Saracens Head

We left without eating, and I wouldn’t recommend this place. After our drinks order, it took at least 30 minutes for the waitress to come back for food orders. They didn’t charge us for the drinks when we said we weren’t happy, but the bar staff seemed miserable and the menu was limited, with no specials board. We’d booked a large dog-friendly table in the bar over a week ahead and were promised a nice round one. Instead, it wasn’t available, and nobody mentioned the live music night before we drove 45 minutes. The table we got was pushed into a corner, leaving our dog cramped. Not dog friendly!

The hotel room was top quality, with lots of little touches that gave it a luxurious feel, and the whole place was immaculate. We had an excellent evening meal and breakfast, and the staff were really nice and helpful. A lovely hotel and pub. I’d highly recommend it for a meal, an overnight visit, or just a drink or two.

We parked our campervan in the small paddock behind the pub overnight, and there was no charge. Everyone made us and our dog feel very welcome. The pub meal was top class, the staff were lovely, and the location was perfect for Stafford. We did the Isabel Trail Parkrun the next day. Thoroughly recommend it, five stars from us!

The country pub itself was lovely, with fresh, clean decor, cosy log fires, space between tables, and countryside views from both the back room and the Llama Lounge. The manager took our order personally to accommodate a nut allergy, which was reassuring, and service was friendly and attentive. We tried the turkey and beef roasts. The meat was tender and full of flavour, portions were good, the Yorkshire puddings were large and fresh, and there was plenty of thick gravy. The sharing vegetables were nice, though mange tout, baby corn, and carrot felt more spring-like than suited to the season. I’d have preferred seasonal veg, and slightly larger servings of the roasted parsnips and carrots for better value. The roast potatoes had thick skins and were large. I prefer mine crispier with fluffy centres, but that’s just my taste. The desserts looked delicious, though we were too full to try them. We had a really pleasant Sunday lunch at The Saracens Head in Stafford and would return for the grill nights. Looking forward to drinks in the garden next summer.