Barley Mow, Stafford

Poor planning meant this was the only choice following a walk on the Heart of England Way from Milford Common. It is as chainy as a pub can get. That said, it is Cask Marque accredited and sold Timothy Taylor, so all was not lost. Service was good. Food was uninspiring. Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2op374C

A Fantastic Venue, child friendly family pub, Manager here was polite the staff well presented and precise. The setting used to be Hardy Hanson since adapted and refurbished by Greene King, spacious car park with two entry door from it, suitable for the disabled and no stairs to climb, visiting this pub on passing I have never had such fast service for food delivery, the Greene King Abbot is my favorite drink served and presented with a smile, directly situated immediately off an island be quick else you may miss the entrance, dress code is casual or smart, music trendy, plenty of natural light, toilets had electric dryer and up to date, I would recommend a visit you should be pleased I was DC....

A large detached Greene King undressed brick building which looks 19th century, and having three projecting bays. There is a front patio and a side garden with kids play area and it faces Milford Common. The interior is a large open plan L-shaped room around the wood bar, but with lots of areas partitioned off from each other. Heading through the main porched entrance, the far end is a family dning area in white mainly, with some red and a strange arty fireplace to match the arty pictures. The top end is an adult area and in mainly white with some brown; a bar, with a TV with Sky Sports News on. There were, in parts, some nice old photos, but these were swamped by the arty pictures as you moved into the adult dining area. I sat at table 47, alongside a landscape (i think, but then i haven't been to Pluto) and desperately eying up the patio area, wishing i didn't have to make notes. The music was charty, but an OK level, the clientele were mixed, as befits the market aim of the place, it was the service that wound me up. Too few to serve drinks and take food orders, this meant the staff had to keep asking who was next, so the loudest won and I waited. I used the time to choose my drink, compose a lengthy text to a fellow PG member, re-think my order, solve the deficit problem, miss my chance at the next shoutfest, offer thoughts on the queue problem - such as a cloakroom ticket system, blood donor style.... the laconic barman (he had no time to engage in any friendly chit-chat) eventually asked me what i wanted - i said, 'MILD' - he said, 'We don't do it', i said, 'I know, but i can dream'. Beer; tap stuff, with Staropramen and GK IPA, Spekky Hen and Abbot on handpull - the H&H Olde Trip wasn't on. The GK IPA was, well, all that GK IPA is. This is a family place that does reasonable food, judging by the numbers, real ale and a decent continental lager. The decor isn't to my taste, but many will have no problem with it. The exterior of the pub has character and there is a nice patio. It just either needs more staff, or those they have to have the ability to remember a service order - try getting them to learn Pi to 15 decimal places. I am sorry for being a bit mean, but a public auction for each order-taking isn't really on.