selection isn't the strongest in Hanley but it's worth including on a crawl.