Shrewsbury Arms, Stafford

Well described below, the pub had an excellent selection of Black Country Ales on – 10 different ales in total – which were well complemented by the fresh pork pies and crusty rolls. Today’s papers were available, the beer was in excellent condition, the atmosphere was highly convivial. Very much worth seeking out and a definite for a crawl.

Refurbished by Black Country Ales and now a well presented traditional pub with various seating / dining areas on three sides of the central servery. Plainly but attractively furnished and decorated, but the main draw is the selection of real ales and ciders from up to 13 handpumps. On this visit I found six of the former (including Sonnet 43's The Raven at £3.20 as one of the guests, and three of the brewery's own beers) and two of the latter (plus a couple more being dispensed from boxes on the bar-back).

This is now a Black Country Ales pubs so by definition must be miles better than the dross it was before. It's a single room wrapped around the bar. There's an old public bar area at the front with a new wood laminate floor. Going along the bar it's carpeted with a tatty looking dart board around the corner and behind the bar a conservatory area with a small patio beyond. I got here early on a Thursday afternoon so it wasn't busy but the people I noticed were drinking the ales. The public area has four hand pumps then there are six in the middle and three devoted to cider further on. Beers available were the usual 3 BCA offerings, Branscombe Vale Summa This & Festive Frolics, Ticketybrew Fuggles Gold & East India Porter, Intrepid Single Hop Pale, Bude Haven and Hop Studio Blonde. I went for the Intrepid Single Hop Pale (£3.20) and the East India Porter (£3.30) both of which were excellent. In fact the Porter was so good I stayed for a second one. I thought this was an excellent addition to the BCA estate and would definitely return.

Official site of Shrewsbury Arms - www.blackcountryales.co.uk

Official site of Shrewsbury Arms - www.blackcountryales.co.uk