The Metropolitan Bar, Littleworth, Stafford

This pub has recently been taken over by a young couple who have lots of drive and energy, they have changed the ethos of the place trying to draw it away from the Lager sports bar, they have introduced a food menu created a comfortable area with book and classic games. There Cask ales are excellent with a choice of three or four ‘guest ales’ (not so many tv's)

A detached 1930s styled undressed brick corner bar, with front patio, formerly the Gate Inn, I believe. The interior is open plan and has a central wood serving bar in the middle. There are several different ‘areas’, with different decors. The first, in no particular order, is a mainly white and wood panel area, which had a big pull down screen showing the sport. The second area is in red and cream ‘classical’ wallpaper, with Greek temple ruins, as well as wood panel and has a brick fireplace and, yes, a TV – with sport on. The third area is a games room, with a pool table and dart board. It is in cream and wood panel and yes, has a TV, with sport on. The last area is the bar area that you enter into going through the main door. It is in cream and brown and has vases and – errr, a TV, with sport on. There are lots of arty tree/landscape pictures, yet the music was loudish heavy rock. The service was fine. The clientele clearly a mix of locals and it was quite busy. Beer; tap stuff, with about 5 handpulls, some of which were turned around, leaving Bombardier, England’s Pride and a solitary Potter’s Gold, which I had and it was rancid. I didn’t fancy the other stuff, so had a bottle of Mann’s Brown Ale. I really couldn’t make my mind-up about this place. The name is off-putting, being termed a ‘bar’, but apart from several TVs, the décor is that of pub lounges and it has the games of a pub bar room. People sat and read newspapers to loud rock music (I actually prefer rock to the charty tosh I expected), but it was a bit loud. They advertised what seemed to be a good choice of handpull beer, national and local brews, but it transpired only two were on – Bombardier being ubiquitous.