The Black Horse Inn, Chesterton, Newcastle under Lyme

The left-hand public bar was closed on a recent Tuesday evening visit, so I joined two aged locals in the right-hand bar. The ‘lived in’ décor ranges from a notable thick wooden bar counter to a manky burnt and pitted carpet by the fireplace. Tables with seating run around the exterior walls and there are a few bar stools. At the rear of the pub is an area that houses more seating, a pool table, a plasma screen and a jukebox that was supplying some background music. There is also a small kitchen with serving hatch; Bar food and baps are available at some point during the day. The bar supports a standard keg range and three hand pumps, one of which was off leaving Greene King’s Old Speckled Hen and Abbot Ale as the cask options. Out the back is a smoking area and car park. Across a small path are some picnic tables on a large lawn. There is a quiz on Sundays from 21:00 and there is a late license Thursday to Saturday. I found the service to be polite and I imagine there is a decent atmosphere at busier times, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit again.