Loughborough & North Leicestershire CAMRA

2024 Easter Trip to Stone

Loughborough CAMRA Trip to Stone, Staffordshire

On Saturday 30th March 2024 we managed to get to Stone at last after 3 previous attempts failed due to railway strikes over the last 14 months. Eight members met at Loughborough railway station for the 09.47 train to Derby where there was a change for the Crewe train where we changed at Stoke-on-Trent for the 8 minute journey to Stone. The Loughborough-Stone return journey cost £30 or £19.80 with railcards.

Stone is a market town situated between Stafford and Stoke on Trent, next to the Trent and Mersey canal, which is popular with narrow boats. The Joule’s Brewery was once located in Stone near the canal and the town has a history in brewing. Joule’s has now made a return to town in the form of a flagship pub next to the canal. Stone has a reputation for food and drink with a variety of bars, restaurants and eateries and is a great place to sample real ales in its many pubs.

Our first pub of the day was the Borehole, the Brewery Tap for Lymestone Brewery, where we were joined by 2 members from Leicester who travelled via Nuneaton. The building was converted from an office building and is on the site that was formerly the Bent’s Brewery which got their water from a borehole, hence the reason for the pub name. Bent’s was bought out by Bass and was closed in the late 60’s and Lymestone was established in 2008 and moved its brewery tap to the Borehole in 2015. 6 real ales were on offer and we managed to sit outside for the first time of the year with a pint. More seating was available outside at the back. The pub is spacious inside with food available at certain times.

It was a short walk towards the town centre for our next pub, The Crown Wharf, a large flagship Joule’s pub, next to the Trent and Mersey canal, built for their home return to Stone, opened in July 2021. The pub is furnished with lots of knick-Knacks and wood panelling to a high standard, with a large bar in the centre of the pub, multiple drinking areas and a separate dining area. There is lots of outdoor sitting next to the canal. Real ales on offer were Joule’s Pale ale, Pure Blonde, Slumbering Monk and a Stout.

The Swan, just a short walk, also near the canal, is a thriving pub selling 9 real ales with a good section to choose from. Next stop was supposed to be the Wren. Mick led us there having been before, only to find it was now a wine bar. We have since discovered it moved in August 2023 and we managed to walk past it without noticing it. We must try it next time as it looks like an interesting pub with a wide range of beers, including some from Belgium.

With time running low we decided that The Royal Exchange, a Titanic pub, would be our last pub in Stone. This welcoming pub is long and narrow with a bar in middle and 2 areas of seating at the front and back. Titanic Iceberg, White Star, Steerage, Glacier, Plum Porter and a Cherry Porter and a guest beer were on offer. I went for my favourite, White Star (a blonde/golden beer 4.5%) and tried the Cherry Porter 4.9 % which was outstanding. Brian purchased a bottle of the Plum Porter Reserve which miraculously managed to survive the journey back to Loughborough after being taken into safe keeping in Chris’s rucksack.

It was time to head back to the station for the 16.52 train back to Stoke-on-Trent arriving at 17.00, here we had a 33 minute wait for our journey toward Derby where we planned to break our journey at Uttoxeter. On Stoke railway station there a bod cafe/bar run by Titanic located on platform 1 where they serve coffee, wine and Titanic beers. 4 beers were on offer, including an excellent Plum Porter, served by welcoming staff, light snacks were also available. There is also is bod café/bar in Stone.

On arriving at Uttoxeter at 17.59 we headed for town centre for The Night Inn, tap for Uttoxeter Brewing Company which is based not far away. Three Uttoxeter beers were available including a mild on a rotation along with1 guest beer, craft beers were also available in this smart modern bar with a very friendly welcome and CAMRA discount vouchers were accepted. At this point I realised the train was in 2 hours back to Derby and not every hour but no one seemed to mind.

Andy volunteered to check out the Wetherspoons opposite but reported there were only 3 beers on so we headed for the Horse and Dove, a spacious micropub not far away in the Market Square area. Five real ales were on offer including my favourites White Rat and Sarah Hughes mild so I ended up with ½ a pint of each. Our train to Derby was at 19.59 and after changing trains in Derby we arrived back in Loughborough at 21.52.

Dave Roche

 

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