Bridge Street Ale House, Newcastle Under Lyme Central, Newcastle under Lyme

The kegs in one of the front windows of Bridge Street Ale House gives the game away that this a micropub, and a very good one at that. I found the atmosphere to be welcoming from the governor and the 3 – 5 locals that were in during my recent midweek afternoon visit. The interior consists of a small front bar with counter to te right and high tables around the walls. There is more seating in the rear where there’s also a kitchenette in between the two toilet cubicles. I also spotted a retro gaming table, but to be honest the front bar is the place to be. The four hand pumps were drawing Beartown’s Inception, Townhouse Brewery’s Furnace IPA, Lymestone Brewery’s IPA and Facer’s Cherry Kraken Porter. The Furnace and Porter were both on top form. There is also a large rum selection in case any sailors pass by. I liked it in here and would gladly return.

We called in here 3 times during our 2 days in Newcastle. Once on Thursday night when it was our first stop, then with the PuG crawl on the Friday and again for a last one later that night. Two different barstaff during our visits, both chatty and knowledgeable which definitely helps in a micro when you're the only ones in as we were on the Thursday early doors. Two room, the rear one looks like your granny's front room used to. The front one has some settles and stools, but there's some leaning places for the vertical drinkers as well. 4 handpumps serving different styles of beer, two of which changed over the 2 days. All the beers were well kept. This may well be our first port of call next timer we're in Newcastle as well.

Decent two-room micro-pub housed in a converted shop, with the stand-out feature being the 'cellar' in one of the front windows. Tall modern tables in the bar area but more traditional furniture can be found in the back room. Four handpumps, with real ales in a variety of styles including Wantsum Black Pig from faraway Kent.

This converted shop, now a micropub, is quite neat from the outside and obvious with its use of red. The frontage has a nod to the Victorian, while the upper has a couple of sash windows and the interesting use of off-set fake ashlar corner stones. The interior has a front bar room, with bench seating. kegs under tables and eclectic stuff on the walls (including beer mats), while the back room is a little more lounge-ish. The serving bar has been described below. No TV or music. The service was friendly and there were just a few of our party in. The ales, again, are described below - I had the Wantsum Black Pig Porter, which was excellent. Another must do in my opinion.

This one is a "proper" micropub despite being larger than most and having more than one room. It's a long narrow shop conversion made up of three parts, the front bar area, a small second area with some comfy chairs and a rear room with low tables and chairs. I can't get on with high chairs and stools or comfy chairs / sofas so retreated to the back room. There were four beers available of which I noted Burton Bridge Bridge Bitter, Townhouse Flowerdew and White Horse Luna DIPA. I went for the Flowerdew (£3.20) which was in good nick. I liked this one and would definitely return. For some reason What Pub has 82 photos of it!

A quirky and quite earthy micro pub,the front room has a lot of benches and seating made of reclaimed wood,and the barrels are housed in a chiller cabinet in one of the front windows.Chalk boards around the servery describe the 4 real ale options together with ciders,spirits,bottles etc.Empty barrels are dotted about ,showing that ale shifts quickly here.The owner is a bit of a character,and made strangers feel welcome.The back room is altogether calmer,and allows quite a few people to visit without the interior feeling cramped.The ale choice on my trip was Burton Bridge Bitter,Black Pig Porter,Townhouse Flowerdew and a Titanic collaberation called Luna DIPA from Mashtronauts,a bit hazy ,sharp and alcoholic but I was only staying for a quick half.More time needs to be spent here to get a fuller picture ,but it's worth popping in.