Regulars at a traditional Stafford pub are toasting its success in scooping the prestigious Pub of the Year award for the area.
The Spittal Brook, in Lichfield Road, has been given the award by the Heart of Staffordshire branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).
Campaigners have praised landlord Pete Turner for turning the pub around and making it a firm favourite with real ale enthusiasts.
Pete, who has run the pub for the last seven years, said he was pleased and proud to receive the award.
He said: “It is an achievement because the pub was, to all intents and purposes, a shell when I took it on. It was operating on a very limited basis.
“I’ve completely refurbished it and improvements are still ongoing.
“Real ale is what the pub is about, with six real ales and a cask cider on every day. There is no juke box, no big screen TV and no pool table.
“It stands on its own merits and the people that go in there make it what it is.
“We are a no-nonsense pub – it’s like stepping back in time.”
Heart of Staffordshire CAMRA spokesman Mike Harker said Pete maintained the philosophy that “the drinker is king” and provided what the locals wanted – excellent beer.
2 Comments
My goodness i am surprised.The pub is horrid!
Its old and manky.Like its surroundings.Sit in the beer garden and breath in the fumes from the overhead traffic really lovely treat for you on a summers night!
@Breeze I am very surprised at your comment Breeze as The Spittal is one of the best pubs in Stafford and the surrounding area. They have folk music every Tuesday, a quiz every Wednesday, and the beer is superb. Granted, the beer garden isn’t in the best of surroundings, but breathing in car fumes is a slight exaggeration. As the article says it’s the people that really make the Spittal Brook, and you’d do well to head down yourself more often.