POTTERS BAR

NEWS FROM THE STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS
Comment from the Chair
It is really great to see the huge revival of the real ale
scene throughout the whole area of The Moorlands
(especially in Leek) but many of our great pubs, especially
the more rural ones, have been in the same hands for
years. I think that, for no other reason that we know they
are there and almost take them for granted, they hardly
ever get a more than a passing comment in these pages.
New places are setting up and proving successful all the
time, but I think our long-serving licensees deserve a
mention, while still admiring the new kids on the block.
Our widely diverse area has a massive range of pubs
that quite simply ‘have always been there’ because we all
know they are decent places to go to enjoy a good pint.
I think they quite rightly deserve a mention (at the very
least) so here are just a few licensees among many (as
there are more) who have served this area well over the
years. It is of course no coincidence that they are all wellrun
pubs and serve an excellent pint of real ale and have
weathered the course of time. We owe it to them to show
our long-standing support, as well as showing support to
the new and successful pubs which seem to be opening
on a regular basis in our area.
• The obvious starting point is Alan East of The Yew
Tree at Cauldon. Alan’s stepson Dan Buckland now
runs the pub business at The Yew Tree, but Alan has
been behind the bar since 1961, flying the flag for
real ale before it was even known by such a name.
It is still his home and he is still seen behind the bar
every day, as he has been for 55 years and the beer
quality is maintained to a high standard.
• The Bentley family have been firmly in charge of
Benks in Stockwell Street, Leek for many years.
Formerly called The Union Inn, the pub was run by
Brian and Lynne Bentley from 1969 and is now run
by daughter Sarah and partner Rob (better known to
regulars as Span).
• Candlesticks in Hulme Village has been in the hands
of Brenda and Ron Wakefield since 1971.
• The Blue Mugge, Osborne Street, Leek was
originally run by Geoff and Celia Harrison from 1976
and has been in the safe and competent hands of
son Paul Harrison since 1988.
• The Wheel at Longsdon has been successfully run
by Jeff Butler since 1981.
• Linda Shepherd with partner Mick Richards, has
been at The Old Red Lion, Ipstones since 1995.
• Alan and Lynne Ward of the Cock Inn, Leek have
spent more than 30 years in the pub trade in the
town.
• Alan and Les Burgess have been at the Sea Lion,
Ipstones since 1999.
• Pete and Marie-Anne Hudson have run the Ball
Haye Tavern, Leek (better known as Bodgers) since
1999.
• Malcolm Moger has run the Historic Wilkes Head in
St Edwards Street Leek for around 15 years.
• Then come the trio of Pete’s, starting with Pete
Wilkinson, who’s been at the helm of The Raddle at
Hollington since 1991, Pete Hill at The Jervis Arms,
Onecote from 1998 and Pete Harvey at the iconic
Winking Man, Upper Hulme since 1999.
There are also a
couple of dozen
more who have
over a decade
of experience
running pubs in the
Moorlands area.
These include
among others:
- Matt & Vicky Pitt from The Red Lion, Boundary.
- Tony & Jan Dickens at The Swan, Cheadle.
- Carol Davies, at The Black Lion, Butterton.
- Steve Bowers, at The Traveller’s Rest, Stanley.
AUTUMN 2016 POTTERS BAR 31