Green Man, Stafford

Cosy village pub that has been in the Good Beer Guide for over 30 years. A fairly noisy crowd of locals was in for our late Sunday afternoon visit. A group of young girls had also taken residence in the pretty-looking garden to the rear. The young barmaid was being kept busy by one guy seemingly ordering for the whole pub. Whilst waiting, I soon became aware that the guy sat next to me on a stool was actually the landlord. We soon got chatting and he seemed a little surprised that a stranger walking in knew he'd been in the Good Beer Guide for so many consecutive years. For a Good Beer Guide pub, I was a little disappointed by the lack of any particularly adventurous beers. Bass & Ruddles Best are the regular ales. Greene King Abbot & Castle Rock Harvest Pale were the guest beers. I did notice a Dancing Duck beer listed on a blackboard to the side of the bar, but unfortunately that had been replaced by the Castle Rock ale earlier in the afternoon. The board also listed Weston's Family Vintage cider. This is certainly a welcoming pub and I'm sure the real ale is kept to an excellent quality. However, it was a shame that the beer selection was all national staples.

This is a delightlful village long-cottage style pub, it is in white render, with green paint work and has a beer garden at the rear. In the GBG 2010. The interior is one long room, divided into three areas. The furthest is a small dining area, with no more than 4 tables. Separating the bar from the dining area is a dart board area in the middle. The main bar area is around the serving bar, and the area you arrive in whenusing the main entrance. The decor is white walls, with wood floor and there is a brick fireplace in the bar. There are a host of old local photos on the walls, with the pub itself featuring heavily. There was no music and the TV wasn't on. The service was friendly and a couple of locals turned up during my brief stop. Beer; tap stuff with Peroni, with a decent St Austell Tribute on handpull, along with Courage Directors, Bass and its own brew, Green Man Ale, brewed through Moulson Coors. Class, class and thrice class - get yourself up there if you are a traditionalist like me, and dare i say, even the modernists would appraciate it, as it isn't falling down and grotty - it is tidy and a delight.

Delightful unpretentious country pub - good food, great beer!

Official site of the Green Man, includes current real ale list and menu - www.greenmanmilwich.com

A multi-award-winning real village pub with first class real ales. Has a choice of ciders and malt scotch. Beer garden. Check its website for opening times,events and menus.

Official site of the Green Man, includes current real ale list and menu - www.greenmanmilwich.com