The Hollybush, Leek

Friends took us here to celebrate their wedding anniversary, and we enjoyed both the meal and the beer. They are doing a refurb on the conservatory at the moment, but the main pub area is still functioning as normal. We found 4 Thwaites beers on but no guests, and had the Wainwright and Lancaster Bomber, both in good condition. A few narrowboats were moored on the canal by the pub, and it will be a big draw in the summer I expect.

Set at the end of a terraced row of canalside cottages,the ceilings are low and there is an olde worlde feel to the interior.You enter into the tap room with a bench running opposite the bar ,with a real fire place to one end.Through an arch is a back lounge with lots of copper and brass artifacts but the serving counter here is not used for ordering,while around the car park side and housed in an extension is a large restaurant area.Food is a major draw and you can eat al fresco in the large beer garden. It's a Thwaites tied house with six handpumps drawing their Lancaster Bomber,Original and Wainwright with two guests on my trip in Shepherd Neame Master Brew (reversed) and Belhaven St Andrew Ale(£3 but only fair condition) The choice of uninspiring guests might be to ensure that the pedestrian house brews are not shown up,and for me that is a problem with this pub.Intersting interior but a rather dull real ale selection,and possibly too food orientated during the day.