A Day in Uttoxeter

The Old Swan is located on a site recorded in a 1629 map as the home of Peter Lightfoot (son of the vicar). Before that it has been a pub known as The Old Swan Inn. Today operated by Wetherspoon, the pub has up to six hand-pumps and supports local real ale, and has won multiple awards from the local CAMRA branch. The history of the Old Swan reflects the deep roots of hospitality on this site — from early-17th-century timber-framed building, through various changes in function, to a modern large-scale pub. Its evolution illustrates how historic inn-sites in Uttoxeter remain active and relevant in the town’s social fabric.

The Uttoxeter Brewing Company was established as a nano-brewery in 2016 by two members of the Uttoxeter & District CAMRA branch, marking the first brewery in the town since the closure of Bunting’s in 1929. From 2019 the brewery has operated from purpose-built premises in the town centre, producing real ales such as Earthmover, Final Furlong and others. The brewery’s revival in Uttoxeter is significant — it reconnects the town with its brewing heritage, supports local pubs (including the Night Inn), and contributes to the real-ale culture in the region. It stands as a modern expression of the town’s historic brewing roots.

Formerly known as the White Hart, the Hart is an 18th-century coaching inn in the town centre, built to serve travellers and stage-coaches on a prominent route through Staffordshire. The building is Grade II listed and is reputed to be haunted by the figures of a lady and child, giving it a memorable local folklore dimension. Recently (in 2025) the venue was refurbished and reopened under its new brand “The Hart” by Bespoke Inns, with upgraded bedrooms, a stylish function room and renewed food-and-drink offering. Three real ales were on at the time of my visit.

The Olde Talbot is one of the oldest inns in Uttoxeter – the building dates from the late 16th century, and its origins lie in the period following the town’s charter in 1252. It is Grade II listed and underwent an exterior refurbishment in 2023. Historically, the Olde Talbot would have served as a key stopping point for travellers and town-folk alike, rooted in the market-town economy of Uttoxeter. Its survival and continued use as a pub reflect the heritage of hospitality, coaching-inn culture and local civic life in the town.

The Black Swan is a Grade II listed building primarily from the 18th century, though parts (such as a timber-frame under the coach-arch) may date to the 16th century, as indicated by its side elevation. The front is painted brick with 19th-century ground-floor windows and a tile roof. As a traditional two-bar pub in the heart of Uttoxeter’s market area, the Black Swan embodies the architectural layering of small-town public houses and retains a visible connection to earlier building fabric. It feels like a locals pub in the best way - historic but not pretentious and happy to have real ale (Bass) as well as the most popular options.

The Old Star is a Grade II listed pub, noted by the local CAMRA branch for its traditional layout and friendly family-friendly atmosphere. While precise construction details are less detailed in the sources, the listing status indicates architectural interest and continuity. Real ale is available in the form of Bass, which is very popular locally, and there is a guest ale that changes weekly.

The Vaults is housed in a mid-18th-century red-brick building with a mid-19th-century moulded-wood inn front, slate roof and etched windows, located at 22 Market Place, Uttoxeter. Internally it comprises three rooms stretching back through the building, reflecting the layered development of traditional inns in the town centre. This Grade II-listed venue survives as an unpreretentious and longstanding pub, largely dedicated to cask ale and community conversation, thereby representing the continuity of Uttoxeter’s public-house tradition.

The Night Inn opened as the town-centre taproom for the local micro-brewery, the Uttoxeter Brewing Company, in July 2020 and quickly established itself as a specialist ale destination. It offers rotating beers from the brewery, guest ales, craft beers and local spirits, and has become respected by the local CAMRA branch, winning Pub of the Year in Uttoxeter for several consecutive years. Though a relatively recent venture, the Night Inn reflects a revival in independent brewing and pub culture in Uttoxeter. It is emblematic of a shift from traditional tied houses to more flexible, community-oriented ale houses, linking Uttoxeter’s heritage with a modern craft-beer movement.

The Horse & Dove is Uttoxeter’s first micropub, housed in a listed building and has been awarded multiple times by the local CAMRA branch (including Pub of the Year 2020 and Cider Pub of the Year 2023). The venue offers up to five real ales (often from local breweries), a broad cider list and a selection of gins, reflecting modern craft-and-micro-pub developments in the town. While newer in concept, the Horse & Dove ties into Uttoxeter’s longer tradition of small independent drinking establishments in historic buildings. It represents how the pub scene in the town is adapting while still making use of heritage architecture and local brewing culture.