5 Great Real Ale Pubs in Staffordshire

As you would expect in the UK Home of Brewing, there is no shortage of great pubs in Staffordshire! Whet your whistle in one of these top hostelries.

1. The White Star, Stoke

Our county is home to many thriving breweries, not least Titanic Brewery, which has seven pubs in Staffordshire and Cheshire, including The White Star in Stoke-on-Trent.

With 10 hand pulls and 13 taps to choose from there will be something to tempt every ale aficionado, from Titanic's delicious fruity and sweet Plum Porter to the pale and hoppy Iceberg.

Named after the company behind HMS Titanic, the walls are adorned with interesting archive newspaper articles and items linked to the ship and its famous demise.

Enjoy a bite from the traditional menu, laden with pub classics and snacks, and relax in the welcoming lounge, with no TVs or loud music to drown out your conversation.

TripAdvisor reviews describe it as a friendly, welcoming pub offering great food and excellent value for money - the sort of pub 'you would go out of your way to visit'.

2. The Red Lion, Bradley

Well known for the excellence of its food, The Red Lion at Bradley, near Stafford, also has a wide selection of real ales.

Home of the Afternoon Tea of the Year at last year's Taste of Staffordshire Good Food Awards, this quintessentially English country pub prides itself on offering the best local food and takes the same approach to beer, with many brewed right here in Staffordshire by the likes of Titanic Brewery.

And they are also working on their own, called Bradley Pride.

There are lovely surroundings to soak in while you sup your pint too. Dating back to the 17th Century, The Red Lion was extensively refurbished in 2016 but has retained many of the beautiful period features, including the timber frame.

Of particular interest are the standing stones outside the pub - local folklore says the Devil stole them from the local church, but they were so heavy he had to drop them as he ran away, and they have remained in place ever since.

3. The Borehole, Stone

One of Lymestone's three brewery taps, The Borehole in Stone is a stone's throw away from the Lymestone headquarters and offers a range of award-winning cask ales on tap, as well as guest ales and ciders.

Combining log-burning fires and comfy sofas with great beers like the award-winning Cherry Stone, which picked up a bronze medal at the 2018 Society of Independent Brewers national awards in March, The Borehole is well worth a look.

It's welcoming for all visitors - even the wet ones - and has been named our Dog-Friendly Business of the Year at the Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Awards for two years in succession.

It's also in the running for the Pub of the Year Award - alongside the Brewery's other pub, The Lymestone Vaults in Newcastle-under-Lyme - at the Taste of Staffordshire Good Food Awards, to be held at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Monday 22nd October.

Lymestone Brewery are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year - will they have another reason to celebrate on the 22nd?

4. The White Lion, Newcastle

While the food at The White Lion at Knighton is outstanding, owners Julian and Helen Jackson are determined to establish their venue as a country pub that delivers brilliant food, not a restaurant that used to be a pub.

With that in mind, great care is taken to identify the very best ales, ethically produced - locally where possible - and created with passion.

There is an excellent House Best Bitter, alongside 10-15 different cask ales a month, which are mostly brewed within 30 miles of the pub, which is on the Staffordshire-Shropshire border in the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The likes of Slater's and Lymestone Brewery make regular appearances, as do Shropshire breweries Salopian, Woods and Hobson's.

The 17th Century bar is a lovely spot for trying a new tipple, why not relax a while with a pint beside the roaring fire this Autumn?

5. The Boat Inn, Lichfield

Another spot perhaps better known for the quality of its food, thanks to award-winning head chef (and owner) Liam Dillon, Lichfield's The Boat Inn also prides itself on the wide range of local and craft ales behind the bar.

Suppliers include Walsall's Backyard Brewhouse, Floth Blowers Brewery from Birmingham, and Blackheath's Fixed Wheel Brewery - all within 20 miles of the pub.

A great selection, including a few of General Manager Corin's personal favourites, which has caught the eye of many TripAdvisor reviewers.

And judging by the 2019 Michelin Guide, which praises the 'refined modern dishes' and 'colourful, eye-catching' fayre, they are not alone in recommending a visit.

Why not drop in and find out why they are so highly-rated?

The National Brewery Centre

If you like your ales, as well as these great pubs in Staffordshire, you should definitely pop in to the National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent.

Discover the history of the town and why it became the centre of the UK brewing industry, explore one of the largest collections of brewing memorabilia, and sample some great ales brewed on-site at the William Worthington micro-brewery.

Have we missed out your favourite?

Let us know on the Taste of Staffordshire Facebook page here, or our Twitter page here, and we'll give your pick a shout-out!