Mellards, Newcastle Under Lyme Central, Newcastle under Lyme

Mellards is a modern split-level bar in an old converted warehouse. The bar on the rear wall faces a spattering of high tables and there is more seating up some steps to the right. Two of the four hand pumps were in use drawing Pentrich’s Hidden Verse, which was good, and Seacider. Craft keg is the preferred tipple in here with ten fonts being available. During a recent midweek evening visit there were a few people using the patio furniture in the yard out front, but the bar itself was empty. The service was polite, but having only one cask ale will turn many off. Opens at 15:00 in the week.

A converted warehouse that has been nicely, if sparsely, decorated. It was a bit difficult to find as the top of the lane is effectively an alleyway and was populated by the local druggies judging by the paraphernalia in the doorways. However by the time you get to the pub it's fine. Two handpumps serving Moor Nor'hop and Blue Bee Cocoa Cabana. I went for a pint of the Nor'hop which promptly went off as most of the PuG crew were drinking it. The Blue Bee was a nice pint though and Ms CAMRA liked her red wine. We'll happily call in here again.

Modern split-level bar housed in an old warehouse building so there is quire a contrast between external appearance and what you find within. Limited decor, with just a few pictures on the exposed brickwork. Additional seating outside on the courtyard patio area. Two real ales on handpump: Moor Nor'hop and Blue Bee Cocoa Cabana.

Official site of Mellards Bar - www.mellardsbar.co.uk

Official site of Mellards Bar - www.mellardsbar.co.uk

A modern bar housed in a former warehouse that manages to make a rather unaesthetic exterior look appealing with a bit of paint and glass. It has a patio area. The interior is on two levels, being in general in brick and grey. The upstairs has the comfy seating, the downstairs has the high chairs. A few photos are dotted about. No TV, the music was soft. Service was very good and there were just our party in. The bar is in the corner and it serves a couple of changing real ales: I had the Blue Bee Cocoa Cabana Porter, which was very nice. Happy enough with my visit and would go back.

On the plus side it’s great to see a fine piece of Victorian brick architecture that has remained derelict and unloved for 20 years transformed into a trendy town centre bar and the original building windows and exposed brickwork has been incorporated well into the renovation. The down side for me personally was that I found it a fairly soulless space, especially the ground floor area, which isn’t helped by having the bloody big roof support pole in the middle of the room. This may well have been due to the fact that our late lunchtime visit found the place empty with the exception of one other punter and perhaps it’s a different story late evening when its full of trendy 30 somethings drinking cocktails. I got the feeling from the 241-cocktail offer going from 12 till 6pm that again I’m probably not the target demographic for this bar, but it was good to see a focus on ales with two cask in the form of Moor Brewery NorHop and Blue Bee Cocoa Cabana (£3.80 for a 5.2%) and three craft in the form of Mikkeller Stick a Finger in the Soil, Magic rock Dark Arts and the cheerfully named Dead End Brew Machine’s Death III (£5.20 for a 6.5% beer). Certainly was one worth including in a crawl of NuL, especially with the large outside drinking area, but not one I’d be inclined to spend an evening in.

As noted below, this is a modern bar set in part of an old warehouse. It's a split level room with the upper part several steps up to the right of the bar area. The only low seating is either up the stairs or the large patio at the front. For me it was a trendy sort of place aiming at the crafty sector rather than old school. There was a 70s music track playing. I turned up here before midday so wasn't surprised to be the only punter. The two cask ales available were certainly on the crafty side, Moor Nor'Hop and Blue Bee Cocoa Cabana. I went for the Nor'Hop (£3.60) which was in good nick but on the expensive side for the area. It's not really my sort of place but is worth a look as the beer choice seems to be completely away from the mainstream.