The Angel View Inn, Low Eighton, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE9 7UB. Tel:0191 4103219.

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The Angel View is just off the A1M, as you approach Gateshead and The Angel from the south.

What a beautiful pub/hotel/restaurant it is. Cask Task happened to call on a lovely summer's afternoon and

had a snack and a couple pints of real ale, naturally, and enjoyed the sunshine in the central area pictured above.

Without a doubt worth a visit, Even more so if you can catch it in the sunshine, as we did.

The Central Hotel, Half Moon Lane, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 2AN. Tel:0191 4782543.

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The Central Hotel as it is called, although always known as 'the coffin', because of its shape, was always a real traditional old pub. Used on a couple of occasions in the past in movies, The Central was always known as a bit of a rough dive, but always worth a visit because of its character.

It was allowed to fall into abysmal disrepair but the Head of Steam pub group managed to get some help and lottery money, to completely refurbish it, inside and out. A good job they've made of it too, without losing too much of its old ambience.
With live music upstairs and reasonable food served along with some wonderful real ale (about 8 to choose from) downstairs. Its taken about 2 years to get it to its present state, opening a bit at a time.
On Cask Task's 3 visits over the past 18 months or so its been interesting to see its development and sample some of these beers. Wylam Angel, York Brewery Guzzler, Consett Cast Iron, Ossett Brewery Corker, Copper Dragon Brewery Freddie Truman, Black Sheep, Marston Moor Brewery Cromwell and Hadrian and Border Brewery Byker Light.

Walk out of the door, down the bank, and you're on the old Swing Bridge and the Quayside. Marvelous.

Bowes Incline Hotel Northside Birtley Gateshead

The Bowes Incline. Now there's a pub that brings back some memories!
There's only one road in and out. A drinker's nightmare in my younger days when I had 2 or 3 pints and had to risk the chance of the law waiting on the only road out! What a gambler.
Older and wiser now with a taxi in and out. By, how the place has got posher. A good restaurant part and Black Sheep, Jennings Cumberland and Mordue's Five Bridges Bitter to wash it all down with.
Although this is not now a great boozer as such, it was worth a visit for old times sake.

















Bowes Incline Hotel
Northside
Birtley
Gateshead
Tyne & Wear
DH3 1RF

Tel: 0191 4102233
Fax: 0191 4104756

E-Mail: info@thebowesinclinehotel.co.uk

website

The Ship, Eighton Banks, Gateshead

At The Ship, Eighton Banks, the crowd used to meet some 25 or 30 years ago for a good social boys wednesday neet oot. Very convivial those neets were too! Alas no more.
Although I hadn't been in for years, I was greeted by an old black labrador in the bar after almost nose diving over the builders alterations at the entrance. So I settled down to sup a Spitfire Lancaster Amber. The place looked as busy as ever with drinkers and now has a reasonable restaurant as well.
Well worth a visit.
















The Ship,
The Mount, Eighton Banks, Gateshead, Tyne And Wear,
NE9 7YP
Telephone: 01914160273

Wetherspoons, The Metro Centre, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

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Wetherspoons in the Metro Centre had not been on my schedule but as my son was meeting a business acquaintance there I grabbed the chance of a lift with (I was about to say both hands but one of them's pretty useless) one hand.

It was well worth the visit with a superb range of real ales to choose from. Listen to this!
My nearby Northumberlannd Brewery's Bucking (I said bucking mind you) Fastard and Brown Ale, Marston's Pedigree, Abbot Ale, Ruddles Best and, exclusive to Wetherspoons, Leap Dogdales powerful Alan Hansen at 5.5%. All at reasonable prices. What a feast! And the place was full! Of both drinkers and diners. Just goes to show that if the price is right the people will troop in.
Good to see and, with a lift home to follow, did I have a belter of an evening.

The Mill House, Birtley, Tyne and Wear

http://www.themillhousepub.co.uk/
Blackfell, Birtley, Chester le Street, DH3 1RE Tel.0191 415 1313

The Mill House used to be one of my 'Biker' pubs many years ago(many, many years ago) and how its changed. More food than beer now, but still, it has 2 real ales to sup, so I had a pint of Courage Directors. It seemed a shame to leave the stuff so I drank it!

Ravensworth Arms Hotel, Lamesley, Gateshead

Gateshead, NE11 0ER - 0191 487 6023

The Ravensworth Arms has two literary claims to fame. It is alleged that Lewis Carroll wrote (or conceived) his immortal classic ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and it is also believed that Catherine Cookson was conceived here as her mother Kate worked behind the bar and occasionally took in guests, if you catch my drift.(I wasn't there as it was just before my time. Honest!)

I arrived on the scene in the sixties whilst working at the Team Valley and was entertained at the Ravensworth by quite a few salesmen selling their industrial wares. The food then was always good.

Today the service was on the duff side and a singular real ale tap of Wells Bombardier was eventually brought into action, after a shout of 'SHOP!' from your Cask Task representative.

