Bridge Inn, Stafford

Let me begin by saying this is one of the best Marston’s pubs that I’ve ever been in, and I don’t mind telling you that I’ve been in quite a few. Many of their pubs are decent but a bit samey and bland, not this one though, the Bridge Inn has plenty of traditional character. As you enter the front door there are two doors one on each side, the left hand door leads into a very small public bar which has a small bar counter, a nice open fire place, a large flat screen TV and the seating is all brown leather! The right hand door opens into a small lounge with a slightly larger bar counter, a classic double sided fire place and green fabric seating, both rooms have old photos of people living and working on the canals. The pub has a modest menu of good home cooked meals and there is an extension at the back of the pub which has a third room set out specifically for dining, but it is always locked up when I visit. Regular ales are Jennings Mild, Cumberland Ale and Cocker Hoop with three changing guests from the Marston’s portfolio such as Banks’s, Brakspear, Jennings, Ringwood or Wychwood beers (GBG2010). I’ve known the pub have Banks’s Mild on as a guest, don’t think I know of any other pubs that have had TWO Milds on at the same time! This is a brilliant traditional village pub which has been preserved nicely in a pleasant setting next to the canal, children and dogs are welcome. Some might complain that the guest ales are limited to the Marston’s group, but in my opinion they do many fine beers and this pub makes the most of the wide selection. Brewood is great for a mini pub crawl with hourly buses from Wolverhampton.

This is a great place, nicely situated alongside the canal. Half timbered exterior, the interior has a couple of rooms, all tidy, well furnished, with some beer memorabilia dotted about. Usual kind of taps, but with Mansfield Cask and a full reange of Jennings on cask too; Dark MILD, Snecklifter, Cocker Hoop and Honey Bole. I had the MILD of course, at it was first rate. Bar staff were friendly and there was a mixed clientele Been in before, will be in again