Getting

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IntroductionThis trail takes in 13 pubs and bars around Leek, plus a selection of shops and markets, all offering some of the UK’s finest ales and beers. The pubs and bars along the trail all have something different to offer. Some are traditional pubs in period buildings, others are modern establishments with a focus on dining and one is even said to be haunted! All, however have been selected for their welcoming atmosphere, comfortable surroundings and of course, the range of ales available. All the venues are within walking distance of one another, however there are so many great places to visit that you can’t possibly see them all in one trip so come back again and enjoy your favourite beer in another of Leek’s excellent pubs. You can be sure of a warm welcome.

CAMRA CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale is an independent, voluntary organisation campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights. CAMRA has over 100,000 members across the world over 200 branches across the UK, enabling members to campaign and socialise in their local area. For details on how to join or to find out more about your local branch contact 01727 867201

By CarFrom North West: Exit M6 jct 16. A500 towards Stoke. A53 to Leek.

From North East: Exit M1 jct 28. A38 towards Derby. A52 to Ashbourne. A52/A523 to Leek.

From South West: Exit M6 jct 14. A34 to Stone. A520 to Leek.

From South East: Exit M1 jct 23A. A50 towards Uttoxeter/Stoke. A520 to Leek.

By Rail and BusThe nearest railway stations are Stoke-On-Trent (12 miles), Macclesfield (13 miles), Buxton (13 miles). Frequent connecting bus services are available from Stoke and regular connecting bus services available from Macclesfield & Buxton. For more information contact Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.

Shops & MarketsSample local brewery ales at home with a bottle or two from the following shops and markets.

A. The Wine Shop22 Russell Street, Leek, ST13 5JF. 01538 382408The Wine Shop stocks a good selection of ales including local real ales from The Wincle Beer Company, Titanic Brewery and Burton Bridge Brewery as well as an assortment of continental beers. The Wine Shop prides itself on its comprehensive range of whiskies and is home to The Queen of the Moorlands Whisky Company offering its own award winning range of Single Malt and Single Cask Malt Whiskies. Let the friendly staff demonstrate their in depth knowledge about the products they sell to help you make your selection. The shop hosts a number of tasting events throughout the year and can arrange 48 hour delivery anywhere in the UK.

B. Leek Fine Food MarketMarket Place, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 5HH The Leek Fine Food Market is held every third Saturday of the month in the Market Place. Choose from a selection of bottled beers from Staffordshire Brewery and Flash Brewery. The market also sells a variety of delicious foods direct from producers such as home made pies and cakes, locally farmed meats, tasty cheeses, preserves, artisan bread, honey and mushrooms.

C. Sunday Supplement Food and Makers MarketTotally Locally’s Sunday Supplement market features over 30 stalls of local makers - food, craft, artisan jewellery and more. Meet the brewers from Staffordshire Brewery & Wincle Brewery and take home a selection of their beers. The Sunday Supplement Market is held on the first Sunday of the month and many of Leek’s independent shops open for the day too.

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Leek 10. The Black Swan12 Sheepmarket, Leek, ST13 5HW 01538 385803The Black Swan, or ‘Mucky Duck’ as it is affectionately known is a traditional pub popular with both locals and visitors. Marstons Bitter is accompanied by two changing guest ales. The menu offers a selection of traditional pub favourites and bar snacks. A beer garden to the rear provides outdoor space in which to relax during the summer months.Open: Monday to Saturday 11.30am - 11pm, Sunday 11am - 10.30pm. Food Served: Lunch - Monday to Friday Noon - 2.30pm, Saturday and Sunday Noon - 3.30pm, Evening 5.30pm - 8.00pm (excluding Mondays).

11. The Wilkes HeadThe Wilkes Head, 16 Edward Street, Leek, ST13 5DS The Wilkes Head has been a regular feature in the Good Beer Guide for the past 13 years. The small bar features seven hand pumps offering Whim Ales Hartington Bitter, Hartington IPA and Flower Power along with four changing guest offers. The pub is well known for its live music and customers come from far and wide to see bands and artists perform. The beer garden to the rear of the pub includes an outdoor bar and stage area and is home to a number of music events and festivals during the summer months. Open: Monday 3pm - 11pm, Tuesday to Sunday Noon - 11pm.

12. Foxlowe Arts CentreMarket Place, Leek, ST13 6AD 01538 386112The Foxlowe Arts Centre is a popular cafe, gallery, live music and cinema venue. The Foxlowe Café is staffed by an extremely friendly group of volunteers and has a great range of fairtrade coffees, teas and hot chocolate together with a small selection of freshly prepared hot and cold dishes the majority of which are vegetarian or vegan. They also serve a range of bottled beers from Titanic Brewery and Wincle Brewery. Open: Everyday 10am - 4pm. The bar is also open Friday evenings 5pm - 10pm for beers, wines & coffee.

13. Benks39 Stockwell Street, Leek, ST13 6DH 01538 382738An uncomplicated, traditional pub with a large gaming room, Benks offers Wadworth Henry’s Original IPA alongside two changing guest beers including offerings from Wincle Brewery and Staffordshire Brewery. Open: Monday to Thursday 3pm - Midnight, Friday and Saturday 3pm - 1am, Sunday 3pm - Midnight.

