The Archer, Wolstanton, Newcastle under Lyme

The entrance of the Archer leads to the centre of a thin bar that support a standard keg range alongside San Miguel and seven hand pumps. This is a Hopback Brewery pub, so their beers are represented alongside a few guests. To the left of the bar is a small seating area and to the right is more seating that is split by a central chimney breast. On the chimney breast is a small plasma screen that was showing international football via BT Sports during my recent Tuesday evening visit. To the left of the pub is a car park and up a slope to the right of the pub are a few picnic tables, some of which are covered. This is a decent enough pub and I found the service to be friendly, but I can imagine it gets uncomfortable when busy as there isn’t much room to move around.

Although this is externally billed as a free house it appears to be a joint venture between Greene King and the Hop Back Brewery, probably along similar lines to the Everard Project William. It's listed on the Hop Back web site as being one of their tied houses. It was an Allied Brewery pub called the Archer that they wanted to demolish nearly twenty years ago. The local Council told them where to go as it is only yards from a conservation area. It opened as the New Smithy in 2001. Inside it consists of a long single room with the bar in the middle and extended areas either side. The bar area has a wooden floor while the smaller right area is carpeted with tables & chairs and the original Archer pub sign leaning against a wall. It was fairly quiet on my early Saturday afternoon visit. The bar has seven hand pumps and one dispensing Old Rosie. The beers were GK Abbot & Morland's Original, Hop Back Citra & Summer Lightning, Joules Slumbering Monk, Dark Star Hophead and Weal Ales Weller Weal. I went for the Summer Lightning which was in good nick but this beer just isn't what it once was. Despite that this is a good pub albeit slightly off the beaten track and well worth a look.

One Guest ale on tap.

Had some great beers in here over the last few months Keep up the good work. Gets well busy for a small local, with agreat atmosphere

Official site of the Hop Back brewery, owners of the New Smithy Inn - www.hopback.co.uk

The New Smithy Inn boasts a great range of cask ales, great service and a very friendly athmosphere. The Smithy is a no-swearing pub and is very community orientated. The pub dates back to the 1700's and has a great deal of history. Currently owned by the award winning Hop Back Brewery, the pub is very busy for it size. There is a poular Quiz night on a Sunday and is very well managed. If you like real ale this pub is a MUST visit. There is ample car parking and is easy to get to. They get visited by numerous CAMRA groups from all over the country and has been in the Good Beer Guide since it has re-opened (8 years). All of the current Managers previous pubs can state the same!

Official site of the Hop Back brewery, owners of the New Smithy Inn - www.hopback.co.uk