Ye Olde Talbot, Uttoxeter

Ye Olde Talbot is an historic 16th century coaching inn that, in my opinion, has seen better days. The well used L-shaped interior is made up of three different areas. To the left front is the main bar area where a counter along the rear faces seating on laminate and along the right wall is an inglenook. This small area is where the handful of locals had assembled early on a recent Thursday evening. Very loud music was being played via DJ equipment set up in the front window. The laminate continues through to a seating area to the right where banquette seating runs around the exterior walls. The jukebox was obviously off, but the television was airing muted horse racing. In the right rear is a larger sparsely furnished area with a dartboard. The service was friendly, but all three hand pumps were badged with Bass and the keg range was limited. The locals seemed harmless enough, but I think I witnessed the start of a very raucous evening. Not for me.

One of several old inns in the town centre, although this one is now a fairly basic boozer. Small, plainly decorated bar, a side room of a similar size and another (with the dartboard) at the back. Also has a sizeable rear courtyard beer garden, one section (featuring a pool table) being located under partly the building . Three handpumps on the counter, all clipped for Bass (£4.15).

Facebook page of Ye Olde Talbot - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Ye Olde Talbot - www.facebook.com

This is an old town pub consisting of an angular room with wooden floors. Although it has three hand pumps all they had was Marston's Draught Bass (£3.25) which was in good nick but nothing like the drink I remember from 40 years ago. Despite the opinions of "local legends Hark and Hayes" mentioned below I thought it was a complete waste of time and went to get a train to Derby and better things.