Ye Olde Rose & Crown, Stafford

Better pub with a good selection of Joules ales to be had but nothing too strong.

A Joule's Brewery pub, housed in an old building and given an alehouse-style makeover. Multiple rooms, including two bars, and all justifiably busy on a Friday evening. Slightly curious route to the upstairs toilets via the courtyard, presumably to open up more space at ground-floor level. Full range of real ales on handpump, including the splendid Old No 6 winter warmer (£3.10). Well worth a visit if visiting the city.

This is a nice old pub that has been restored rather well without spoiling it. You enter through a short tiled passageway then there is the "public" bar on the left and a quieter bar further on down a step to the left. The bar servery covers both of these and then there is a further small area further back where I took my pint. I would imagine the toilets here used to be of the outside variety. You still have to brave the elements to a degree as there is a new metal staircase in the back yard leading up to modern indoor toilets. The bar had four Joule's beer on Hop Shine, Pale, Blond and Slumbering Monk plus a cider. I had a pint of the Pale (£3.10) which was in excellent nick, as good as you're likely to find it. I don't find Joule's beers all that interesting but their pubs seem to be good and this one is first class.