Yates - ex-Crafty Sow / Yard.

[juice-comedy]

Tried this on Tuesday night. Approached with caution as I thought The Yard was an absolute hole.

We went early on Student Night to try and avoid the awful, awful people who go out on Student Night. It was quiet at 7'ish which was what we wanted (we left as the Student Night crowd started trickling in at 9).

Thought they would have a few more craft beers on draught than they actually did (maybe a beer I hadn't seen elsewhere?), but they had a Purity draught which was very good.

(They also have cask ales, but I was looking forward to cold craft beers on draught)

The barmaid was great, friendly and conversational. We ordered chicken wings but didn't know how hot the sauce was, so she had a tub of the hot sauce put on the side of the plate to try it out, rather than having it poured all over the wings. Not an option on the menu, a little step by her to accommodate us, which was really well received. This barmaid also spoke about how much she enjoyed working with her team at the pub and that she enjoyed working there. She was a great Front Of House person that is obviously very good with customers. Five Stars to her.

We ordered nachos and chicken wings to share. These were perfectly decent pub-co food, of a good standard.

I'm not sure the concept of a craft beer place suits a MASSIVE space like this (high ceilings, dancefloor, massive TV screen). But, I went in sceptical and experienced Great Service, Good Beer and Decent Food.

It's not somewhere I'll visit on meat market nights (Tuesday, Friday, Saturday) but I will visit again during pub crawls or bigger nights out.

 

[1JKz]

This place is a little cattle market*, eh?

Not a fan.
I won't be going in again.


*My own fault, it was a Saturday night.

 

[markpa12003]

I had a rare night out on Saturday and I was tempted to visit the Crafty Sow (I haven't been before). However, I couldn't face it and, therefore, decided to go to Sun Inn, Post House and Swan.

 

[PeterD]

Went in The Yard a handful of times and never had been in The Crafty Sow until today. Needed a drink and a break from the sun so thought we would give it a try. Well first it SEEMED as if the bar person that served me had been deinking, the service just for 2 drinks was terrible, considering it was very quiet. Slow, incorrect at one point, and a diet coke, heavy on the ice, which wasnt requested, and also half an inch off full. Unlikely to go back as it took 10 minutesto get 2 drinks on a quiet saturday.

 

[John Marwood]

Went in The Yard a handful of times and never had been in The Crafty Sow until today. Needed a drink and a break from the sun so thought we would give it a try. Well first it SEEMED as if the bar person that served me had been deinking, the service just for 2 drinks was terrible, considering it was very quiet. Slow, incorrect at one point, and a diet coke, heavy on the ice, which wasnt requested, and also half an inch off full. Unlikely to go back as it took 10 minutesto get 2 drinks on a quiet saturday.

See you at 8 then

 

[John Marwood]

Went in The Yard a handful of times and never had been in The Crafty Sow until today. Needed a drink and a break from the sun so thought we would give it a try. Well first it SEEMED as if the bar person that served me had been deinking, the service just for 2 drinks was terrible, considering it was very quiet. Slow, incorrect at one point, and a diet coke, heavy on the ice, which wasnt requested, and also half an inch off full. Unlikely to go back as it took 10 minutesto get 2 drinks on a quiet saturday.

 

[Frontal]

Slow, incorrect at one point, and a diet coke, heavy on the ice, which wasn't requested,

Sounds like lousy service, but on the above point, ice is the standard pretty much everywhere for soft drinks, you have to ask for it without,

 

[PeterD]

Sounds like lousy service, but on the above point, ice is the standard pretty much everywhere for soft drinks, you have to ask for it without,

Yeah when i posted that I thought thats being picky, as it was also summer. I was agrieved by the amount really. It was pretty much full of ice.

 

[Frontal]

Oops, sorry I didn't realise the thread had been marwooded from months back

 

[The Notorious A.N.T.]

Went in The Crafty Sow tonight to watch the Villa game. God-damn that place is rough! Reckon I was the only bloke in there without a tattoo on the neck. Can't complain about the beer prices though - 1/2 price between 5 & 8pm.

 

[markpa12003]

I try and avoid places like the Crafty Sow and Revolution etc.

I'd much prefer a proper pub.

 

[John Marwood]

A very useful bar in the town

 

[Trumpet]

A very useful bar in the town

On a Saturday night is the one up your sleeve.

 

[John Marwood]

It's where I direct football fans to when they alight a stop too early en masse at Stafford station

Amazing how easy it is to mistake Wolverhampton or Stoke for S T A F F O R D

 

[Gareth]

I try and avoid places like the Crafty Sow and Revolution etc.

I'd much prefer a proper pub.

Hold on, have you have talked up revolution before, especially for food ??

 

[Wormella]

I quite like the Crafty Sow when it isn't busy for a game

 

[John Marwood]

I quite like the Crafty Sow when it isn't busy for a game

Pass the parcel?

 

[Wormella]

Pass the parcel?

Do they do children's parties? Master Wearn did very well out of the half time oranges when we were there for lunch with a friend on Sunday

 

[The Notorious A.N.T.]

I was probably being a bit harsh on 'The Sow' yesterday. Seems an O.K. place to watch the footie etc. & the pizza I ordered was decent enough. I just think that 5-8 offer attracts undesirables like flies to a blue light!.

 

[markpa12003]

Hold on, have you have talked up revolution before, especially for food ??

Yes Gareth i did.

When revolution first opened my wife and I had a couple of meals there during the day, which were very enjoyable. However, more recently we've had a couple of bad experiences with meals not being available and poor service. Notwithstanding that, I wouldn't avoid Revolution during the day but I would in the evening.

I like to spend my evenings in proper pubs that serve decent beer and I can speak to the people I'm with without shouting. I also hate bad manners and people queue jumping to be served first.

My ideal night out would consist of going to the floodgate, no7 and the other real ale bars in Stafford before watching a live band at the Swan or Market Vaults.