May I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier?
I now feel like I've been neglecting my homework and have had to rush to catch up. In fact, as I can recall from when this happened with real homework, I've ended up by not really answering the question. That is, I've (fairly subtly, I think) left it to you all to devise your own routes!
Anyway, please see the attached documents. See you all in Newcastle!
Come On You Hatters!
Excellent work!
I'll just clarify something which may not be obvious if you fail to take in the Transport & Walking notes. Outliers 1-3 are arguably part of Newcastle but don't really fit in with the main scheme, largely due to late opening. Outlier 4 the Holy Inadequate is in another part of Stoke called Etruria which I'd heard of but had to look on the map to see where it was. The outskirts ones (I call them the Greyhound group) contain two I visited in 2016 (Greyhound & Hopinn) when I walked to them in the rain and back to the bus station. I was less of a physical wreck then but still a wreck. I seem to recall it being uphill from the centre but not desperate.
Given there are four (?) micropubs it's probably a very good idea not to have a fixed and timed route as generally these venues aren't suited to a large influx of punters all at the same time.
Thanks for your useful input.
The Holy Inadequate was recommended to me by two people in two different Newcastle pubs when they heard that I was doing a reconnaissance for a pub crawl. It also comes highly recommended by some of our members. And although you are quite right that it is not in Newcastle, it is only a seven minute bus ride (see Google maps). I know you have already said you weren't interested in "out of town extras" yourself, but I would encourage others to join me on this addition to the main route. (I'll be quite happy to do it on my own, though.)
Your thought about some of the smaller pubs is a good one, though, and it was at the back of my mind while recommending the not-at-all-rigorously-scheduled route around the town centre, so thanks for reinforcing that point.
Come On You Hatters!
It sounds to me like it's worth a cheap weekday trip up on the slow 08:46 Crewe service to give it an "intensive investigation", Although it appears to be nearer Stoke Rail Station your direct 4 bus to it ends up at the main Stoke bus station at Hanley so you have to go via there or just walk it. I must have seen it in the GBG but discarded it as it's the only one in the area.
Excellent work Will...
And far be it for me to add or complicate the great work, but whilst familarising myself with the plan of action and options available the Artisan Tap and Sanctuary Ale House kept popping up for pubs on the bus route back to Stoke.
They seem to be getting encouraging reviews in other areas but obviously didn't float your boat when you visited.
Due to their proximity to the Greyhound I'm wondering if they could make sense as wild cards further down the Hartshill Road for those with late trains ?
Work is the curse of the drinking Class - Oscar Wilde
That was what I thought at first, but my reconnaissance visit in April caused me to drop that part of the plan. Especially when the Etruria option was suggested to me.
It seems to me a better idea after the Greyhound would be to get a bus to within spitting distance of the station and have a last half or two at the White Star (average rating 9) or the Glebe (average rating 7.5).
But by all means go ahead and do the Artisan (average rating 5) and the Sanctuary (average rating 4). I'll just say this now, to save me saying it afterwards: "Told you so!"
Come On You Hatters!
When we lived in Stavanger we found https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUs...rn_Norway.html was a pretty good local. Lots of beer choice and really quite civilised compared to the other city centre bars.
'Beer is for all day, not just for breakfast'.