Comfortable, friendly pub on the edge of town, consisting of a bright bar at the front of the pub and a more cosy lounge to the rear; there is also a snug and a long corridor connecting all three. Bought from Punch Taverns in early 2014, the pub is now a vibrant Free House, concentrating on real ale, as the name would suggest. There are up to eight guest beers on the bar, which are sourced from a wide variety of breweries; Mallinsons and Oakham are usually represented. Another star in Newcastle's ever-burgeoning real ale scene. The pub also aerves five guest beers by the modern Key Keg dispense. AWARDS: CAMRA Potteries Pub of the Month Dec2014; Winner Pub of the Year 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019. 3rd Place in The West Midlands Region Pub of the Year Competition 2016 & 2019; 2nd place in CAMRA Potteries Pub of the Year 2016.