This small pub is located on a side street near to Leek town centre and it had a welcoming and community vibe to it. I liked the pub’s policy that there are no televisions, something I’d prefer most pubs to do….

There were a few real ales to choose from, although nothing that really interested me as everything was either a bit generic or quite light. However, the beer I ordered was well kept and was at the appropriate temperature.

There was a little snug area to the rear of the pub which had a number of board games, including Connect 4, Guess Who, chess, dominoes and so on. There were a few dogs in the pub and most customers seemed to know each other, so I imagine it’s a popular pubs amongst locals. All in all, this is a decent community pub and the prices were towards the lower end of the scale. Friendly, clean and comfortable, all rather lovely.

This is the first time I’ve seen the Google Streetview car in some time (it’s not very clear in the photo, but it’s the lane to the left of us at the front). Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to have been recording…..

Leek’s five-metre high Market Cross is post-medieval and probably dates to around the sixteenth century. Nearly every market would have once had one of these crosses although many have been lost, damaged or altered over the centuries. The plinth of the cross is nineteenth century and there have been later repairs to the entire cross.

The market cross was moved from its current location to Cemetery Road in 1806 and it remained there until 1986 when a decision was made to return it.

Peak Weavers is a B&B and restaurant where we had a large booking for an evening meal. The building was once a grand private residence, more recently a convent and today it’s well maintained and has an inviting feel to it. Having said that, my first impressions weren’t entirely positive as the welcome seemed just a little stilted. However, the restaurant area was clean, tidy and organised.

This is the potted slow cooked ham hock and it was excellent, with the ham being tender, flavourful and light. The ham fell apart and it was complemented by the egg sauce which topped it in the pot. The garnish added to the presentation of the dish and there were capers which gave additional texture to the meal. The sour dough bread was light and perhaps home-made, with the price point of £7.50 being entirely realistic.

This salmon dish had a tomato crust alongside a new potato and pea shoot salad. We also had vegetables and potatoes for the table which were plentiful and which were well seasoned, although I didn’t photograph these. The portion of salmon was generous and it was perfectly cooked and had a depth of taste. The salad added texture and it was all well presented and at the appropriate temperature. For the price of £15.95 this again was perfectly priced given the additional sides which were offered.

I couldn’t find fault with the food, which I admit is quite rare for me, although I’d have liked a little more black pepper. The black pepper wasn’t on the table, but a staff member brought a pepper grinder over on request when I asked for it with the starter. I kept it for the main course, but the manager seized it and when I asked for it back the request wasn’t fulfilled. I’m a little unsure why the restaurant is so protective of its black pepper, but nonetheless, this was an excellent meal.

I liked that the menu was relatively limited in size, so that there was a focus more on quality. There wasn’t though any nod towards locally sourced ingredients on the menu, which I’d have ideally liked. The service was professional, although not particularly engaging, but the food was served promptly and we were never left waiting for service (well, I was left waiting for the black pepper, but I won’t dwell on that).

Certainly for the quality of food being offered the prices actually seemed just a little low, but I can understand the need to be remain competitive in terms of price. All very professional and I’d recommend this for a leisurely group meal.

The Green Dragon, formerly known as the Swan for a time, has been trading as a pub since at least 1693. It was reopened by JD Wetherspoon in 2013 and the refurbishment they undertook was clearly costly as it looks like they’ve done a marvellous job.

An historic plaque outside the pub.

The real ales were mostly generic and there was a surprisingly dull selection for a Wetherspoons pub. The service at the bar was unfortunately inept as I was served out of turn. This in itself really isn’t a problem, but when there are only two people at the bar, it’s not difficult to avoid this. Anyway, I just left the staff member to serve the other customer and this customer then moved along the bar as he wanted to order another drink. The staff member then told him to wait as she was serving another customer. He reminded her that he was the customer that she was already serving, but by this point it was clear the staff member was entirely lost, so I just left and ordered by the app at the table.

The staff member who served us the food and drink was on the other end of the competence spectrum. He was engaging, conversational and had a real presence within the pub, although he didn’t seem to be a manager. His check back seemed authentic and he cleared the plates promptly. The chicken wrap was fine and represented decent value for money.

The interior of the pub, which was largely devoid of customers when we visited, but it was spacious and clean. There were a range of different types of seating areas, and the pub appeared modern in its design without losing any of its historic integrity.

I’ll ignore the staff member at the bar, as she seemed out of her depth, but the other staff members were friendly, helpful and engaging. It was an intriguing pub and although the beer selection was disappointing, it felt like a professional and thorough conversion by JD Wetherspoon.

Coral’s sign in Leek market place has apparently been like this for over a year. Perhaps it’s time that they got it fixed….

The Titanic Brewery is one of my favourite in the country with their beers having a real depth of taste and flavours. It hadn’t occurred to me that they also operated their own pubs, but it seems that they have a handful primarily based around the Staffordshire area and by chance we walked by their Leek outlet.

That’s a very exciting selection. Well, for me at least. There were plenty of Titanic beers, but there were also some other beers sourced from around the country.

Some of the selection of the Titanic range, with the Plum Porter being a beer that I’ll nearly always order if I see it. However, I’d never seen the Cherry Dark, so I opted for that one and it was reasonably priced. The quality of it didn’t let me down, a real taste of cherry which is far stronger than perhaps many brewers would dare offer. Served at the appropriate temperature and tasting well-kept, this was a delightful beer.

The bar area of the pub, which also had a back room and a downstairs cellar bar which opens at weekends. The food menu looked very appealing and I was disappointed that I didn’t get the chance to try some of their food during my couple of days in Leek. There were numerous beer related dishes and the company is also proud of the Totally Leek Burger where all of the ingredients are sourced from within 100 metres of the pub.

The service in the pub was friendly, engaging and welcoming, with a modern and on-trend feel to the operation. The pub was clean, comfortable and there was a laid-back atmosphere, with numerous events being advertised that were planned for the pub.

Leek surprised me with just how many pubs it had, with The Fountain Inn being one of three in the town which is in the Good Beer Guide. It’s a short walk away from the centre of the town and it also has its own rooms for those wanting accommodation. Operating at a pub since 1831, The Fountain Inn is also a fortunate survivor as it was nearly demolished in the 1970s.

The selection was excellent with eight real ales and two real ciders to choose from, with an appropriate mix between light and dark beers. I opted for the North Star Porter and it was reasonably priced at £1.50 for half a pint. It was well kept and had a dark black colour with a taste of liquorice and chocolate.

The pub has the most complete collection of Good Beer Guides that I’ve ever seen, and also a set of Encyclopaedia Britannica books for those who want a quick browse…..

An old sign to the right of the main bar giving information on how to bottle a Bass. The pub interior was quirky but comfortable, with a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. The service was efficient, polite and helpful which all combines to making this one of the best pubs that I’ve visited. It’s no surprise to me that it has won numerous CAMRA awards as the whole operation seemed well managed, organised and there was a community feel to the pub.