Loughborough & North Leicestershire CAMRA

Burton upon Trent - Good Friday 2022

The weather forecast was looking great for the Loughborough Branch trip to Burton upon Trent, known as the brewing capital, and it didn’t disappoint, with a great warm sunny day. Seven members met at Loughborough railway station for the 10.47 train to Derby arriving at 11.08, with the intention of catching the 11.40 to Burton which no longer seem to exist. Instead our first pub of the day was The Brunswick, a brewpub just a short walk from the station now owned by Everards. The brewery still brews the Brunswick beer range and they were brewing that day. 14 beers to choose from with their beers and guests beers. Back at the Station we met 3 members from the Leicester branch who had arrived on a later train that was even more crowded than ours. We caught the next train at 12.10 to Burton arriving at 12.20.

In Burton we headed for The Devonshire Arms just a short walk from the railway station, heading towards the town centre, where there was an excellent selection of real ales at this delightful pub: Bass, Burton Bridge Bitter and Stairway to Heaven, Churchend Goats Milk and Stout Coffin, Stancill Stainless, and Gates Reservoir. Gates is a Burton microbrewery set up in a garage in Shobnall.

Just round the corner is a Burton institution: The Coopers Tavern, once considered the unofficial tap for Bass, opposite what looks now the derelict Bass brewery. It is a classic unspoilt 19th century ale house with a number of rooms and taproom at the rear of the pub with barrel tables and bench seating now owned by Joule’s Brewery. Their beers were on offer although Bass is still served here along with up to nine beers. We opted to sit outside in the courtyard to make the most of the warm weather. Brad’s brother who lives in Burton joined us.

Next the National Brewery Tap which has a separate entrance which you can access without purchasing a museum ticket, although the museum is worth a visit if you have never been. They brew a section of beers from the associated William Worthington Brewery now under the name of Heritage Brewery, some from old recipes from former beers. On this glorious day we sat outside in the nice beer garden.

The next pub was a fair walk to the recently refurbished Olde Royal Oak in the Market place. A range of 8 excellent beers was on offer from the Fownes brewery in Brierley Hill in the Black Country, Birmingham . The Olde Royal Oak is in this year’s Good Beer Guide and also Burton’s 2022 Pub of the Year. Our Leicester friends moved on from this point for a more ambitious plan to visit a couple of brewery taps which tend to open on Friday evenings and a bit of a trek out from the centre. The one thing to remember visiting Burton is that the town is well spread out and good planning is needed. Also check opening times as some only open from 4pm during the week.

No visit to Burton would be complete without calling in the 17th century pub and brewery which houses the Burton Bridge Brewery and Tap which opened in 1982. The pub was one of the early revival of brewpubs at that time. The pub has two rooms with a central serving bar with the front room having wooden pews. A range of Burton Bridge beers were on offer travelling from brewery in the yard at the back of the pub.

After walking back towards the railway station, just over the bridge, is the Weighbridge Inn micropub run by the Muirhouse Brewery. The building is a former coal yard office next to the old Midland grain warehouse which is now a Travelodge. Inside the pub there are two rooms with a small bar. They serve two Muirhouse beers with Tick Tock being a regular. I opted for the Muirhouse Magnum Mild 4.5% which was outstanding. There are also two guests beers from other breweries available. Snacks are also available including the excellent value cheese and savoury snack boxes and they also do prebooked Sunday lunches . Richard and Mandy Muir were working on our visit and it was great to see them again.

After a great time in Burton upon Trent it was time for our return journey to Loughborough. The total cost of train return journey Loughborough – Burton was £18.60 or £12.10 with rail cards. We only had time to visit a few pubs but there are many other pubs and micropubs in the town worth a visit. See the CAMRA good beer guide and Whatpub for more information.

Dave Roche

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