PUB TEAM MAKES CRAFTY MOVE!
Bottlecraft takes on ex-lap dancing club
ONE of Stoke-on-trent’s most popular craft ale pubs has announced plans to open a second venue – in an old lap dancing club.
Bottlecraft, in Hanley, has built up a reputation for its beer offering and trendy atmosphere since opening six years ago.
It is one of only 15 pubs in the Potteries to have made it into the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2022.
Now a second outlet is to launch in Newcastle, in the former Lace Gentlemen’s Club which sold at auction earlier this year.
Renamed The Crossways, it is hoped the first punters will be welcomed in the run up to Christmas on December 17.
A spokesman said: “The Crossways has a lot of history for some members of the Bottlecraft team, but more importantly it’s a 200-plus year old pub which has been out of action for far too long.
“We’re working hard to get the place ready for you to enjoy, and are looking forward to welcoming you all on our opening date.”
The city centre
Bottlecraft originally opened in Marsh Street in 2015 before relocating to its current site in Piccadilly two years later.
The Crossways will open in a prominent three-storey building in Nelson Place, which first opened as a drinking establishment in 1790.
It was known as The Compasses Inn until 1974, and later changed its name to The Crossways and the Queen Victoria.
But it closed as a pub in the early
2000s and was replaced by Lace Gentlemen’s Club in 2007.
News of the pub launch has been welcomed by drinkers across North Staffordshire.
Churchill China worker Dave Hubszer, aged 39, from Bignall End, said: “This is great news. One thing I would say is that while they have an amazing selection overall in Hanley, they only have one or two cask options. A bigger proper pub hopefully means more cask ales.”