The Lesters Arms, Stafford

A detached, cream rendered, cottage styled Marston's country pub, with extension and front and rear patios The interior is generally an open plan U-shape around the bar faces you when entering through the main entrance. The decor is mainly yellow, with green seating covers and there is a nice stone fireplace feature. The rear of the pub is the dining area. I didn't eat but the menu seemed to be around £8. The other end of the pub is the bar area with a dart board and a TV that wasn't on. There are a collection of jugs hanging from the ceiling, brass ephemera and some beer mats, along with pictures of film stars in the dining area and 18th century styled prints in the bar/lounge area. The service was fine, the clientele mixed and the background music varied, but quiet. Beer; tap stuff, with Banks's Bitter, Marston's EPA and Wychwood Regal lager on handpull, the Regal was decent. I didn't see a MILD. I agree wholeheartedly with the Monster's summing-up, below. It has been a few years since i last visited here and i enjoyed my latest visit. Definately worth popping in and i am sure i will be back at some point.

This is a nice small Banks’s (Marston’s) country pub, the front of the building is a couple of hundred years old while the back has a small extension which was only added in recent years. Through the front door is a small bar area which is in the original building therefore there are low wooden beams, a small authentic open fire place with obligatory horse brasses and a dart board on the left, while on the right there is a large flat screen TV on the wall. The back of the pub is also small and is intended for dining, here there are some small paintings dotted around. The bar counter is a small semi circle with its back to the left hand side of the pub so it serves both front and back areas. I did not visit this place before the dining extension was built but this pub must have been tiny, with space for about 14 customers in the original bar (shoulder to shoulder, seated and standing!). Regular ale is Banks’s Bitter with two changing guests from the Marston’s portfolio such as Brakspear, Jennings, Ringwood or Wychwood beers. A very nice little country pub with a bit of traditional character remaining despite a modern extension, there is a modest menu of good English home made food and children are made welcome. This place is a bit isolated and out of the way being on a country lane between Brewood and Bishops Wood but its usually busy and for good reason, certainly worth a visit.