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Detail Pages
The Coachmakers Arms, Stoke-On-Trent
Hanley
Postal town: Stoke-On-Trent
ST1 3EA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Coachmakers Arms
My train journey from Chorley back to London was meant to be a swift change in Preston (and as on the way, a swift half or two in the Old Vic). However, after discovering there was a trackside fire in Cheshire on arrival in Preston, we were sent to Manchester after the inevitable drink in the Old Vic. With no late trains from Manchester to London, Birmingham was the furthest south I could manage. Luckily I managed to book a coach from Stoke to Heathrow and after a quick transfer from Stoke railway station to its bus station, I found myself desperate for a pee in the bus station, where the toilets were closed. Luckily, I spied the Coachmakers across the road.
My last visit here was at Christmas 2010. I very much remember the pub being under threat of closure due to the redevelopment of the area, perhaps when the bus station was built, as I don't remember that being there in 2010.
The pub is a timeless classic with 4 small rooms, 2 either side of a central corridor. The small bar at the front left was busy and after ordering, I retreated to the rear left room where quite a few people were packed in watching England's World Cup game with Norway. There was one spare seat, enabling me to watch England's first goal. After relieving myself in the outdoor toilets to the rear, it wasn't long before I departed the area on a Flixbus!
Draught Bass is the regular cask ale here. Guests were Oakham Citra & Peakstones Rock Pugin's Gold. I chose the latter, which wasn't my favourite but served a purpose. There was also a good range of bag-in-the-box ciders.
If you ever find yourself in Stoke bus station, this or the Victoria Lounge Bar provide very good reasons for missing your bus.
On 3rd August 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3572 recommendations about 3570 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Coachmakers Arms
The Coachmakers is a small pub with a tiny front bar to the left of the entrance. Standard keg was available alongside Birra Moretti and I counted four hand pumps. These were drawing Wye Valley’s HPA, Brains Rev James, Lymestone Brewery’s Ein Stien and Bass. A hatch on the right of the bar serves a central corridor that has three rooms coming off it, one to the left behind the bar and two to the right, one in front of the other. The two rear rooms were closed so the five or so locals had assembled in the front room that is just about big enough to swing a small cat. Banquettes run around the walls and on the right wall is a fireplace that had a log fire on the go. The toilets are in a shed out the back, I actually liked the walk to them through the old brick passageway. The service was friendly and the locals didn’t mind a stranger sitting amongst them, but being a southerner I like my space so would have preferred it if another room was open. Worth a look for the history.
On 19th January 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6782 recommendations about 6744 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Coachmakers Arms
Our final pub on our tour of Stoke pubs serving Bass, and fittingly there was actually Bass available, and even better it was in very good condition. I've been here a few times before, but this was my first visit since the threat of demolition had been lifted, so I could have a look around without that dreadful feeling of seeing an old friend for the last time. Definitely worth a look-in if you're in Stoke, and no excuse not to with the bus station just over the road and frequent services to and from the railway station.
On 4th September 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4859 recommendations about 4446 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Coachmakers Arms
To start with some good news, the developers who originally planned to demolish this pub to make way for some horrendous bit of modern urban planning, announced in July 2016 that they have scaled back their plans and that their development will no longer extend as far as Lichfield Street, thereby putting to an end years of speculation and fear for the pub’s future. This all seems rather fitting for a pub that is a genuine survivor, retaining a rare Victorian corridor pub layout, with four small rooms accessed from a central drinking corridor. The corridor is pretty narrow and has some lovely Minton tiling with old pictures of trains and trams hung above. There is a high ledge running down one side, legitimising the practise of drinking in the corridor, which a fair few were doing on a late Saturday evening visit. To the front of the corridor there is a serving hatch, which saves customers from having to enter the compact front bar in the front left room, where some fixed seating runs under the front windows and a nice fireplace stands on the end wall. The room is carpeted and has a few bland art prints on show as well as an unusual partly padded bar counter front. Unfortunately, two of the other rooms, to the front right and rear left, were not open on this visit, but from what I could gather, they are both fairly small and have bench and low stool seating and their own fireplace, with various old paintings and photos on the walls. The final room, to the rear right, was open to explore and seemed to act as something of a games room with a dartboard at one end and some folk playing board games in another corner. There is another fireplace in here, acting as an impressive focal point, and I also spotted an upright piano and some shelves stacked with books. The corridor leads out to a fairly uninspiring rear courtyard and the gents toilets which are in an outdoor block.
