I know! You get no pubs from me for a couple of weeks, then two come along at once!!
#208 The Bird in Hand, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent : 1999 to 2016 (RIP)
First, the bad news. This is a pub that I don't think I ever went in, but it is one we've failed to find on several visits!
This picture was taken on the way back to our boat after a bit of a pub crawl around Hanley on Friday 3rd September 1999. It was closed by then...and we probably couldn't have drunk any more. But, we'd be able to visit it next time we were in the area!
Sadly our optimism was unfounded (and our sense of direction let us down, again) so that we didn't pass by until the evening of Saturday 26th March 2016.
The Bird in Hand is no more, now it is an Islamic community centre - a fate suffered by many pubs in inner city areas.
#209 Shoulder of Mutton Inn, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent : 2011 to 2016
This is the good news story. On the evening of Friday 2nd September 2011 we stumbled across this magnificent looking back street pub.
At the time it looked as though the Shoulder of Mutton was gone forever, but no, this is what we found on Saturday 26th March 2016.
It was alive and well and open for business; so we had a quick pint. Inside it is all that you'd expect of an 'old school' back street boozer. The Carling was nice and cold, but there was no real ale (although there was a hand pump!). More information can be found here.
Ex Punch, don't know who's reopened it but best of luck to them.
ReplyDeleteAccording to What Pub, it is Sunset Taverns which is a Stoke (Tunstall) based brewer and pub owner.
DeleteInteresting, never heard of their beers and their website is very unilluminating. Might go and have a look.
ReplyDelete