Sanctuary, Stoke-On-Trent

The Sanctuary is a single room pub with seating to the left and a bar counter to the right where two of the four hand pumps were in operation drawing Brain’s Rev James and Salopian’s Lemon Dream, the latter being a bit wishy washy. I spotted a piano, and on the wall facing the entrance is an angry donkey’s head (not real). I wouldn’t go out of my way to revisit.

A conversion of a fine looking shop next to the pelican crossing, the Sanctuary has a bar counter on the right on entering. The other noticeable thing was a strong smell of food - the only people eating were a group of four in a table to the rear left of the bar. It turns out that the (apparent) couple who run the place were sharing a meal with some friends or family members, because one of them got up to serve me, a task she managed to complete with the minimum of talk and without feeling the need to smile. Later, her (male) partner got up to serve the slightly tiddly group who were the only other customers and again managed to serve them without once smiling at them. In the face of this non-attempt at customer service, I find that my notes made at the time make no reference to the quality of the beer.