The Roebuck, Leek

Official site of Roebuck Hotel - www.titanicbrewery.co.uk

Official site of Roebuck Hotel - www.titanicbrewery.co.uk

This looks like a very old building and it also looks genuinely old inside. As you enter the bar is in front and the wooden floored room extends down past it. On the right there is a huge old fireplace while to the left is a carpeted room with low tables and chairs. I could see no fruit machines or TV screens and there was no radio, jukebox or muzak of any description. The bar has 10 hand pumps and all were clipped with six Titanic beers, Everard's Tiger, Signature Brew Backstage IPA, Kite Thunderbird and Ilkley Bike Rye'd. Prices ranged from £2.80 to £3.30. I went for the Titanic Blackberry Porter (£3.20) and the Backstage IPA (£3.30) both of which were excellent. I said to the barman that it was ironic that I had come all the way from London to find a beer from a brewery based a few miles from where I live and he explained that one of the Signature people is the Titanic brewer's son. This is a superb pub and gets a strong 9 from me.

The Roebuck Hotel is a traditional, imposing black and white timbered building dating back to the 17th century in the centre of Leek. Inside, the building has been sympathetically refurbished by Titanic and Everards as a Project William pub. It features a number of smaller rooms and is traditionally done using lots of wood. The whole feels comfortable and in keeping with the age of the building. Outside there are two or three wooden tables where you can watch the world in Leek go by whilst enjoying an alfresco pint. As in all the Titanic pubs I've visited, the staff were friendly, knowledgeable, welcoming and efficient. Titanic seem to have a very clear idea about how to run a good boozer. The ten handpumps weren't all used on our visit with beer on being: Titanic Steerage, Anchor, Iceberg, Plum Porter and White Star as well as Everards Tiger and Castle Rock Digny Pearson. The Titanic beers which we tried were excellent and in top condition. There are also 9 keg taps mounted on a copper board on the wall at the back of the bar. These featured 3 ciders, Titanic Map and Stout and 4 lagers. An excellent selection of beers across styles and strengths. Another fantastic Titanic pub which, along with the Wilkes Head and Napoli, makes Leek an incredibly rewarding town to visit for quality ale.

As the previous reviewers point out there are 7 beers from the Titanic Brewery and 3 ever changing guest beers to go at. Enjoyed the Excellent Titanic Plum Porter so much I had to re-schedule the rest of my days snapping tour.

Called in as we were staying local to visit Leek GBG pubs. Well described below. We enjoyed our Titanic Plum Porter and Wincle Butchered beers which were in good condition. The bar was impressive with around 7 Titanic beers of varying styles and strengths, plus Everards Tiger, and the guests being from Wincle and AllGates. Envy the good folk of Leek having this one and the Cock Inn opposite each other.