Ye Olde Kings Arms, Congleton

Ye Olde Kings Arms is a large pub that has seating across the front windows that is faced by the bar counter that supports standard and premium keg alongside Beavertown Neck Oil and five hand pumps. One of these was unused and the Directors was off leaving Titanic’s Plum Porter, Pedigree and Bass on cask. Behind the bar in the right rear is a large room with more seating, a fireplace and two dartboards on the rear wall. To the left is a smaller room with more seating and another fireplace. Out the back is an enclosed seating area that was full of goths during a recent Thursday evening visit. Friendly and certainly OK for a high street boozer.

10 hand pulls at the bar, five of which were in operation on my Tuesday evening visit. The line-up consisted of Wainwright, Pedigree, Weetwood Cheshire Cat, Titanic Plum Porter and Titanic Rye IPA. I spotted a Bass pump clip turned round on one of the unavailable hand pulls, which may interest those so inclined to seek out Bass on cask. This is a large sprawling pub with wonky old dark beams. There is also a wooden front door with an unusual wooden latch. Food is offered, including a £7 menu and £5 specials. There is a dartboard and the pub is dog friendly. Despite not being massively impressed by the Titanic Rye IPA (unsure if this was a beer issue or a pub issue) I do think Ye Olde Kings Arms is worth checking out.

Old Marston's pub on the station side of the town centre (and about the only one in that area open at lunchtime early in the week). Partly opened-out, with several supporting columns to catch out the unwary, so the original layout must have been crampt. Pedigree (£3.00), Wainwright and Courage Directors available from the various handpumps.