Clayhanger Bar @ North Stafford Hotel, Stoke-On-Trent

Located directly opposite the main station entrance, this venerable hotel certainly looks the business (until you see the dreaded Britannia branding, and if you have stayed in one of this chain's establishments then your expectations won't be high, so any disappointment will already be moderated...). However, it is not as run down as some, so it is more a question of 'seen better days' than being outright down-at-heel. Anyway, there is a large lounge separate from the Clayhanger Bar area (with both having semi-modern furniture but more traditional hotel decor). No real ale, not unexpectedly, so made do with a Tetley's Smooth (£3.60) before retiring for the night.

Typical hotel bar which finished my crawl of Stoke off. Nothing of any note and the toilets were Spoons like - downstairs.