Hogarths, Stafford

Hogarths is a large high street pub that has a strip of seating along the front entrance before steps lead up to the bar and main seating areas. For those who cannot manage the steps there’s a wheelchair lift on the right-hand wall. On the left wall adjacent to the barrier overlooking the aforementioned seating is table football. The long bar then runs up the left hand wall facing some high tables dotted up the centre of the pub towards the rear. Along the right wall are large banquette seating areas as well as a large snug that is denoted as ‘karaoke’. Thankfully there was nothing going on in here during my late midweek afternoon visit. At the rear is more seating and a dartboard. There is a lot of standing room as this is a pub geared towards the weekend crowds. Televisions located throughout were playing muted Racing TV and there was some 90’s background music playing. Out the back is a split-level ‘drinks terrace’ with some covered seating. I imagine this terrace is more of a smoking area when busy. The bar supports standard and premium keg alongside three hand pumps that were drawing Pedigree alongside Titanic’s Iceberg and Plum Porter. The latter was on top form and was also very cheap with a pint costing £2.90. The service was friendly and I enjoyed my stay, although there were only five other customers. I think my view may be different on a busy weekend.