North Stafford Hotel

You walk into what feels like a time capsule from the golden age of rail travel, when Stoke station was the beating heart of North Staffordshire's pottery empire. The North Stafford's bar sits within this imposing Victorian pile on Winton Square, all high ceilings and period features that whisper of grander times. The reality is more mixed – it's a Britannia Hotels property, so your expectations should be calibrated accordingly. But there's something endearing about having a pint surrounded by all that faded grandeur, especially if you're waiting for a train or meeting mates before heading into town. The bar staff are friendly enough, and while it won't win any awards for innovation, it does what it says on the tin.