Shame. I was still after the food and service of the sixties.

Gateshead Arms, Low Fell, Gateshead

569
Durham
Rd
Gateshead,
NE9
5EY
0191
487
8770

Didn't fancy this one but it did have one real ale wooden handle so I went in. And sure enough, there it was, the token single pump supplied by the old Theakston cast off; Black Sheep!

Just for the record. I used to drink Theakstons as a session beer years ago before S & N got hold of it and put me off. So, in 1999, I decided to visit Masham, in Eh by gum land, and although S & N was just relinquishing ownership back to the family, Theakstons had been decimated! I couldn't resist a pint of the wonderful Old Peculiar which was, and still is, one of my favourites. But the visitor centre was deserted. What a crying shame.

Every Theakston pub in North Yorkshire had been taken hold of by that enterprising upstart -Black Sheep! So I decided to take snoop.

Black Sheep Brewery's visitor centre, in same town, was a real eye opener. It was stowed off! Packed oot!

Large bar. Restaurant. Gift shop. The lot. Even bought the Tee shirt. Goodnight Theakstons!

Their Black Sheep beer's damn good as well.

Lambton Arms, Eighton Banks, Gateshead

The Lambton Arms was at one time, probably the most popular eating and drinking establishment in Eighton Banks, but appears to have lost its way.
Why? And what a shame.

Black Horse, Low Fell, Gateshead

The Black Horse on Kells Lane at Low Fell is a pub
that carries Wylam Brewery Ale. I've known about it for years but have never been in. Strangely enough its my pal's local, which was my reason for the visit.

On a cold winter's night I ventured in to find a superb Wylam Gold Tankard ale on sale. Marvlious.
GOLD Tankard ABV 4.0%
Champion Beer of the CAMRA Tyneside,
and Darwen Lancashire Festivals
Made with all gold ingredients - Pale
Malt, Golden naked oats, First Gold
Hops, with a Willamette hop finish.
Fresh clean flavour with a hint of
grapefruit citrus from the Willamette
late hops

Blow me if it wasn't the pub quiz night! Of course I got roped in to that.A good night was had by all, particularly me with the Gold Tankard, but I was kindly given a lift home by my pal's son's girlfriend. Sounds complicated to me!

A pleasant enough pub and a good pint. What more could a man ask for.

The Aletaster, 706 Durham Road, Low Fell, Gateshead,NE9 6JA Tel: 0191 4870770

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Right on the busy Durham Road through Low Fell ,this really means what it says on the label.
The Aletaster. I've never seen such a large selection of real ales in one pub. A proper feast for the the genuine drinker. If you can't find something to your liking here you never will!
I found the Marstons Pedigree and the Theakstons Old Peculiar both smashing.
A proper drinker's pub.
Parking at the rear if required.

The Waggon Inn, Eighton Banks

The
Wag
gon
Inn
NE9
7XB

A
bit
off



the beaten track, this is a very popular and hospitable pub/rest with a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere.
There are three good real ales on offer.Courage Directors,Mordues Workie Ticket and Theakstons.
Nice open fire in the winter.




Waggon Inn, Galloping Green Road Gateshead, NE9 7XB

The Green. White Mare Pool

Originally, an old pub called The White Mare Pool, which was taken over by The Dixielanders, an extremely popular local singing /comedy ensemble(mainly Billy Martin and Bobby Hooper) who entertained me brilliantly on many an hilarious evening. Feeding the audience on........Drinks were supplied in large stone jugs, if prefered,to save you having to go to the bar too often.

What fabulous nights. Ah, happy days.
The old place was bought and completely demolished by the Fitzgerald group who then built a new place on the same site.

The Green as we know it today became my local until 1996, when I moved away. I still visit it today to enjoy one of its many real and guest ales.
I also still find it a most comfortable and attractive pub/restaurant and highly recommend it.

By the way there's a large, south facing,outside area for summer supping and an enormous car park.

Borough Arms Gateshead

Reputed to be the oldest pub in Gateshead. Seems to be true!!
Stocks mainly Jarrow Brewery beers. Had a couple of pleasant pints.

82 Bensham Road, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE8 1PS

Tudor Rose Dunston

Just off the Tyne, this pub has a pleasant interior (although there are a few steps up to be negotiated to get to the toilet). There is just one real ale on tap. (When I visited a very tasty Hobgoblin). The exterior has been altered via some false timber and the name has been changed from the original. It used to be The Anchor Inn, to reflect it's proximity to the Big River, which is immediatley behind it

Albion, Bill Quay

Albion Inn, Bill Quay

TUESDAY 20/1/2009

ALBION INN, Bill Quay, Gateshead, NE10 OTY. Tel:01914692418, Reay Street
Good old pub. A bit isolated but right on the bank of the 'Big River',with fabulous views of the Tyne.Superb ales,mainly from the Jarrow Brewery(Rivet Catcher etc.). Well worth a visit.Opens at 4pm during winter.

Alas now closed. What a shame. 25/1/2010.