Nightlife in Stafford

If you’re looking for somewhere to grab a pint in Stafford, The Picture House is a very popular option. It’s the Wetherspoons on Bridge Street. It gets its name from the fact it used to house a pre-war cinema. It’s been tastefully restored and has bags full of character, making it an excellent place for a drink, and – if you’re peckish for some outrageously good value, questionably quickly plated pub grub – something to eat.

Alternatively, you can carry on down Bridge Street, and when you get to Stafford Cinema either head left down Lichfield Road to The Sun Inn, or go right down Newport Road to the Floodgate Ale House. One at a time, one at a time. The Sun Inn is Titanic Brewery tap with an absolutely excellent selection of a dozen hand-pulled ales. In the summer ‘The Sun Deck’ is a delicious little suntrap perfect for al fresco drinking and dining. In May and August you can head down for the pub’s biannual beer festival. And, if you’re hungry, Tuesday is Pie Day, Wednesday is Burger Day, Friday is Steak Night, or head down on a Sunday for a solid roast dinner.

Back to the Floodgate Ale House. It’s a top-class micro pub; it may well be small in size, but it’s larger than life when it comes to personality. On top of that, the ales are always excellent. There are no TVs, no machines, no games; this is a place for conversation, with the odd live music night thrown in for good measure. It’s not just for ale enthusiasts, whisky lovers can attempt to sample as many of the 20 bottles as they dare. There’s also an impressive array of ciders and wines, or designated drivers can enjoy a tea, coffee or soft drink. Throw in the fact that, while it may be basic, the Floodgate Ale House is also just a nice place to enjoy a pint or few. No wonder it has a number of awards to its name.

When it comes to bars, they come in all shapes and sizes in Stafford. The Market Vaults is one of our favourites. For starters, they do some absolutely biblical burgers, so if you’re feeling peckish then be sure to check it out. On top of that, they also have a great bar area, behind which they stock a great selection of gins, top-shelf spirits, real ales and fine wines. There’s also board games to keep you busy, and they regularly put on gigs.

We’d also recommend paying a visit to the Revolution on the Riverside. We know that Revs can vary quite drastically from one town to the next, but the Stafford branch of the popular nationwide chain is one of the best we’ve ever visited.

Alternatively, you could make your way over the road to Verso Lounge, a cosy bar with eclectic, comfortable, colourful furniture, a food menu which changes throughout the day, and an excellent selection of drinks perfect for everything from a quick pint pitstop, or an evening on the G&Ts.

If your night escalates from the bars and pubs of Stafford and you fancy a few hours of dancing and cheap drinks, then there are a few clubs in town to choose from. Every now and then Casa on Bridge Street can be a good night. It’s a few doors down from The Picture House.

However, we’d tend to walk around the corner to Couture – Stafford’s superclub on Newport Road. The main room books some of the biggest DJs around, the party room combines a light-up disco dancefloor with non-stop cheesy bangers, or if you’re too cool for such shenanigans then make your way to the R&B room. Couture’s open until three in the morning, make the most of the drinks deals and you can have a cheap night, then when the lights come on in the early hours, the king size beds of our Stafford North (Spitfire) hotel are just a ten-minute taxi drive away, ready and waiting for you to sleep it all off.