The pub usually serves four ales, but three of these had gone by the time I arrived, so I had a choice of Draught Bass or Weston’s Old Rosie cider. I ordered a pint of Bass, popped it on the shelf in the corridor and made the long walk to the gents, but when I returned I found my pint had gone. To my surprise, it turned out that another chap had ordered a pint of Bass just before me and had taken it back whilst I was in the gents, so the barman took it upon himself to track down my pint and then provide me with a replacement which he poured straight from the barrel in the cellar. I was a bit stunned by all this, but thought it was very good customer service and the new pint was fine by me.
I really enjoyed this fairly unique pub experience and thought the drinking corridor was a great place to prop yourself up and chat to the friendly locals. The staff were great and their commitment to ensuring I got a good quality pint has to be applauded. With a few more ales to choose from, I suspect this becomes a difficult pub to leave and I think we can all be grateful that its future now looks a lot more assured.
On 29th December 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Coachmakers Arms
A very brief stop here as we had to hot-foot it over to Burslem. Saved from closure and demolition a few years back, this is a traditional old town centre pub. Enter to a teeny-tiny front bar, around 4ft by 10ft, with just enough room for two sets of padded settles. There are further rooms (unexplored by me) off a drinking corridor (check out the Minton tiling here) which also has a service hatch. Sadly, there was only one ale on, a disappointing drop of Thwaites Wainwrights. Sadly, this one didn’t live up to the hype – maybe I was unlucky?
On 15th November 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6251 recommendations about 6230 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Coachmakers Arms
Only 3 real ales were on on this visit but it is by far one of the better pubs in Hanley. Descriptions in other reviews.
On 29th June 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Coachmakers Arms
There's not much I can add about this place that hasn't already been said. It's still open despite being under threat. I used the new bus station opposite and it seems to be working perfectly well so can see no reason why any changes may be needed there that threaten this place.
I went in the front room which was empty. The five hand pumps had Bass, Greene King Old Golden Hen, Castle Rock Harvest Pale and Lymestone Foundation Stone & Stone The Crows. I went for the Stone The Crows (£3.20) which was in excellent nick and went down a treat.
On 2nd June 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Coachmakers Arms
A very good example of a classic and relatively untouched Victorian corridor pub which is not to be missed.
There are many accurate descriptions below which I won't repeat but it is worth noting that each of the characterful rooms are small and on the evening we visited it was impossible not to become engaged in friendly and good natured conversation with fellow drinkers. The people who drink here are a friendly and welcoming bunch and their company and conversation made for a very enjoyable evening. A plus point for me but if you're after an uninterrupted beer take a large newspaper.
Beers on were Bass, a trusty regular drunk by many here, Titanic Plum Porter, Sadlers Kimber Drop, Brakespears Oxford Gold and Box Clever Temple Mead. A decent selection and the Bass lived up to it's reputation. The Plum Porter was as sublime as ever.
It would be criminal if this fine and much used community pub were to make way for yet another soulless shopping centre so have a beer or two there while you can.
On 27th May 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 694 recommendations about 693 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Coachmakers Arms
One not to be missed if out and about in Hanley. We sat outside on this visit as the weather was so good. The manageress and son were also sitting out front, so we stayed for a while as they were friendly and chatty. The pub is still under threat from the town planners, to build a shopping centre. The pub is steeped in history and we found the Minton wall tiles in the corridor most striking. The small bar and snug was another characteristic feature here.
There were five handpumps in use, we went for the St Austell Spring Brew and the Box Steam Temple Mead. Defo a must do pub.
On 22nd May 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3763 recommendations about 3763 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Coachmakers Arms
A very fine example of a corridor pub with many original features,it's a must visit for pub lovers.From the outside the two etched windows are marked Snug to the left and Lounge to the right.The snug is tiny and has a serving counter with the handpumps but a spare pumpclip on each pull is angled towards the corridor hatch,so you can see what's on.Most customers buy from the hatch and then move to the three remaining rooms.The lounge is larger than the snug and square with an original fireplace,the two back rooms are both quarry tiled and glazed tiling lines the lower part of the corridor.The right hand rear room has a small upright piano which would have to be moved if you wanted to play darts.There is no muzak or flatscreens just the hubub of conversation .This is a local institution with a genuine friendly atmosphere and the regular punters are justifiably proud of their pub.
On my trip the blackboards dotted about noted the real ale selection as Bass (a regular),Moles St Elmo Fire (£3.10,well kept),Thwaites Wainwright and Titanic Plumb Porter with a fifth handpump dedicated to Weston's Old Rosie cider .A very decent selection from this GBG regular.
The pub has lived under threat of redevelopment for years,but nothing seems imminent.It is such a classic ,you do wonder if the local planning officers have much sence.I would always pay a visit whenever in Hanley,there are few better examples of it's kind left these days.
On 10th August 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3231 recommendations about 3231 pubs]