Matt Jackson visited the picturesque town of Stone in the West Midlands, home to a pub crowned Britain's best, and was stunned to see how much a pint cost.
Rising pint prices
The cost of a pint keeps climbing, with some drinkers now routinely forking out upwards of £7 for a beer, and the average punter shelling out more than £5. It is a world away from just 15 years ago when a pint could regularly be had for as little as £2.50.
Yet tucked away in the heart of the Midlands, in the charming Staffordshire town of Stone, one pub appears to be turning back the clock. The Crown Wharf, the flagship venue for brewery chain Joules, boasts prices that would leave most drinkers gobsmacked.
Award-winning venue
The pub was even named Britain's finest at the Great British Pub Awards last year. The venue proudly proclaims that every Joules pint poured comes from 'down the road in Market Drayton'.
As someone who has never been shy about exploring a pub or two over the years, I felt it was high time to nip down the M6 from my home in Cheshire and discover whether this celebrated venue truly merits its title as Britain's best. Fortunately, upon arriving in the Staffordshire town, it was immediately clear that I had picked the perfect day for it.
A sunny arrival
The sun was out, locals were milling around the canal, and a car park was conveniently situated just a stone's throw from the pub – handy for any designated drivers, naturally. After a leisurely stroll along the canal, I made my way to the venue.
Upon stepping inside, I was instantly struck by just how vast the pub was – it even boasts its own community theatre, which was once a fire station in a former life. Having descended the steps from the main street and into the venue, I made my way straight to the bar.
The £3.80 pint
I had already made up my mind about what to order – at £3.80, it had to be a Joules Citra Blonde. The beer was described as a 'light and refreshingly hoppy' beverage, which seemed the ideal choice for a sun-drenched Sunday outing.
Had I fancied spending a little more, I could have gone for a pale ale at £3.90, or even a Green Monkey, Joules' own lager, at £4.60. Even as the bartender pointed the cash machine towards me, I still could barely believe that in 2026 I was parting with just £3.80 for a pint.
Exploring the venue
Nevertheless, pint in hand, I set about exploring the sprawling venue. With the sunshine still holding, I made a beeline for the beer garden, where I could watch walkers strolling along the canal towpath as narrowboats gently swayed on the water beyond.
It was almost effortless to forget you were sitting in a Staffordshire beer garden on an April afternoon – a wonderfully peaceful scene, only occasionally broken by the joyful bark of a dog – what pub would be complete without one? – or the melodic chirping of birds.
What makes Joules different?
Still preoccupied with the cost of a pint, I began to wonder what this chain does differently from its competitors. It was then I discovered it boasts 'no cans, no bottles, no supermarket shelves' to contend with.
Every drink on tap is exclusively available at its own pubs. Indeed, the chain's chief executive Vicky Colclough recently told the Morning Advertiser that it was determined to keep its beers below that £4 price point.
She explained that it was 'really important' that the pub remains an 'everyday luxury' and not a 'weekend or a one-off in the month'. She says the pub chain has 'honed down on every recipe'.
And you could really tell. Ordinarily, I would opt for a lager when out, but the prospect of a £3.80 pint was too tempting to resist. While it would not typically be my first choice, it was thoroughly pleasant – the ideal companion for a sunny weekend afternoon.
Final thoughts
After finishing my drink, I decided to venture into town for a stroll. The venue had already begun to bustle, despite having only just opened upon my arrival, with plenty of patrons seeking their Sunday roast.
Having explored Stone, I made my way home, and I can completely understand why The Crown Wharf was crowned pub of the year. It is a generous-sized venue serving superb beer and, still astonishingly, at just £3.80 a pint.
