Bird in Hand, Stafford

This is a large pub that has been modernised by BCA into a comfortable public bar area at the front and a large lounge at the side and rear. I went in the public bar which has a wooden floor, a dart board and a TV showing sport "news". There is another small area off to the left. I saw 8 hand pumps which had two ciders, the three BCA ales, Hobgoblin, Otter Poppy and AJ's Hop Hut. I went for the Hop Hut (£3.20) and the BCA Fireside (£3.30) both of which were in excellent condition. This is an ambitious place for BCA to take over especially given they have another pub in town. I wish them well with it.

Recently taken over by Black Country (July 2017) and has been thoroughly refurbed with the previous 4 rooms becoming 2. The old reviews for this place are often less-than-flattering but there’s changes here. There’s a public bar as you enter with laminate flooring, darts and bottle green leather button back seating. Carpeted snug to left and larger lounge to rear. Piped music utterly unsuited to the pub, barman’s choice I suspect. Very quiet on a late Thursday evening and given its location maybe that’s not too much of a surprise, it’s a little removed from the other pub hotspots by dint of the church grounds and the station is too far away for this to work as a train pub. Eight pumps with seven ales and one cider. My Stray Cat Milk Stout was in great shape and there were also filled rolls available, so I snaffled one. This place will need a while to get going but the fabric of a good pub is here.

Dreadful pub. with no ale on. Hardly anybody in on Friday night before the New Year but there was a mumbling drunk standing at the bar who did not add to the ambience. Avoid.

Two bars (one empty, the other extended at the back), plus a side room in total darkness and a rear patio. Four handpumps on each counter, but only Rocking Rudolph and Rocked Out (£1.70, half) actually available. Two disinterested bar staff on duty, one looking at his 'phone the whole time, and the other discussing with almost the only other customer why Stafford town centre's pubs seemed to have gone to the dogs in the last few years. Wonder why?

Quite a good boozer. The rear beer garden area had a largish TV screen but I'm not sure if it still works. Had 2 casks from the nationals on.