PUB OF THE MONTH

DECEMBER 2010 - DUKE WILLIAM, BURSLEM

The Duke William in St. John's Square, Burslem was believed to have been originally built in 1815 as a two-storey pub before being re-developed towards the end of the 19th century with another floor being added. The mock Tudor frontage was added after 1930. Past landlords included Hannah Sheldon in 1818 and James Lockett in 1851. In the 'Old Wives Tale', locally born novelist Arnold Bennett refers to the pub in his book as the "Marquis of Granby" and he notes it's location in his book as being at the "top of the square". Top jazz musicians have played here in the 1960's and include Ronnie Scott and Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis.

More recently the pub used to belong to Punch Taverns before it finally closed in 2004. Further historical information can be found in the interesting article by Mervyn Edwards in the summer 2010 edition of this very newsletter. Mark and Joy Aston, who run the excellent, local Post Office Vaults, acquired the Duke William in 2009 and then proceeded to renovate the pub before it finally re-opened on the 2nd April 2010, and I must say, it is a welcome addition to the real ale scene in Burslem.

On entering you will see that the pub has undergone a sympathetic restoration with most of the original fixtures and fittings still in place including the original horseshoe shaped wooden bar and centrally-heated iron foot-rest, wooden wall panelling in the lounge, original service bell pushes, leaded-light internal windows and the original off-sales serving hatch.

Eight real ale hand pumps are located on the bar, and dispense four rotating guest beers plus the house beers which are Draught Bass, Sharps Doom Bar and Thornbridge Kipling, plus a changing offering from Oakham.

There is a smoking area at the rear and an a la carte menu restaurant upstairs with it's own bar with a further 2 beer hand pumps, steak meals being a speciality on Thursday nights and wedding receptions are also catered for. Mark, Gemma, Jason and staff assure you of a warm welcome. The December 2010 Pub of the Month presentation will take place at the Duke William, St. John's Square, Burslem on Thursday 9 December at 9pm

The above review was written by Steve Mollatt for the Winter edition of the Potters Bar. Pick up a copy in one of our local pubs now.

For earlier reviews, please visit the Archive Section