Artisan Tap, Stoke-On-Trent

Artisan Tap is a stone floored bar where the entrance opens onto a serving counter to the right, stage at the rear and seating that runs up the left. It feels a bit like a shed, especially when there’s only one other customer. To be fair he was a friendly chap and the barmaid was also polite. I imagine it’s much busier when the advertised regular live music is in progress. Craft keg is available, as is cask ale from the four hand pumps that were drawing Salopian’s Dewdrops, Whim Ales’ Flower Power and Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby alongside Lilley’s Pina Colada cider. The Dewdrop was a decent murky brew that pretty much finished me off for the day. I’d pop back in if passing.

Another interesting addition to the NuL drinking scene and this new beer and gin bar owned by the people who had owned the café next door is now just over a year old. Interesting interior with a main room containing the bar, which I believe doubles as the main music room when the bar puts on frequent live music acts, a very interesting strange décor room at the back well described below, and a good sun trap patio area to the front. And our visit was clearly better than Will’s inaugural one for this review site as there were quite a few in on a Friday evening and there was a bit of atmosphere. Yes it has three real ales on as described below but from what I could see a large amount of the demographic where this one does float their boat were couples drinking more the craft beers (for the gentleman) and Gin cocktails (for the lady)..

I went for the Whim Hartington Bitter, which was in decent condition. We took our drinks into the boudoir on the left hand side, which was quite Parisian in style and had some decent seating. The front patio area was also a handy spot for some alfresco drinking on a fine day.

Easily missed along the Hartshill Road,this is a quirky and charming micro pub.The barmaids were chatty serving from a bar to the right.The real feature here is the room to the left in various shades of pink,with an array of small mirrors hanging along one wall.A tarts boudoir springs to mind,there is a mix of soft furnishings and a central refectory table although my recall may well have been affected towards the end of a long crawl.There were 4 handpumps offering Whim Hartington Bitter,Beowulf Dragonsnake,Salopian Oracle (good nick) and Tiny Rebel Cwtch I think.Worth including on a crawl around Hartshill.