Local BreweriesTitanic BreweryCallender Place, Lingard Street, Burslem, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 1JL 01782 823447 www.titanicbrewery.co.ukTitanic Brewery was founded in Burslem, Stoke on Trent in 1985 with one goal, to produce great beer. The brewery was named in honour of Captain Edward John Smith, Captain of the world’s most famous liner, who was born down the road in Etruria. From humble beginnings Titanic Brewery has grown beyond all expectations to produce in excess of 2.3 million pints of award winning fine ale every year however the ethos remains the same; to brew great beer locally for local people. Tours of Titanic Brewery take place on the second Saturday of every month.

Joules BreweryThe Brewery, Great Hales Street, Market Drayton Shropshire, TF9 1JP www.joulesbrewery.co.uk The Joules Brewery prides itself on natural brewing, using quality ingredients and soft Staffordshire/Shropshire mineral water. The brewery concentrates on producing just 3 beers. The Joule’s Red Cross trade mark is the 6th oldest beer mark in the world.

Staffordshire Brewery 2 Harrison Way, Cheddleton, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 7EF 01538 361919 www.beerandcheese.co.ukStaffordshire Brewery have been brewing quality ales and beers since 2002. All the beers are triple cold filtered and carbonated to give them characteristic sparkle and taste in the bottle. The beers include Staffordshire Gold, Danebridge IPA and Double Sunset and are widely available across Staffordshire. Tours of the 20 barrel plant are available by prior arrangement.

The Wincle Beer CompanyTolls Farm Barn, Dane Bridge, Wincle, Cheshire, SK11 0QE 01260 227 777 www.winclebeer.co.uk Wincle Beer Company brews a range of award winning and innovative real ales in a state of the art 15 barrel brewery situated next to the picturesque River Dane. You can sample the beers in the brewery shop or, for real ale enthusiasts, join the brewery team for a day and see what goes into making a perfect pint of Wincle beer. Contact the brewery for more information.

Hartington BreweryWhim Ales, Whim Farm, Hartington, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 0AX 01298 84991Established in 1993, The Whim Ales Brewery’s ten barrel plant is based in Hartington, near Buxton. Whim Ales are committed to providing quality cask ales and its award winning beers ales are widely available across Staffordshire and at selected outlets further afield. They are always available at the brewery’s tied house, the Wilkes Head in Leek.

Toft Brewing6 Tuscan Close, Cheadle, Staffordshire, ST10 1HS 01538 755639 www.toftbrewing.webs.comToft Brewing is a one British barrel brewery producing fine hand crafted real ale. Housed in a converted garage, the brewery currently produces four ales, Full Toss, Stumped, Nightwatchman and Inn Swinger. The beers are cricket themed in reference to the owners cricketting past with Cheadle Cricket Club. Bottled beers are also available.

Peakstones Rock Brewing Co LtdPeakstones Rock Farm, Alton, Staffordshire ST10 4DH 07891 350908 www.peakstonesrock.co.ukPeakstones Rock Brewing Company brew a range of beers using only the finest British raw materials, such as Maris Otter malt and hops from Kent and Worcester. These are lovingly crafted to produce a range of beers such as Oblivion, Black Hole and Chained Oak, each with their own individual characteristics. During spring 2012 Pugin’s Gold was added to the range in honour of the Victorian Architect. A lot of his work can be seen in the area around the brewery.

2. The Red Lion7 Market Place, Leek, ST13 5HH 01538 388652 This 16th century period building conceals a modern, fresh interior. The Red Lion offers a selection of beers from Hydes Brewery in Manchester. Hydes Original is accompanied by a guest ale from Hydes Brewery and one other such as Bombardier. The food menu offers seasonal British dishes and a huge choice of burgers. Live music features on the first Thursday of the month. Open: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10am - 11pm, Wednesday 9am - 11pm, Friday 10am - 2am, Saturday 9am - 2am, Sunday 11am - 9pm. Food Served 10am - 8pm, Monday to Saturday, 11am - 5pm on Sunday.

3. The Cock Inn19 Derby Street, Leek, ST13 6HN 01538 388013A pub has been on this site for over 300 years and parts of the original timber structure are still visible in the front bar. Now a Joules Brewery pub, the Cock Inn offers Joules Pale Ale, Slumbering Monk and Blonde alongside one guest ale. Oak paneling, leather settles and an open fire create an attractive interior, with a beer garden to the rear for warmer weather. The menu features a range of homemade dishes created using fresh, locally sourced ingredients - try a Steak and Ale pie made using Joules Ale. Drop in on a Friday afternoon and enjoy a free sausage roll made from pork from the herd of Gloucestershire Old Spots at the Joules Brewery Farm. The pigs are fed on the malt husks, a by-product of brewing great cask ale to provide tasty, organic meat.  Open: Monday to Thursday 10am - 11pm, Friday and Saturday 10am - 12pm. Sunday Noon - 10.30pm. Food Served: Tuesday to Saturday Noon - 8.30pm Sunday and Monday Noon - 4pm.

