The Hartley Arms, Stafford

Official site of The Hartley Arms - thehartley.co.uk

Official site of The Hartley Arms - thehartley.co.uk

As described by Soupy, below, this is a large, friendly canal-side pub which caters for a wide range of customers. There is a carpark at the back which when we visited was full of revelers smoking and making a lot of noise. Inside was busy, but the staff went out of their way to find a table for us, and they made a point of bringing water for our dogs. Food was basic and plentiful, well cooked and reasonably priced. They also advertised pizza nights, poker Tuesdays and Saturday breakfast events. Ales on were Wainwright Bitter and another ale I forgot to note down, plus there was the usual bank of megakeg offerings. Well worth a visit.

A large traditional and impressive looking deatched Banks's pub in white painted brick mainly, that sits next to the Shropshire Union Canal. It has a patio area and outside tables by the canal, where boats are often moored up. large car-park. The interior is open plan and i just saw the one room. It is in green, red, white and wood panel, with wood beams and partitions divide the food, dart and drinking areas. I have not eaten here, so can't comment on the food. There is a lot of canal photos and memorabilia on the walls and dotted around the pub, plus a few other bits and pieces - a clay pipe collection by where i sat for instance. There was a nice brick fireplace as a feature at the one end of the pub. The service i recieved was friendly, the clientele was not big, but mixed and clearly some were from the boats moored up outside. The background music was varied and at a decent level. Beer; tap stuff, with Banks's MILD and bitter on handpull, as well as two ales; Jennings Cocker Hoop and Pedigree Diamond. The MILD was fine. I will be returning again, especially when i can sit outside when it isnt p***ing down, like it was on both my previous visits. I like it here.