Earl of Chester, Crewe

A good solid locals pub, with a decent welcome from the friendly barmaid and some locals parked up at the bar. Three handpumps serving White Rat, Merlins Gold and Excalibur all priced at £3.20 a pint and in excellent condition. There was a small stage area set up in the left hand side lounge, along with lots of posters of various rock bands across the ceilings and walls.

Looks like a basic corner local, and if you turn right into the smaller bar, that is exactly the impression you get. However, if you turn left instead (or go around the end of the servery), the other bar is more interesting. This one has an additional raised lounge area, plus a pool room further back, plus three handpumps on the counter. These feature White Rat from rat Brewery plus a pair from the Merlin micro-brewery: Excalibur (£3.00) and Gold.

I walked into the small right hand public bar of the Earl of Chester on Saturday afternoon to find an empty room with a dartboard, so I decided to try the other bar to the left. This was where all of the locals were hiding. Some were playing pool on the table at the rear and others were watching football on the television. To the left of the entrance is a small stage area with music equipment and further left is a raised seating area. The bar stocks a standard keg range alongside Birra Moretti and there are also three hand pumps. These were drawing Castle Black, Merlin Gold and Excalibur from Merlin Micro Brewery located locally in Sandbach. To be honest, with the addition of a cloak and some pointy fabric slippers the governor wouldn’t have looked out of place in Camelot. I thought this place was welcoming and I’m glad I visited.

This pub may not be the most glamourous of pubs, but a real pub it is. Multi roomed, pool table, games console, friendly, entertainment, but best of all...real ale! Lymestone ales and sometimes a guest ale too.