The Cask Bar, Newcastle under Lyme

The Cask Bar was our second unscheduled stop of a day out in the Potteries, having been recommended by the owners of the Crafty Flanker in Biddulph. Indeed, we were dropped outside here. This is a single room micropub in a shopping parade with friendly owners and a decent beer and cider selection. Surprisingly, Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby is a regular beer here. Guest beers were 4T's Squirrel's Heaven, White Rose Raspberry Blonde, Wye Valley Butty Bach & Oakham JHB. Ciders were Rosie's Black Bart & Wicked Wasp, Lilley's Apples & Pears, Mango Cider, Cheeky Pig, Rhubarb Cider, Tropical Cider, Crafty Pheasant & Pineapple Cider & Sting's Tuck's Tipple. Keg beers included Vocation Hop, Skip & Juice & SALT Alpacalypse. I started with the very enjoyable Raspberry Blonde, before noticing that there was one of the Lilley's ciders (Crafty Pheasant) that is rarely seen. So, we opted for another round. It would have been nice to have had a dark beer on, but otherwise, this is a good micropub.

Cask Bar is an open plan bar in a commercial unit at the end of a parade of shops. The five cask options were Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby, Rat Brewery’s Ratella, Bass, Black Sheep and Pineapple Dream which is from Three Acre Brewery just up the road from me in East Sussex. I went for the Ratella which was good. Craft beer is also available, as is Food, in fact most of the people in were dining, because I visited at dinner time! I made do with a battered sausage from the chippy over the road. The service was friendly and atmosphere welcoming enough, so I’d pop back in if passing.

A micropub housed in what looks like a 1960's estate arcade of shops. Nothing much of note or architectural interest inside although there is a small beer garden/yard at the rear, which is where we sat. 5 handpumps on the bar, all on. I fancied something light and hoppy, so I went for Oakham Citra, which was a very well kept pint. Not my favourite micro, but I was happy enough calling in here for one.

Grim 1960s shopping parade meets 21st-century pub, so turning out rather more interesting than initial appearances would suggest. Nothing very notable about the square bar area, but people are doubtless here for the beer so the focus is on the five handpumps anyway... At the end of a busy day around the town, I went for Refresher from Slater's (£3.40) rather than the Oakham Citra, Kelham Island Pale Rider, Fat Cat Milk Stout or Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild. Worth a stop if in the area.

Not the first micropub to look as appealing an omnibus edition of the Jeremy Kyle Show, however, like most, it offers more than the bland 60s setting suggests. The etched glass offers a little to relieve the austere front, the square interior is decorated mostly in stone effect wallpaper. There was a TV showing the footy (silently). Old photos of the area hang on the walls. Service was very good and a few locals were in, as well as our party. Five handpulls listed below by Steve - the Fat Cat Milk Stout was very good. I would be more than happy to revisit.