The Rat Inn, Anick, Hexham, Nothumberland. NE46 4LN. Tel:01434 602814.

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The photo gives the impression of what the Rat Inn is like inside. You can't wait to get in. And it doesn't disappoint.
Ancient roaring fireplaces, old farmhouse charm and furniture, plenty of real ale in a lovely old bar, good atmosphere and decent food to go with all of this!
Its some years since I was last in the Rat Inn, but its got better!

I only wish I had more time on this visit to sample more of the 6 wooden handles on offer.
Wards Best Bitter, High House Farms Auld Hem, Tyneside Blonde from Hadrian, Cumberland Brewers Corby Ale, Festival Gold and my sup from Allendale Brewery, Curlews Return.
Marvelous.

Brandling Arms, High Steet, Gosforth. Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE3 1HD. Tel:0191 2854023.

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The Brandling Arms, apparently named after a famous wealthy family. The Brandlings must have been a right bunch of boozers as there appears to be a few Brandling pubs in the Gosforth area.
This large pub is attractive at the front, inside and even at the rear, where a pleasant open beer garden lies. Cask Task is starting to sound like a travelogue!
Some of the funiture inside was low slung and so comfortable I had to be lifted out of it so that we could have a steak sandwich. However, the food was very enjoyable.

The Brandling Arms majors on food but does have a reasonable choice in real ale. Although I enjoyed a half of the Adnams Wheat Beer, the Deuchars IPA was more to my liking. Others on hand were Youngs Bitter and Roosters Huntsman Ale.

A pleasant afternoon.

The Gosforth Hotel, Salters Road, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE3 1DH. Tel: 0191 2856617.

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On the corner of Salters Road and Gosforth High Street stands the old Gosforth Hotel.

If your walking north up the High Street, make sure you take a sandwich with you if you fancy a pint of real ale in the Gosforth Hotel. Getting over the crossroads could take a while.

The interior has been cheered up quite a bit since my 1970's days there and the ale choice certainly has too. Although four of the handles were not in use, I'm pleased to say that my choice for the day, Mordues Workie Ticket, was on. So were Timothy Taylors Landlord, Titanic Iceberg and of course the ever present Black Sheep.

Not a bad pub, and grub on sale too.

Low Lights Tavern, Brewhouse Bank, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE30 1JN. Tel: 0191 2595593.

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The Low Lights Tavern has the potential to be another North Shields real ale gem.
Reputed to be the oldest pub in North Shields and it certain looks it.

A real old fashioned boozer, split into two separate areas, as they used to be, the Low Lights was the original fisherman's drinking place. Loaded with character and of course its share of ghosts roaming upstairs and in the cellars below, as related to us by Sophie behind the bar.
Having just come under new ownership its ancient origins are trying to be revived. And so they should be. Rather than than trying to turn it into a wine bar (holy mackerel!!) as the last owner apparently tried to do!

Your two intrepid Cask Task hunters almost gave it a miss, because of its recent past, but of course we couldn't resist its ancient facade. We're delighted we couldn't.

Among the 4 real ales on offer were Mordues Workie Ticket, Bass and my choice Wylam Bitter.
An enjoyable and entertaining visit.
Good luck to Sophie and the new owners.

Porthole, 11 New Quay, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 6LQ. Tel: 0191 2576645.

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The Porthole is next to the ferry terminal in North Shields and hasn't got the most inviting of exteriors. Once inside though, the picture does change for the better as the soft jazz music greets you.

A bit dated the interior might be, but don't let this put you off, as the place has a good atmosphere and some good real ales to choose from. The live jazz, afternoon and evening, certainly adds to the enjoyment.

Real ales of the calibre of Courage Directors, Durham Brewery White Velvet, Bass Premium Ale and Wentworth Brewery Harvest Pale Ale were the choices.

A very enjoyable and friendly visit. A good real ale pub.

Hugo's at the Coast, 29 Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4DZ.Tel: 0191 2578956.

