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The Butler's Bell, Stafford
Stafford
ST16 2NT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Butler's Bell
This former Wetherspoons was taken over by Davenports Brewery in Oct 2023. This large sports bar has the most wall mounted TV's I have ever seen. the pub has a total of 12 screens, 7 of which are in one line across the wall opposite the bar. I found looking at a bank of TV's like this very distracting. The staff were all efficient and wore the Davenports logo on their uniforms. Mostly a keg drinkers pub, but they did have one Davenports on handpump, which was fine, so someone must be going in for it.
On 30th March 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Butler's Bell (JD Wetherspoon)
I’ve no idea why anyone would choose this Wetherspoons over the far superior Picture House at the other end of the high street, but many had because the Butler’s Bell was very busy during a recent late midweek afternoon visit. Most people seemed to be eating so maybe the food is better in here? Tim Martin seems to have made his choice though because there’s a for sale sign up on the wall out front. This is actually quite small for a Spoons, and I wasn’t a fan of the décor which includes some 1970’s crystal lights above the brown Perspex fronted bar counter that runs up the left wall. There’s standard seating by the entrance and at the rear. High tables run down the centre opposite the bar and some booths run along the right-hand wall. FA cup football was being advertised.
The bar counter supports standard and premium keg alongside two banks of five identical hand pumps. These were drawing Ruddles, Sharp’s Doom Bar, GK Abbot Ale, Black’s Irish Red and the Flack’s Irish Porter was off. A very disappointing line up, probably the worst I’ve seen in any Spoons. It certainly feels like this place is winding down when it comes to wet sales. I’ll not be visiting here again before it’s sold, which is no loss to me.
On 22nd March 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Butler's Bell (JD Wetherspoon)
Converted at some stage from two adjoining buildings, it has modern furniture and decor but the most striking features are a number of prison style booths with metal grills (more attractive than that sounds...). Duplicated selection of Ruddles, Doom Bar and Abbot plus Titanic Plum Porter and Question Mark (or just ? on the clip) from Uttoxeter (£2.10) on this visit.
On 5th June 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Butler's Bell (JD Wetherspoon)
Not the best Wethers but its there so you may as well visit. The front part has a rather trendy looking bar with the usual selection of beers. Some of the seating here is booths. The back part has a slightly gaudy 'modern art' thingy on show. A fairly humdrum Wethers I thought.
On 13th December 2017
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Butler's Bell (JD Wetherspoon)
Not the better of the two Spoons but worth a visit. (Or two as I was in Stafford for a few days.) Not that much choice of ale, I'm sorry to say.
On 2nd January 2017
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Butler's Bell (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a very trendy looking Spoons once inside. The bar area over on the left hand side was very retro with a multi coloured Perspex bar front, which was illuminated from the back. The counter top was moulded plastic in grey and the back bar was all dark stained timber. The lounge had stone cladded areas and a central modern looking gas fireplace and surround.
The four steel jail style booths were and may be a reminder that we were close to Stafford Prison.
The back section of the pub, near the patio had a modern art display of white shoes stacked up on top of one another, to symbolise that Stafford was once a shoe making town.
Service at the bar was random, in spite of a few locals on our Saturday morning visit, giving a stern look in case they thought you were pushing in.
Ale wise there were two banks of five pumps, so we went for the Slaters Top Totty, which was a good choice.
On 29th August 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Butler's Bell (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a wholly uninspiring Spoons that opened in 2012 with just two features of merit, the metal cages mentioned below and the pleasant small conservatory and patio at the rear. Despite there being two banks of five hand pumps on the bar the beer choice was poor. The two GK beers and Doom Bore were doubled up and two clips were taken up by cider. This left just the house Butler's Bell brewed by Slater's (re-badged Premium) and Marston's King of Swing, yet another totally pointless sporting related beer supposedly endorsed by James Anderson whoever he is. I went for the house beer (£2.35) which was in good nick but about as exciting as a pint of Doom Bore.
I doubt that I would return here.
On 6th August 2015
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Butler's Bell (JD Wetherspoon)
UPDATE: Another Apres that has been sold-off to Spoons. The building is the same - only it has been resigned and still covers the ground floor from two former buildings, one in brick, the other white rendered. The patio is still at the back. The interior is of course the same shape and still retains the stone walling and wood floor from Apres. The tables are more Spoonsy and there are some 'cage areas' for those that want the prison food experience. The service was fine and the usual spoons' mix were in. There is no music or TV. Beer; Freedon lager/stout, with several real ales; Abbot, London pride, Doombar, Quartz Crystal, an American one and a decent enough Adnam's Braodside. Better than Apres, at least.
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(FEB 2011) A typical Apres. It is a terraced pub and eatery in Stafford town centre. It has pulled two former buildings into one, so it is in undressed brick and white render, with red signage. There is a patio at the back.
The interior is an open-plan room, with a few different partioned areas. The decor is the same fake ski-lodge look as their other outlets, with red and white, along with fake stone and wood - even the fire is fake! The service was fine and the clientele mainly the younger market, but the rugby was on the TV and it was all good natured. I didn't try the food, so i can't comment on that, but it is mainly set out for food, with comfy chairs and high stools.
Beer; no real ale, all keg stuff, with Peroni - which i had at £2 a half. It was nice enough, but ain't cheap, as they say.
One for the younger market in general and those that 'do lunch'.
On 10th November 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Apres
Not really a pub, as such, more a continental-style bar, culturally more cafe than pub. It's a modern, open sterile establishment at one end of the main pedestrian area, airy and convivial, well-suited to the shopper. However, there is no real ale, and the food isn't really what I'd want in a pub either. Fine for a quick lunch in town but not somewhere I'd want to spend an evening.
On 22nd June 2010
- rating: 2
[User has posted 3284 recommendations about 3249 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Dale Miles left this review about Apres
very convenient for shoppers, very nice beer and helpful barstaff, I have never tried the food.
On 14th May 2008
- rating: 4
[User has posted 184 recommendations about 182 pubs]