The Market Vaults, Stafford

I called into this Marstons pub at the end of my first visit to Stafford, my last pub before the train. Note taking had become fairly difficult by this time, but I can tell you that there were three real ales available: Hobgoblin Gold, Wainwright and Jennings Cumberland Ale. At first I was underwhelmed, to say the least, but my drinking companion, a Stafford man who had also made this his first stop of the day before my arrival, encouraged me to try the Cumberland. What a revelation! I have been decrying the blandification of this beer for a number of years - along with some others from Jennings that have been bowdlerised or ruined by Marstons - but this was really good. In great condition, well balanced, with malt and hops well defined, this was up there with Titanic and Joules for best beer of the day - it was certainly a lot better than the Landlord in the penultimate pub.

Another historic town pub in Stafford’s Market area, well described by others, below. The staff were slightly helpful, and the crowd was younger than some of the other nearby pubs, but the atmosphere wasn’t uncomfortable. Food is of the burger variety, not particularly good value. Ales on were Wainright Golden Beer, Banks’s Amber Ale and Hobgoblin, plus here was a pump with a reversed Sunbeam clip and one with Rosie’s Pig. Worth including in a crawl.

Takes a bit of finding to the uninitiated; this is a fairly traditional place which has a wiggly, narrow C-shape interior where the old rooms have had doors removed and access widened which scoops round the bar. Live music was on and the place was pretty busy with the younger crowd listening to the strumming hipster in the rear bar with the codgers (and me) in the front section. This was fairly dimly lit with a weird purpley edge to the light which meant I couldn’t really enjoy the old fittings that remain here. Six pumps with five Marstons stable beers on. My 61 Deep was indeed deep – well into the barrel and rather flat, in retrospect I should have taken it back but noise and queue at the bar put me off. I liked it here overall, but it doesn’t quite belong in the premier venues league in Stafford.

Not a bad pub but Hobgoblin the strongest ale available. Worth a revisit and maybe one of their burgers.