The Cock Inn, Leek

This is a more old school pub than the Roebuck opposite. It's an L shaped room with the bar on the right as you enter. The floors are wooden with a few alcoves. At the rear is a raised dining room. The bar has five hand pumps with an extra one at the end selling Bass. The others had Joule's Pale, Golden and Slumbering Monk with Sarah Hughes Ruby Mild as a guest. I went for the Slumbering Monk (£3.20) which was in excellent condition. This was a very good pub but is up against strong opposition from the Roebuck opposite, the Wilkes Head and even the Spoons.

I really liked this Joules pub, and not just because one of the guest ales was Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild in excellent condition. The atmosphere was great and the landlord friendly and knowledgeable about his beers. We started with the 3 Joules beers and decided we may as well have lunch here from the menu with lots of reasonably priced baps and oatcake meals. The pub itself has many different drinking areas, and a large outside drinking area. The other beer available was Thornbridge Jaiper. Will find time for another visit while staying in Leek.