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Detail Pages
The Star, Stone
Stone
ST15 8QW
Pub Type
Local Pub (Marstons)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve C left this review about The Star
The Star is a lock side Marston’s pub with picnic tables down the canal side of the pub to allow for waterside drinking. Having arrived by foot I entered through the car park past a couple of picnic tables to the entrance where I found some steps up to the left where the main L-shaped bar counter is found. Standard and premium keg were available, but unfortunately only Bank’s Amber was being drawn from the four hand pumps. To the right of the entrance some steps lead down to a flag stone floored area with an old worn brick fireplace, but it was lights out down here during a recent late Tuesday evening visit. I think this pub must come into its own when the downstairs bar is open and passersby alongside canal folk are utilising the facilities. During my visit it could have been any mediocre high street boozer on a quiet week night.
On 28th March 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Star
A Marstons pub by the canal, with two levels and two bars. The lower Canal Bar seems to be the original pub, judging by the shape of the two rooms and the ancient door leading out to the lock gate. I bought my drink from the upper bar, where there are four hand pumps (see photo). I had not had Banks's Amber Bitter before, so was pleasantly surprised to discover it was a very good and well-balanced bitter, with a lingering dry finish. I'm not a great fan of Marstons, but have to say this was a truly excellent beer. (I would have stopped for more but I was trying to catch up with a group that I'd arranged to meet, my train having arrived an hour late.) Stone has a number of very good pubs, and I would not hesitate to return to this one if in town again.
On 31st March 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3746 recommendations about 3483 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Star
A decent well kept pub with a traditional interior as you would expect for its idyllic location. We called on a Friday afternoon around five with the sun blazing, so the beer garden was full to capacity with numerous bottles of chilled white wine served in stainless steel wine coolers. Four handpumps on the bar with three in operation, Bank's Bitter, Pedigree and Sunbeam. We went for the Sunbeam which was decent enough.
On 28th August 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Star
As noted it is right by a lock so if you're lucky you might get to see the canal boats passing through. As for the pub it is nice and worth an hour or two of your time.
On 13th May 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Star
The Star is a nice looking pub that is in a good location right next to a lock on the Trent & Mersey canal.
Once inside there is a large dining room to the left,i went to the right which lead me into a small square shaped room,there were bench seating and small stools,the floor was tiled and there was a nice real fire on the go,there is another small room off this to the rear left,this room is also square shaped.
The pub is a Marstons tied house,there were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Banks's Sunbeam which was a very nice drink,the other beers were Peigree,Jennings Snecklifter and Banks's bitter.
There was some quiet background music playing,there were a few drinkers and diners in the small rooms i did'nt look in the larger room.
I quite liked this pub.
Pub visited 7/12/2013
On 7th December 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Star
You can't get more canalside than The Star,it's right next to Star Lock and there are wooden benches on the lock side if you want to get close to the boating action.Although most people will enter the pub from the car park,the best part of this old pub is seen from the entrance off the towpath.This opens into the Canal Room which is wonderfully traditional,tiled floor,real fire,bench seating built around the walls and a small serving counter with just enough room for 5 handpumps.To one side,and at a lower level is a charming snug with similar furniture,a small serving area and a lattice window giving views of the bottom gates of the lock.You need to ring a bell to attract the attention of the bar staff who normally reside in the main bar of the pub along an internal corridor.
The rest of the pub ,although pleasant does have a corporate pubco feel.Pews,settles, tables and chairs with a mix of wooden and flag stone flooring maintains the traditional feel.A more recent side extension is mainly used by diners and has views over the garden which borders a modest river which the canals crosses by a small aqueduct.
This is a Marston's managed house and the ale selection on my trip was Banks's Bitter and Sunbeam (£2.75),Pedigree and Hobgoblin with one pump unused.I have visited this pub many times over the years and always found the interior more interesting than the ale,and this was confirmed on my latest visit by an indifferent pint.The focus on food and it's honey pot location is probably the reason for a lack of care,but if you want to see an authentic boatman's pub interior,pop in the side door.
On 20th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Wynne Route left this review about The Star
Address is Stafford Road rather than Street
On 30th November 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 350 recommendations about 335 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Star
A nice looking white rendered, irregular shaped, detached canalside Banks's pub, with patio
The interior is higgledy-piggledy, with two main areas. The decor is mostly white, except for the extension where we sat, which was mostly in yellow. There are lots of traditional kinds of ephemera; plates, pictures and old bottles, with some nice fireplaces. The music was mixed and at a decent level, the service was fine and clientele mixed. A little more upmarket than my last visit, but still a comfy place.
Beer; tap stuff, amazingly, with no MILD. The Pedigree was decent and the Marston's Sweet Chariot, fine - the Banks's Bitter was untried - i was a tad disappointed with the choice, but the ales were well kept - just get the MILD in!
A definate visit and return to pub. After some of the disappointments of the day, this was one of the top three.
On 3rd March 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]