Bru Authentic Craft Ale and Gin House

Bars with fashionably misspelled names tend to activate my inner stereotype generator. That was the case when I read the pre-publicity for this latest addition to Stoke-on-Trent's buzzing micro-pub scene.

I imagined a hipster hangout filled with bearded wonders wearing Peaky Blinders caps and quaffing real ale from pewter tankards. They'd all be chomping on gourmet burgers whilst frantically virtue signaling for all their worth.

The reality was, thankfully, free from any such cobblers. Even though the building itself was until recently home to (ahem) a cobbler.

Bru is a welcoming micro-pub that is comfortably eccentric without being overly cluttered with knick-knacks. The range of beers and gins available would be impressive in a larger establishment, here it is a minor miracle of compression.

A good pub is made by the staff almost as much as the drink, here they get the balance just right. Striking that golden balance between being friendly without being pushy; being serious about selling top quality beer without being fussily pedantic.

The trick spelling of the name still grates, but if you're in Stoke town and looking for good beer and company to match, then Bru could be the place for you.

Bru

23 Campbell Place

Stoke-on-Trent