The Forum. 8/9 Market Place, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1XF. Tel:01434 609190,

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Forum, incorporating a Wetherspoons pub and, upstairs, a cinema!
Walk in and the place is surprisingly large with stairs down to a further part eating/drinking area. A bit soulless, but typical Witherspoons, the beer choice is good and reasonably cheap.
Not to my liking as a watering hole, but as usual the pub was reasonably busy and the staff friendly.
The real ale was the ridiculously cheap Ruddles Best, Allendales Wolf, Wylams Angel, Greene Kings Abbot Ale and my choice for the visit, the very tasty Saddlers Stumbling Badger.

The Lonsdale, Lonsdale Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne &Wear, NE2 3HQ. Tel:0191 2810039.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Lonsdale has a huge drop down screen, presumably to show the football, and a huge amount of scaffolding to the left hand side, presumably to keep the wall up. A quick pint of Black Sheep, which I had, or the Deuchars IPA, was called for. Afraid I may sneeze and bring the place down around our ears, we made a quick exit for the West Jesmond metro station, just across the road.

The Punch Bowl, 125 Jesmond Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE2 1JY. Tel:0191 2818285.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Pun h Bowl, as it says over door, although I'm certain we were going into the Punch Bowl, looks decidedly run down from the outside but does its best on the inside.

With two real ales, Deuchars IPA and an anonymous Hydes Over The Barrel pint on sale, we had our sup and moved on.

Blue Bell, Jesmond Vale, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE2 1PH. Tel:0191 2321774.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Blue Bell is a lovely old pub tucked away down in Jesmond Vale. Unfortunately in the shadow of one of those awful 60/70's tower blocks.
The Blue Bell does its best with an attractive outside seating area and a very friendly and comfortable interior. The food wasn't bad either.
The real ale on offer was Deuchars IPA and Abbot Ale.
Enjoyed an overcast hour or so there. Very nice.

The Newton Park, Benton Road, Longbenton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear. NE7 7EB. Tel:0191 2662010.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Newton Park is a huge pub which majors strongly on reasonable food selection and a friendly, comfortable atmosphere.
The real ale choice was Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale, and Green King IPA. With a long and arduous day in front of us, I sampled the IPA before moving on.

The Sun Inn, Dene View, Main Street, Acomb, Hexham, Northumberland. NE46 4PW. Tel: 01434 602934,

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE


Just happened to be passing Acomb so we called in to The Sun Inn.
Although a pleasant enough and friendly pub, there was only the token single real ale Black Sheep on offer, so we had one. For the enthusiast though, the Miners Arms, a few yards further up the street, appears to offer a greater choice. Unfortunately it was closed during the day so we missed out.

Boatside Inn, Warden, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 4SQ. Tel:01434 602233.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Boatside Inn at Warden. What a pleasant pub it is, just beside the bridge crossing the river.

The small bar was busy, as was the restaurant. And I'm not just saying that 'cos I found a quid coin under the table,honest!

With a choice of Hadrian and Borders Secret Kingdom or Allendales Beacon Fire, I went for the Boatside (supposedly specially brewed for them) which didn't taste like a cask ale to me. But you win some, you lose some.

Such was the atmosphere in the place, I could have sat there for some time but, as you know, Cask Task has a busy schedule and must carry on with the hard work on your behalf.

The Boatside is one of the pleasures and I do recommend it.

Battlesteads Inn, Wark. Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 3LS.Tel:01434 230209.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

I'd been to the Battlesteads some years ago, when I was cottage sittng (for friends on holiday), a few miles from Wark.

A very friendly and busy place for food, although most people, on their way to the restaurant, partook of a drink on their way through the bar. A traditional looking, fair sized bar it is, with beamed ceiling and wood burning stove.

He didn't know much about real ales, having pulled me a cloudy pint of Jarrow Brewerys Swinging Gibbet(usually a superb drink), saying most real ales were like that, the young barman, a thoroughly nice young man, pulled me a Wylams Emporers Flame instead.The remainder of the excellent choices were Durham Brewerys Magus and, youv'e guessed it, the ever popular Black Sheep.

A lovely place for a visit in a very nice village by the river,

The Robin Hood Inn, Military Road, East Wallhouses, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland. NE18 0LL. Tel:01434 672273.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Right on the Roman Wall trail is the Robin Hood Inn, on the old Military Road.
Not the most picturesque of pubs but in the right place.
Cask Task called in on the way home for one for the road. Mind you thats all there was here. A choice of one. Never mind it went down well and the barman assured us that High House Brewery, not two minutes away, covered both pumps during the summer.
A handy walkers pub with decent food.

Hadrian Hotel. Wall, Nr Hexham, Northumberland. NE46 4EE. Tel:01434 681232.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Another glorious northumbrian pub and hotel, the Hadrian Hotel.
Built on the side of the hill in the village of Wall, it was a cold but bright and sunny day when we called in to the Hadrian. Yet another wonderfully comfortable interior. I could of sat all day by the open fire with my pint of Jennings Cumberland Ale, admiring the fabulous view across the valley.
Four taps, including Matfen Nels Best, Wylam Angel, Roosters Celtic Corker and of course the Jennings, made up the wonderful choice of real ales.
What a smashing day.

Barrasford Arms, Barrasford, Hexham. Northumberland. NE48 4AA.Tel:01434 681237.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

From Great Whittington we were recommended to go to the Barrasford Arms in the little village of Barrasford. What a fine old pub it was too.
The place was full of diners and drinkers and we were welcomed by the main man there, Tony Binks. The atmosphere was tremendous with a mixture of locals in the bar and visiting diners in the restaurant.
Two hand pulls, High House Brewery Sundancer and Hadrian and Borders Gladiator Bitter were on sale, so we got amongst it. I can only blame a combination of the interesting conversation and the Sundancer for my forgetting the photo again!
What a good pub.
Its a hard life, but I'll have to go back.