Hugo's at the Coast is on Front Street Tynemouth.
What a street this is for real ale drinkers. Cask Task discovered another pub there on sunday after a meal at Il Forno at Tynemouth Metro station.

This one's from the Fitzgerald Group and is another busy treat for the drinker. A fair sized one room affair for the booze.
Black Sheep, Deuchars IPA, as regulars, plus World Top Brewery Falling Stone and Edinburgh No.3 as guests. Typical Fitz pub. Busy but seemingly well run.

Must get back again in day light to get a decent photo. And a soberish one if possible.

Magnesia Bank, 1 Camden Street, North Shields, NE30 1NH. Tel: 0191 2574831

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The Magnesia Bank and North Shields in general was suggested, by one of Cask Tasks most prominent members, as worthy of a visit. It certainly was.
The Magnesia Bank had originally been a georgian bank many years ago and the interior and attached restaurant were worth a visit. A relaxing and tasty pint in front of the open fire was very pleasant indeed.
The superb selection of real ales came from the seven taps and included Durham Brewery Magus, Caledonian Double Dark(delicious) and 80 shilling, Poaches Billy Boy, Theakstons loverly Old Peculiar, Devonport The Fall and the ever popular Deuchars IPA.
This lot set us up for the enjoyable day to come.
Grand pub.

The Bell and Bucket, 37-39 Norfolk Street, North Shields, NE30 1NQ Tel:0191 2570680.

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The Bell and Bucket turned out to be the end part of an old fire station. Once inside, this cosy little pub turned out to be a warm and relaxing place to have a pint.
One wall kitted out with fishing tackle from divers helmets to photos and the other with a huge assortment of porcelain owls! What's that lot all about?
Never mind. The beer was ok from High Gate and we enjoyed a Dark Mild.

Oddfellows, 7 Albion Road, North Shields, NE30 2RJ. Tel:0191 2574288

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What a little belter the Oddfellows turned out to be.
A one roomed inviting boozer full of friendly faces and real ale drinkers. I think all three of Cask Task's members wished we lived next door to this little gem, so that we could take advantage of the Oddfellows Day Time Saver Scheme of buy 5 get 1 free!

Graeme, the owner, had a nice little selection of real ales from Abbott Ale, Jarrow Brewery's Jarrow Bitter and Maxim Brewery's Three Cheers for Christmas which could not be ignored and wasn't!
All round enjoyable visit.
Definitely a pub not to be missed.

Tynemouth Lodge Hotel, Tynemouth Road, North Shields, NE30 4AA. Tel:0191 2577565.

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The Tynemouth Lodge Hotel goes back a long way. See the picture!

Not to be out done by the others on our North shields booze up, Cask Task stuck manfully to the job and sampled the real ale here. By god it's hard work though.

Another good little real ale pub. Both cozy and comfortable with Greene King IPA, Caledonian 80 shilling and the powerful Abbott Ale.

What a super way to round off the day.

Snowy Owl, Blagdon Lane, Cramlington. NE23 8AU Tel:01670 736111.

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The Snowy Owl was a closer sunday lunch venue for me and a substitute for the good old Badger when I was at Ellington. In the same pub group with its lovely open fires, the Snowy Owl was just as welcoming as the Badger too.

The usual real ale taps were there. Deuchars IPA,(and guess what!) Black Sheep and Harvestoun Bitter and Twisted(my choice for the day). Lovely.

We sat by one of the open fires and put the world to rights. Then run off home satisfied.
See you.

Falcons Nest, Rotary Way, North Brunton, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE3 5EH. Tel:0191 2367078.

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The Falcons Nest, just off the A1 roundabout for Gosforth Park, appears to be the latest edition to the Badger and the Snowy Owl, and did not disappoint. Although Cask Task did not try the food the ambience was exactly the same as the other two. Welcoming and comfortable.

The three real ales were Deuchars IPA, Black Sheep, and Harviestouns Bitter and Twisted, the last of which was sampled and very nice it was too.