#075 Millrace, Milton, Staffs : 1999 to 2011

On our first trip along the Caldon Canal we stopped at Foxley on the way back from Leek only to find that the pub there was shut! So it was a short walk back along the towpath to Milton where we discovered the Millrace.

This was on Friday 3rd September 1999 and, as I recall, it was a friendly local, but there wasn't any food available apart from crisps and nuts.

The next time we were cruising along the Caldon Canal we stopped at Milton on the way to Leek at lunchtime on Saturday 14th September 2002.

Not much change, apart from the extra satellite dish on the side. Still no food on offer so we ended up at the Miners Arms (see #055).

It was quite a few more years before we returned to Milton, this time an evening stop.

This photo was taken on Tuesday 30th August 2011 and I'm pleased to report that the Millrace is still a friendly local. No food available, but they did direct us to a very good curry house just up the road. The outside hasn't changed that much, but they are back to just the one satellite dish. The large sign on the end wall (previously a Burtonwood Beers sign) indicates that the Millrace is now home to the Outer Circle Scooter Club.

The Millrace is now a Marstons pub. If you're looking for a friendly local that is still a proper pub, then the Millrace is worth a visit if you're in the area.

#055 The Miners Arms, Milton, Staffs : 2002 to 2011

The Miners Arms is a lovely little local pub in Milton just outside Stoke-on-Trent. Our first visit was in 2002 on our second cruise along the Caldon Canal.

This first picture was taken at lunchtime on Saturday 14th September 2002. As usual I don't remember too much about it apart from it being a friendly local that didn't do food. It's the type of pub that was found almost everywhere, but nowadays this style of pub is becoming a somewhat endangered species.

So it was something of a surprise that it was still there on our latest visit to Milton on another cruise along the Caldon Canal.

This photo was taken on the evening of Tuesday 30th August 2011. It is still a proper local pub with friendly staff. They still don't do food, but were only too happy to direct us to the nearest curry house which was very good!

On a first glance The Miners Arms doesn't appear to have changed in the 11 years, but on closer inspection the name has gone from upper case lettering to normal text and the net curtains have been replaced with frosted glass (or the equivalent) to give it a more traditional look.

I'm not sure if Milton Rangers FC are still in action, but the Miners Arms team are active in the Coors Sunday League Premier Division.