Sun Inn, Stafford

Fine pub with a good selection of Titanic ales on the front bar to have a go at and a further selection on the side of the bar. Would return here no problem.

Exceptionally good pub with a choice of 12 cask ales. Six from Titanic, Everards Tiger and five guest, we spotted Bowland Hen Harrier on the guest list and relished a few of them. The pub has plenty of seating areas, so we spent a bit of time inside and also ventured into the rear patio area as it was a splendid day.

When I visited Stafford in the 1990s Titanic had a different pub to this much nearer the station and visible from the train. Looking through the closed pubs reveals that it was the Stafford Arms. It was a hot day then and the Titanic beers were suffering as a result coming up far too warm. Happily those days are gone as most places have cooled lines and they certainly do in here. This pub seems to have had a chequered past including being an O'Neill's, a pub chain I have never used. As I expected Titanic and Everard's between them have done a great job on making it a decent pub as more than well described below. The bar has two sets of hand pumps with five at the front as you enter having the main Titanic range. The bank of seven further back had Everard's Tiger, Titanic Plum Porter, Rooster's Londinium, RCH Double Header, Caste Eden Traditional, Cameron's 150 and Downton Dark Delight. I tried the Titanic Iceberg (£3.00), Rooster's Londinium (£3.50) and Downton Dark Delight (£3.50). The Iceberg was in good condition but I thought was bland compared to my memory of it. The Londinium was excellent, a dark heavy coffee flavoured brew but I thought the Downton beer was past it's best. I don't doubt that this is the best pub for ale in Stafford but the quality of the Dark Delight on the day worries me.

Attractive old inn which looks to have been extended several times into various adjacent premises. Pleasantly traditional in appearance, with a variety of seating areas on two levels and a range of furniture including some booths. Comfortable atmosphere. 11 of 12 handpumps on when I visited; about half of which were owner Titanic's own beers and the remainder interesting guests e.g. Boggart Milk Stout £3.30. First class.