Rugeley, Staffs:
A ‘spoons, so most of it is by-the-numbers ‘spoons, but this is one of the nicer ones: the conversion of the old cinema is nicely done, and the beer garden is nice. Other than that, standard ‘spoons- cheap food, decent beer, but surprisingly toilets that aren’t miles away!
Rugeley, Staffs:
Fairly typical town-centre pub, albeit with a nice frontage with windows that have escaped impact for many years, by the looks of it. From the street it looks small as you walk in, but it goes a fair way back. Cask on offer, but the Tribute I had was on the edge. Cheap, though, and pleasant staff.
Rugeley, Staffs:
Moderately grim town-centre pub: no cask, incontinent dog. Very cheap and a very pleasant barmaid, otherwise a very uninspiring place: even the decor was nondescript.
Rugeley, Staffs:
A positively lovely, traditional, multi-room pub just on the edge of Rugeley town centre. A brewery onsite creates the house beer (which was great). There’s food- including specials nights (Greek, Carribean), and friendly staff.
Inside is very traditional: quarry-tiled floors, lots of rooms- it’s a bit of a warren. There’s outside space as well.
Gentleshaw, Staffs:
A proper country pub, but only up the road, really, just over the border in Staffs, but it really is countryside- not an awkward halfway house where there’s no amenities but all the disadvantages of urban life, but actual open country.
I’d been meaning to go here for years, but the disadvantage of proper country is that it’s not accessible by public transport, and it’s a bit further than I’d usually cycle, so the offer of a chauffeured visit and lunch seemed worthwhile.
They’ve repurposed a bit of what was apparently parking in front of the pub to a terrace area (with great views), but there’s still decent parking over the road- a good thing, given that car is how many people will be getting here, and the lanes are too narrow to park in.
The pub itself is nice, traditional, multi-roomed, beamed. There’s decent real ale, great food, and pleasant staff. There’s a bowling green outside, too, as well as a play area that hopefully might keep the kids corralled in, and the remains of the windmill that gives the pub its name.
Rugeley, Staffs;
With me having limited mobility again, Stymistress was driving. We’d had an abortive visit to The Toby Carvery Norton Canes The Turf (full of kids running about), The Railway, and an assortment of other pubs just over the border in Staffs, none of which were serving lunchtime sandwiches, which is what we were after. We’d suffered the traffic calming in Heath Hayes once, so instead of turning round, came back the long way round, aiming for The Hedgehog, but saw this first.
Pretty good too: Marstons foodish pub with a dining area out the back, but pool table and seating for drinkers at the front, so it’s still a pub- comfortable and pleasant, not just a family feedbag. Really, really friendly barmaid (landlady?), decent food, and cask ale. My Wainwright was on the turn, but changed without question for Pedigree which was in great nick- maybe a little cold for some, but that’s being picky. The food was decent, and good value. Overall a great pub; just a shame we’re not likely to visit often, but if you don’t mind driving there’s a decent car park.