Bob
Well-Known Forumite
Last night, having a rare babysitter hubby and I decided to venture into Stafford for the first time in almost 12 months. I was looking forward to it thinking there were a few new places to try but came home extremely disappointed.
Now don’t get me wrong, I like Stafford, I have many fond memories of evenings out in town but I have no idea what’s happening currently.
It’s not a Stafford bashing post, at least that’s not what I’m aiming for, just an honest account of what happened last night.
First drink in the new bar area at Pastiche, lovely setting and they’re trying really hard with the gin menu and drinks offering, perfect start to the evening. Second on the list was Chambers/living Room/Hogs Head. Clearly I haven’t been following the posts very well and found ourselves disappointed with a wasted walk (in heels) to the now cleared out and definitely shut venue.
Then we headed down to the new development, a quick stop of at Revoloution and quick it was, I wish them no ill but it’s not somewhere I’m in a hurry to head back to, it’s just not my cup of tea.
Things started to pick up as we wondered past My Belle, two staff working and not another soul in the place, we called in and were very impressed, the staff were friendly and welcoming and knowledgeable about the drinks, a couple of fab cocktails and a yummy pudding later, it’s definitely somewhere we will be returning to.
Bu why was it empty? Why does it seem so difficult for Stafford folks to venture of the main strip by a couple of hundred feet? The place is nicely decorated, the produce seemed to me to be good value and of a good quality but our £30 of so isn’t going to keep the doors open on an evening when it should be full to capacity. It’s a shame, somebody is really trying there but unfortunately for whatever reason it just doesn’t seem to be succeeding.
Next was The Post House/Apocothary, it had a similar feeling to revolution and we didn’t stay, it seems to have become a little rough round the edges and somehow the concept feels dated and a bit cheap.
Then the Swan, hubby was very happy to see Guinness back on the menu, no real issue here other than whoever booked the band last night band need to be sacked on the spot, it was cringe worthy, like granddads karaoke, by the empty beer garden it seems most people had the same opinion.
Finally we enjoyed a final drink at Joxers/Market Vaults, music was fab, service was good and once you get over the initial sweaty body smell as you walk in the door – it’s all good.
We headed home with the feeling we’d probably have preferred to stay in with a nice bottle of wine. It may be old age creeping in but based on last night it’ll probably be another 12 months before we venture out to Stafford again.
Now don’t get me wrong, I like Stafford, I have many fond memories of evenings out in town but I have no idea what’s happening currently.
It’s not a Stafford bashing post, at least that’s not what I’m aiming for, just an honest account of what happened last night.
First drink in the new bar area at Pastiche, lovely setting and they’re trying really hard with the gin menu and drinks offering, perfect start to the evening. Second on the list was Chambers/living Room/Hogs Head. Clearly I haven’t been following the posts very well and found ourselves disappointed with a wasted walk (in heels) to the now cleared out and definitely shut venue.
Then we headed down to the new development, a quick stop of at Revoloution and quick it was, I wish them no ill but it’s not somewhere I’m in a hurry to head back to, it’s just not my cup of tea.
Things started to pick up as we wondered past My Belle, two staff working and not another soul in the place, we called in and were very impressed, the staff were friendly and welcoming and knowledgeable about the drinks, a couple of fab cocktails and a yummy pudding later, it’s definitely somewhere we will be returning to.
Bu why was it empty? Why does it seem so difficult for Stafford folks to venture of the main strip by a couple of hundred feet? The place is nicely decorated, the produce seemed to me to be good value and of a good quality but our £30 of so isn’t going to keep the doors open on an evening when it should be full to capacity. It’s a shame, somebody is really trying there but unfortunately for whatever reason it just doesn’t seem to be succeeding.
Next was The Post House/Apocothary, it had a similar feeling to revolution and we didn’t stay, it seems to have become a little rough round the edges and somehow the concept feels dated and a bit cheap.
Then the Swan, hubby was very happy to see Guinness back on the menu, no real issue here other than whoever booked the band last night band need to be sacked on the spot, it was cringe worthy, like granddads karaoke, by the empty beer garden it seems most people had the same opinion.
Finally we enjoyed a final drink at Joxers/Market Vaults, music was fab, service was good and once you get over the initial sweaty body smell as you walk in the door – it’s all good.
We headed home with the feeling we’d probably have preferred to stay in with a nice bottle of wine. It may be old age creeping in but based on last night it’ll probably be another 12 months before we venture out to Stafford again.
