How pub’s ‘awesome foursome’ continues to pull the punters...
Ale experts honour ‘cosy’ city centre venue where traditional values survive
it’s defied developers, covid and changing trends in design – now a much-loved city centre venue has been crowned Pub of the Month by real ale enthusiasts.
staff and customers at The Coachmakers, in Hanley, are celebrating the accolade from the Potteries branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.
Landlord Rob Ledgar says he is ‘glad’ to receive the title and the barrel trophy, which goes from pub to pub each month. Rob has been in charge of the ‘homely’ and ‘cosy’ Lichfield street venue for more than five years, keeping it running through lockdown.
But he also puts on social events outside of the pub, including tours of breweries whose ales he sells.
He said: “This is a much-loved pub. it’s stayed open since Covid, which is a good sign. it was due for demolition years ago to make way for a shopping development and people petitioned to keep it open. We do okay, especially during weekends and during the evenings. We get a good little crowd in, notably before and after a show at the Victoria Hall.”
Rob says the pub is not just about real ale, it sells more than 50 varieties of spirits. He adds: “it’s a rare pub because it’s retained four rooms, instead of knocking through to create one big room like most pubs have. so we still have the drinking corridor, which not many pubs in the country have left today.”
The landlord says he loves meeting new people and being visited by people, many of whom have travelled ‘far and wide’ to get there.
“i like meeting people and chatting to people,” he said. “You never know who might walk through the door – especially with having the bus station across the road. i meet people from far and wide, and i meet some interesting characters. sometimes i get people from performing in the shows at the Victoria Hall coming across for a drink.
“i also do days out, such as the brewery trip we’ve got planned on saturday. Then we’ll come back here afterwards, which is nice because people who are regulars at the pub don’t necessarily cross paths as some visit on weeknights, and some visit on weekends.
“it gives them a chance to get to meet one another.”
The pub’s lounge boasts traditional tables and chairs and an open fire, although some customers prefer the front room closest to the bar.
The biggest room has a tv and a dartboard along with tables and chairs. The fourth room has a piano, an arcade game for two players, and a ‘mini-library’ for drinkers to take advantage of.
Francis Westfield is an author and retired science teacher, and now spends many evenings and weekends among friends in the Coachmakers Arms.
He said: “it’s got a lovely, cosy design – similar to the Jolly Potters. There’s a nice fire and nice people where everyone knows one another and can speak to one another. Also, it’s very cheap in my opinion as all the bottles of beer cost £3.40.”
■ The Coachmakers Arms is open Monday to Thursday from 3.30pm until 11.30pm; on Fridays from 1pm until 12.30am; Saturdays 1pm -12.30am, and from 1pm-11.30pm on Sundays.