The Rusty Barrel, Rugeley

The Rusty Barrel is a micropub in a square single room commercial unit in a parade of local shops. There’s no way anyone from out of town is going to just stumble across this place, and I was amazed it was open during my Sunday evening crawl of the area. Like most of these micros there are tables up the left and right walls to the bar counter along the rear wall. Craft keg is supported alongside four hand pumps that were drawing 4T’s Brewery’s English Stout and Little Brewing Company’s TAJ alongside Parkway Brewing’s Norwegian Blue and Where’s Polly, the latter being excellent. The ceiling is plastered with old pump clips, so this place has been around for some time. The governor and the three locals stood at the bar were very friendly, I was actually sad to leave. The local residents are very lucky to have this place on their doorstep.

Official site of The Rusty Barrel - www.therustybarrel.co.uk

Official site of The Rusty Barrel - www.therustybarrel.co.uk

Decent micro-pub in a rather unpromising and hidden suburban shopping parade, although the majority of units seem to be operational so on closer inspection not as grim as one might expect. The bar itself is located towards a corner, has dark paintwork and grills on the windows so it's not immediately clear whether the place is open or not. However, once inside, the sparsely furnished and plainly decorated interior is actually more appealing than it sounds, with a good buzz of conversation around most tables and at the counter. Four real ales on handpump: Amberella and Hawaiian Shirt (£2.80) from Ashover, Reedley Hallows Filly Close Blonde and Titanic Chocolate & Vanilla Stout.