The pub was built in 1861 but has been extensively refurbished since. The name was changed from Cottage by the Brook in 1994. Extensively refurbishment took place in 2014. Several periods of closures and reopening followed but it reopened as the Tap Steakhouse on 2nd November 2018 as an independently owned & run pub & restaurant serving the whole community. In 2022 with new licensees there was a change of name to the Tap Bar & restaurant and a further change of ownership in 2024 saw a further name change to The Tap with the intention of turning it into a traditional pub and "the place to be on the north end of Stafford."