Tag Archives: marstons

Tyneside

Pitcher & Piano Newcastle

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Newcastle-upon-Tyne:

CAMRA/Whatpub link
Website

Well, it’s nothing unexpected, is it? Upmarket from a ‘spoons, one of the national chains – a standard Marston’s chain pub right on the waterfront opposite the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (where we’d been), just a short walk over the Millenium Bridge.

However, it delivered what we needed, quite well. We needed a sit, a drink, and some lunch. The place was quiet, the food wasn’t at all bad, and the staff were pleasant. I’d probably find it a bit lively on a Friday night, but on a Wednesday lunchtime it was a decent fit for us.

Streetly, Walsall

Farmer John’s

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Streetly, Walsall:

I’ve probably already upset the Streetly lot, who will be insistent they’re in Sutton Coldfield.

Tough.

I still think of Farmer John’s as a new pub, despite it being there since at least the early 90s, maybe the late 80s. It was one of those modern Banks’s pubs of the time, but unlike others, this seems to thrive.

Standard feedbag stuff, but the food was well cooked, the staff were pleasant, parking was easy, and it wasn’t full of kids, so it was quite pleasant.

Coventry

Biggin Hall

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Coventry:

Whatpub Link
Website
Pub Heritage Link

We needed lunch, we wanted to see this pub as it was in the heritage guide, so from Coventry station, it was a taxi to here.

From the outside, it’s Brewer’s Tudor, built about 1923. Inside, it’s been altered, so the front bar looks pretty much normal pubco (Marstons), but there’s more history in other rooms.

Back to the matter in hand: Pedigree, 61 Deep and Doom Bore for real ale, all the other usual suspects. A predictable but not bad pubco menu, and a pleasant suburban local’s pub.

Rugeley, Staffordshire

The Red Lion

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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.