5. The Cattle MarketFountain Street, Leek, ST13 6JR 01538 528198 The Cattle Market is a traditional town centre pub located near to the site of the old livestock market. Marston’s Burton Bitter and Jennings Sneck Lifter are always available along with one changing guest ale. The pub has a pool and darts room and features live music on the last Friday of the month.Open: Everyday 11am – 11pm

1. The Engine Room2 Stockwell Street, Leek, ST13 6HX 01538 370003Located in the market square in the centre of town, The Engine Room is a large, family friendly pub offering an extensive range of beers and ciders alongside an extensive menu of pub favourites, grills and bar snacks. Regular offerings include Blackawton Moorland Ale and Bombardier, together with changing guest ales such as Green King IPA Gold and Jennings Cumberland.Open: Monday to Thursday 9am - 11pm, Friday and Saturday 9am - 11.30pm, Sunday 10 - 10.30pm. Food is served till 9pm.

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Pub Shop Trail

Real Ale Trail

7. The Quiet Woman73 Edward Street, ST13 5DN 01538 398190The Quiet Woman is a cosy, traditional pub, offering Bombardier along with two changing guest ales. The food menu includes freshly prepared, homemade bar snacks, larger meals and seasonal specials. Open fires provide a warm, comfortable atmosphere in the front of the pub whilst the conservatory area, covering an old courtyard, provides a light and airy atmosphere beyond. Visitors to the pub claim to have seen the figure of a woman, said to be a barmaid supposedly beheaded in the courtyard by members of a secret society who met there in the late 17th Century. The pub offers live music every Thursday and Saturday from 9pm. Open: Monday to Saturday 11am - 11pm, Sunday Noon - 10.30pm. Food Served: Monday to Saturday Noon - 2.30pm and 6pm - 9pm, Sunday Noon - 3pm

8. Den Engel11 Stanley Street, Leek, ST13 5HG 01538 373751This Belgian bar offers an incredible range of over 100 Belgian beers as well as a rotating selection of traditional English cask ales, including those from Wincle Brewery, Staffordshire Brewery and Titanic Brewery. The bar specialises in trappist ales but also offers familiar favourites such as Leffe and Duval. The upstairs restaurant offers a selection of Belgian and continental dishes.Open: Monday to Friday 4pm - 11pm, Saturday 11am - 11.30pm, Sunday Noon to 11pm.

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The Blue Mugge,

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6. The Roebuck18 Derby Street, Leek, ST13 5AB 01538 385602This Grade II listed 15th Century coaching inn boasts an impressive timber framed frontage and a traditional pub interior in keeping with the historic town centre. Owned by Titanic Brewery, The Roebuck offers a selection of 10 cask ales, the majority from the Titanic range alongside others from Everards and Staffordshire Brewery and a changing guest ale from a micro brewery. The bar also serves a range of unusual lagers such as Kozel and Pilsner

Urquell. Helpful and knowledgeable bar staff are always willing to describe the different styles of beer on offer. The Roebuck also stocks a range of Titanic Brewery merchandise and a selection of Titanic Ales in bottles so you can take home a reminder of your visit. The menu offers a range of fresh homemade pub classics alongside innovative specials made using local ingredients. Live music is available every Sunday evening. Open: Monday to Thursday 10am - 11pm, Friday and Saturday: 10am - Midnight, Sunday Noon - 11pm. Food Served: Monday - Saturday Noon - 8pm, Sunday Noon - 4pm

9. The Bird in Hand17 Market Place, Leek, ST13 5HJ 01538 386819Located on the corner of the historic Market Place, The Bird in Hand is a small, intimate pub offering Marstons Burtons Bitter and Jennings Cumberland alongside changing guest ales. The Bird in Hand also stocks a selection of Whiteways fruit wines. The beautiful carved oak bar dates from 1889 and was built by Leek based architects William Sugden & Son who were also responsible for the design of the Nicholson Institute along with a number of other notable buildings in the town. Open: Monday to Thursday 11am - 11pm, Friday and Saturday 11am - Midnight, Sunday 11am - 11pm.

4. The Blue Mugge17 Osbourne Street, Leek, ST13 6LJ 01538 384450A regular entry in the Good Beer Guide. The Blue Mugge offers a good selection of keg beers and bitters including offerings from local and regional breweries. The pub offers home cooked food in comfortable surroundings and features live music on Saturdays. ‘The Blue Mugge’ was named after the present landlord found the original ‘Blue Mugge’ in the attic. A visitor wishing to join the regulars in the ‘Blue Mugge Room’ would be informed that he had to buy the inhabitants of the room a drink, this was a test of character, as if the person agreed, the occupants would produce the blue mugge, a glass that was only a third of a pint. Open: Monday to Thursday 11am - 3pm and 6pm - 11pm, Fridays 11am - 11pm, Saturday 11am - 3pm and 7pm - Midnight. Sunday Noon - 10.30pm. Food is served Monday to Saturday Noon - 2pm