As part of our work on Roadwork, a steven King novella about the negative effects of urban regeneration, last night I went with Rob, Jo and Mark to meet Ricardio at the coachmakers arms, Hanley. Initially, we were going to meet a potential musical director there, but he didn’t show up. The coachmakers is doomed for closure. They’re going to build a whopping great car park in its place, but the pub is fascinating. It was unlike any other pub I’d ever been to, composed not of a big central bar area but four smaller, more intimate rooms. They have an enormous range of beers, changed as and when they run out. And by beer I mean good real ale.

I usually like new things, but surely to knock down such an historic place – 150 years old – is a herasy. We attended a meeting of their customers, who are trying to save it, and I got a real sense of community, and of that communities anger. We’re going to try to help them by adapting Roadwork so it’s more specifically about this pub; I hope it works; I now see why Ricardio is so interested in such issues.