The Potteries based brewery has taken on The Royal Exchange pub in Stone town centre, bucking the trend of pub closures across the West Midlands. And Titanic is celebrating the occasion by sponsoring the Stone Food and Drink Festival in early October.

The Royal Exchange is the fourth pub in the Titanic Brewery fleet. The Bulls Head, St John’s Square, Burslem, is well established with North Staffordshire beer lovers, while The Greyhound, George Street, Newcastle, opened in Summer 2007 and The White Star, Kingsway, Stoke, opened in Spring 2008. The new pub is opening as the shutters go up on many bars. Twenty six pubs close across the UK each month according to new research by the Campaign for Real Ale. Dave Bott, joint owner of Titanic Brewery, said: “Despite the current trend of closures and talk of recession we believe there is still a place for traditional style community pubs.

“Titanic’s success comes through giving people what they want – a traditional local pub where people can enjoy good quality products in comfortable surroundings. “Our pubs are firmly part of the communities they serve. There are no flashy gimmicks or even a TV.”

The Royal Exchange, in Radford Street, Stone, is owned by Leicestershire brewery Everards and leased to Titanic Brewery. Everards beer will be on sale alongside Titanic’s award winning range of real ales and stout.

Titanic Brewery will be among the major sponsors of the Stone Food and Drink Festival which runs from October 3 to October 5, 2008. All beer and wine tasting sessions will be held in the Titanic Tasting Tent sited at the heart of the festival in Westbridge Park.

The Royal Exchange will be among stopping off points on the festival’s Real Ale Trail.

The festival boasts over 70 exhibitors, demonstrations by food and drink experts and a farmers’ market along with live entertainment and children’s attractions. Dave Bott said: “Stone has fast become a must visit destination for food and drink lovers and Titanic Brewery is delighted to be involved in the food and drink festival which is a great success story.”