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Detail Pages
Bird in Hand, Stafford
Stafford
ST16 2AQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Real Ale Ray left this review about Bird in Hand
We really liked this BCA pub, the staff were friendly and chatty, along with the locals in the front bar. In fact we visited here twice, the first visit was a couple of pints and a freshly made roll. Then a wander around the town and back a second time to watch the footy, with the locals in the front bar.
Three BCA beers plus 8 guest and 2 ciders. I mostly went for the Green Duck Blonde, Bostin'Bitter and the Shiny Brewery Wrench Stout.
On 26th March 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Bird in Hand
To the left of the entrance of the Bird in Hand is a small seating area with a log fireplace, and to the right is a thin front bar area with serving counter that faces banquette seating along the front wall. To the right of the counter is a dartboard and a fireplace sits on the right wall. Televisions found throughout were showing muted EFL football. The bar supports eight hand pumps that were drawing Black Country Ales Fireside, BFG and Pig on the Wall alongside Sharp’s Sea Fury, Hartlebury Brewing’s Hooker and APA, Salopian’s Whole Truth, and Lilley’s Cider. There is also a back bar with more banquettes and another log fire. This area was busy with chatter from a strong local contingent during my Wednesday evening visit. More hand pumps on the bar were drawing the same three BCA ales alongside Burton Bridge’s Stairway to Heaven, Woodforde’s Bure Gold, Coach House Brewing’s Strawberry, WVA Hoppy Ale and Pulp’s Damson Cider. There was also and limited keg selection of Staropramen, Carling and a cider. The service was friendly and there was a decent atmosphere so I’d return without issue.
On 19th March 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Bird in Hand
This was a flying visit between trains so it was a swift pint of Butty Bach then off. The front room, the public bar, is an agreeable spot with green buttoned banquettes, dark stained wainscoting, a TV and dartboard. There is a snug across the entry corridor then further rooms to the rear.
As previously noted there are a lot of cask ales on here, listed on a digital board in the bar. My Butty Bach was fine but you do wonder about throughpull. There were three from Black Country plus eight others from different sources as well as two Lilly’s ciders.
I found the welcome to be friendly and the ambience good on an early Saturday evening.
On 12th June 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Bird in Hand
Stafford's second Black Country Ales pub, comfortable and friendly but with too many beers on. I went for two halves, and while my BCA English Winter 5.2% was ok, the local-ish Boot Bitter 4.0% (from Repton, near Derby) was so far past its best, with a hint of sourness about it, that I took it back and got it changed for BCA Fireside Bitter 5.0%. Neither of my companions was over the moon about their beers either. I didn't go around counting the beers on the bar here or in the Shrewsbury Arms, but like in other BCA pubs I would reckon there were just too many. The apology that I got when my half was changed was routine, a sure sign to me that they run the beers until someone complains, rather than being on top of the beers and the turnover as they should be.
On 28th November 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Hurdle left this review about Bird in Hand
This is the nearest pub to Stafford station, straight across past Victoria park and through Victoria Square.
This is a very good, nicely refurbished pub. In the well appointed bar area, 8 handpumps served mainly Black Country Ales and some guest ales. The excellent Black Country "Pig on the Wall" is definitely one of the least boring brown beers I have tasted.
To the side of the bar room there is another small room, a larger lounge to the rear, leading out to a large beer garden. In the 2019 GBG, it must have lost its place in the 2020 guide due to pub rotation!
On 16th September 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 707 recommendations about 645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Bird in Hand
This is a large pub that has been modernised by BCA into a comfortable public bar area at the front and a large lounge at the side and rear. I went in the public bar which has a wooden floor, a dart board and a TV showing sport "news". There is another small area off to the left.
I saw 8 hand pumps which had two ciders, the three BCA ales, Hobgoblin, Otter Poppy and AJ's Hop Hut. I went for the Hop Hut (£3.20) and the BCA Fireside (£3.30) both of which were in excellent condition.
This is an ambitious place for BCA to take over especially given they have another pub in town. I wish them well with it.
On 16th November 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Bird in Hand
Recently taken over by Black Country (July 2017) and has been thoroughly refurbed with the previous 4 rooms becoming 2. The old reviews for this place are often less-than-flattering but there’s changes here. There’s a public bar as you enter with laminate flooring, darts and bottle green leather button back seating. Carpeted snug to left and larger lounge to rear. Piped music utterly unsuited to the pub, barman’s choice I suspect. Very quiet on a late Thursday evening and given its location maybe that’s not too much of a surprise, it’s a little removed from the other pub hotspots by dint of the church grounds and the station is too far away for this to work as a train pub. Eight pumps with seven ales and one cider. My Stray Cat Milk Stout was in great shape and there were also filled rolls available, so I snaffled one. This place will need a while to get going but the fabric of a good pub is here.
On 14th December 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about Bird In Hand
Dreadful pub. with no ale on. Hardly anybody in on Friday night before the New Year but there was a mumbling drunk standing at the bar who did not add to the ambience. Avoid.
On 2nd January 2017
- rating: 1
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Bird In Hand
Two bars (one empty, the other extended at the back), plus a side room in total darkness and a rear patio. Four handpumps on each counter, but only Rocking Rudolph and Rocked Out (£1.70, half) actually available. Two disinterested bar staff on duty, one looking at his 'phone the whole time, and the other discussing with almost the only other customer why Stafford town centre's pubs seemed to have gone to the dogs in the last few years. Wonder why?
On 27th December 2015
- rating: 4
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Bird In Hand
Quite a good boozer. The rear beer garden area had a largish TV screen but I'm not sure if it still works. Had 2 casks from the nationals on.
On 19th September 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]