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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Earl Grey Inn, Leek
Leek
ST13 5AT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Earl Grey Inn
A small backstreet pub with three cask beers on (see photo). I had a little go at the licensee for his KEEP OUT tape on the front door - I said pubs are meant to be welcoming and hospitable. He said, "it's Halloween, it's not meant to be taken seriously - it's got a skull on it". I complimented him on the quality of the Bass (NBSS 3.5) and hoped to call in again, just not in October.
On 27th October 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Strongers . left this review about Earl Grey Inn
The Earl Grey Inn has street-level seating across the front before a step up to the bar area with a counter up the left and seating to the right that sits under a television that was playing the Chase which was being watched by the governor and both locals during a recent Tuesday early evening visit. There are another couple of tables at the rear opposite the toilets, this isn’t a big pub. There’s not a huge draught selection with Carling, Camden’s Eazy, Madri and Stowford Press Cider being the keg options alongside three hand pumps. The Bass was on good form, but I didn’t note the other two options because the extremely welcoming governor wouldn’t stop talking to me and involving me in the conversation. I’ve never been here before, but I feel if I went back in any time soon I’d feel like a local.
On 19th October 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Earl Grey Inn
Reopened again fairly recently, but seemingly a shadow of its former self as described in previous reports. The traditional, multi-room interior appears to remain unchanged, but the place was almost empty on a Thursday evening. However, the real ale choice is much reduced, with just three handpumps offering a rather dull selection of Pedigree, Wainwright and Bass (£3.70, but only in middling form).
On 21st March 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Earl Grey Inn
Just outside the town centre and, as has been noted, well worth the short stroll.
Our early evening midweek visit found the place relatively quiet but it soon filled up with visitors and regulars creating a busy and friendly atmosphere with curry advice willingly given from the cognoscenti.
Beers on were: Brew York Narcissus, Vocation Life and Death, Mart's Neapolitan Stout, Whim Earl Grey Bitter and Redwillow Wreckless. An excellent selection with the odd left field pick and there is clearly some care taken here to keep things interesting. I'd happily have tried all the beers on but having kicked off with the Life and Death just couldn't switch horses.
Leek is a top real ale town and the Earl Grey is it's star.
On 18th June 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 683 recommendations about 682 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Earl Grey Inn
A very attractive street corner boozer,with a traditional external appearance and a pleasing interior.You enter into an oblong seating area with bench seating and a fireplace while up a step is the servery with bar stools for regulars and another bench seat,while there is a side room which is also traditionally finished.No juke boxes,screens or muzak,it's a step back in time.There was a very friendly welcome from the landlady and the conversation quickly got into all things beer and the local drinking scene.
The bar offers 5 real ales and a real cider.The choice will rotate although there is a Whim house bitter,on my trip there was a good mix of styles from some leading micro brewers and they aren't scared to offer some high ABV choices.My Vocation Life and Death was outstanding and belied it's 6.5%.
I was deeply impressed and would suggest that this is now Leeks' leading real ale pub,not to be missed and fully deserving all the CAMRA awards it has amassed.
On 7th June 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Earl Grey Inn
Originally a butcher's shop and then converting to a pub in 1852, when the mill opposite was being built. The interior is traditional and basic and consists of two rooms, a front lounge, accessible from the corner entrance. You then step up into the side room and bar. We really enjoyed our visit here and stayed a lot longer than expected as the owner, and his pal who was having a beer, were so friendly and chatty. Five handpumps serving Bingley Brewery Bantam's Gold, Red Willow Reckless, Summer Wine Oregon, Great Heck Black Jesus and their house beer Earl Grey, brewed by Whim Ales. I went for the Bantam's Gold, which easily passed the three pint test. I also got to taste all the other beers, which was poured out in a decent sized glass, none of those thimble glasses you get in most high street pubs. This was the best pub in Leek in my opinion.
On 1st August 2018
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]