The William Stead, 8 Crown Street, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 1LU. Tel:01325 465487

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The William Stead is within walking distance of at least half a dozen other real ale haunts, in the brilliant shopping centre that Darlington has become.

A large two storey pub/restaurant with a special lift to the toilets on the Ist floor for gronks like me. I had to use this facility as the staff failed to pick the lock on the disabled toilet on the ground floor. Some bloke must have absconded with the key! B.....d.

Look at the photo. Its big enough for a Marks & Spencers branch!!

The Ruddles best was £1.39 a pint! I had to suffer a pint at that price. Grainstore Brewery Ten-Fifty (brewed in Rutland for its sins), Daleside Blonde and Old Lubrication, and Abbott Ale were the rest. Although I'm warming to some of Wetherspoons wonderful pubs, this one left me cold.

Must press on.

Tanners Hall, 63-64 Skinnergate, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 7LL.Tel:01325 369939.

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The Tanners Hall, yet another Wetherspoons pub. This one gets its name from the leather trade once big in Skinnergate in the 16 and 1700's.
Busy of course, with both diners and drinkers, the pub interior is interesting and reasonably comfortable with well priced both beer and food.
The usual multitude of real ale choices from the ridiculously cheap Ruddles, the beautiful Mordues Workie Ticket, Northumberland Brewers Premium, Wentworth Gold, Daleside Monkey Wrench, Big Lamp Premium and on and on.... The Workie Ticket, incidentally, was spot on.
Fancy breakfast? You can have one here for about thirty bob. Its not worth turning the gas on at home, never mind having to wash up afterwards!

Number 22 Alehouse and Canteen, 22 Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 7RG. Tel:01325 354590.

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Number 22 Alehouse and Canteen. Certainly a name to conjure with and not a great looker from the outside, but what a grand modern and comfortable interior. A superb real ale pub.

Although not wide, the pub is cavernous inside. Maybe a bit too high. But let's not nitpick. It's friendly and comfortable and by god does it offer some choice of beer.
I counted twelve, yes 12, real ales. It is home to the Village Brewer Brewery, three of whose ales are there. The list is endless. Brakspear, Ringwood, Skipton, Ossett.......I had the Village Brewery Old Raby Ale but, after a long day sampling on your behalf, I got so pissed (you've guessed it) I forgot to take the photo.
Another visit may have to be made. What a shame!

Made a second visit and got the photo.

Tap & Spile, 99 Bondgate, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 7JY. Tel:01325 381679.

The Tap & Spile sits right next door to the Tapas Bar on Bondgate. Real handy for the dedicated boozer because here is another place to stagger into if you enjoy good ale.

Not the most attractive of interiors but a fine selection of good beers to choose from.
Wychwoods Hobgoblin, Adnams Broadside, Moorhouses Blond Witch and Saltaires Triple Chocolate (yuk!!)

The chalkboard listing the above and forthcoming ales was worth the visit. Some wit had removed some letters and words to give amusement to the reader. Cask Task will leave these changes to your ingenuity.

Old Yard Tapas Bar, 98 Bondgate, Darlington, County Durham, DL37JY. Tel:01325 467385.

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The Old Yard Tapas Bar looked the most unlikely of real ale pubs. It just shows you how mistaken you can be! No less than six proper beers to choose from.

My old favourite, Theakston's Old Peculiar was top of the list, Ossett Light Ale, Consett White Hot, Wychwood Hobgoblin, Everards Tiger, Caledonian Mexican Bandit and John Smiths Cask Ale followed.

The Tapas Bar is also a substantial restaurant too. A very pleasant way to spend an hour or so in the sunshine out front.

Well worth a visit.

Quaker House, High Row, 2 Mechanics Yard, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 7QF. Tel:07783960105.

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The Quaker House exterior doesn't exactly invite you in. Look at our photo. And its up a narrow alley! Nevertheless, in we went and I must say the greetings from the guv'nor and the barman were 1st class. So was the beer. Eight on tap! The place was a real drinkers paradise.
Rock music a speciality with umpteen bands billed to appear.
The Quaker House was CAMRA's Town Pub of the Year 2009-2010.

Real ales from Woodfords, Summer Wine Brewery, Rugby Brewery, Shipyard Brewery, Consett's Cast Iron and Brakspears Hooray Henry!

A highly enjoyable visit to a good real ale house.