Got back ok.

Errington Arms, Stagshaw, Nr Corbridge, Northumberland. NE45 5QB. Tel:01434 672250.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Looking for another pub, Cask Task stumbled on an old friend called the Errington Arms.

Some years ago I had made regular visits, for both food and drink, and loved it for both!
It unfortunately had a very bad fire and was closed for some time and I lost touch. The place I'm pleased to say was almost exactly as I'd left it. With good food and, most importantly for Cask Task, a couple of good real ales too, so we settled down for a relaxing pint.

The Wylam Bitter and Cumberland Brewery Corby Ale slid down nicely as a reminder of happy days past.
A good pub.

High House Farm Brewery, Visitor Centre, Matfen, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear. NE20 0RG. Tel:01661 886192.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Cask Task has enjoyed quite a few pints of High House Farm Brewery's beers whilst on the travels, so it was a pleasure to call in to the premises for a sampler and a look around.

Out in the countryside, and still a working farm, the visitor centre and the brewery has a traditional, although new, look about it with much of the stonework and timbers showing. Reasonable disabled access, even for me, the place is upstairs and appears to be used as the local by some of the surrounding population.

Food can be bought there, but let's concentrate on the liquid that we're there for.

The mainstays are Auld Hemp, the darker Matfen Magic, and the popular Nels Best. Others including Sundancer, are also brewed on the premises.

If you're in the area, call in for a jar or two. I'm sure you'll find it worthwhile.

The Keepers Lodge, Matfen Hall Golf Club, Matfen, Newcostle Upon Tyne, NE20 0RH. Tel/;01661 886500.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

We spotted the golf course at Matfen, so we popped in to find the Keepers Lodge had a High House Farm's Nels Best on tap, so we had a swift pint and sat outside in the sunshine.
Watched a couple of holes then left.

Queens Head Inn, Great Whittington, Nr Corbridge, NE19 2HP. Tel:01434 672267.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

What a difference a few miles makes.
The Queens Head in Great Whittington, although not as picturesque as Matfen, the welcome we got here was as it should be. In fact the landlady here very kindly helped Cask Task's gronk (yours truly) in and the poor lass was kissed for her troubles. She won't do that again I'll bet!

The place was smashing inside with a healthy helping of drinkers and diners. Comfortably furnished and a good bar with Timothy Taylors Landlord and Adnams 4.0 Gunhill both in good working order.
A pleasure to be there and certainly worth a visit.

The Black Bull, Rose Cottage, Matfen, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear. NE20 0RP. Tel:01665 886330.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

We found the Black Bull in the beautiful village of Matfen, on a glorious sunny day in March. We nearly didn't go into the pub, the village was so breathtakingly attractive.
First impressions of the Black Bull were good only spoilt by the miserable landlady's slating of real ale and the imposition she had to put up with to stock and serve it! A glorious welcome we got there!
The Hadrian and Borders Tyneside Brown Ale was depatched with great haste and we quickly returned to continue our admiring examination of Matfen village itself. What a picture it is.

The Keelman, Grange Road, Newburn, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE15 8NL. Tel:0191 2671689.

CLICK LEFT ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Keelman was not an easy place to find.
Having supped a considerable amount of Big Lamp's ales over the past few years, it seemed like a good idea to visit their brewery and pub at Newburn. Cask Task got there eventually and was very pleased to do so. It's an impressive old place.

The brewery was originally a water pumping station in the 1800s, left to fall into partial ruins, but was lovingly rebuilt and reopened in 1998, with the Keelman pub alongside.
Well furnished and very busy when we called, there is a superb selection of Big Lamp real ales to choose from. Sunny Daze, Big Lamp Bitter, Summerhill Stout (right up my street!), Prince Bishop, Big Lamp Premium and Sky Diver were all there.

Good food is also served.
Definitely well worth a visit.

Swinburne Arms, 31 North Side, Stamfordham, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE18 0QG. Tel:01661 886707.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Swinburne Arms is one of two Stamfordham pubs on the village green.

Although it's the quieter of the two, it very much depends what you're looking for. One is all hustle and bustle but the Swinburne is more relaxed and just as friendly and full of character. It does feel like a proper village pub. By though it was a cold visit to the toilet out the back.
Cask Task spent a very enjoyable hour or so in the pub.

The real ale choice comes from two pumps. The inevitable Black Sheep and Wylam Festival Ale were on sale and the Festival Ale did go down well.

The Bay Horse, South Side, Stamfordham, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE18 0PB. Tel:01661 886244.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Bay Horse, in the delightful village of Stamfordham, is an attractive old pub with a proper fireplace(we were glad of it 'cos it was a sunny but icy day) and a Ford with no hub caps standing outside(well it spoilt me photo!).
A comfortable and welcoming interior with 3 real ales on tap.
My Wylam Bitter was the first one to be pulled off and was cloudy, but the obliging Julie drew me another, which was up to Wylam's good standard.
The other real ales on offer were Nel's Best and the popular Deuchars IPA.

The Bay Horse was busy with both drinkers and diners with a pleasant atmosphere about it. Well worth a look in.

The Swan, Heddon On The Wall, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE15 0DR.Tel:01661 853161

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Cask Task reached The Swan at about 11.30 to find the place closed, so we had a walk around. We must say that the view out at the back, where there is a beer garden, is worth taking in. Right across the Tyne valley.
The main building goes back to the 1700s but is now extended to include bar, restaurant and hotel. It's been done out with good furniture and expensive decor. Not having been there for some time the place has lost its old country feel but is none the worse for that.

The real ales were Wylam Magic, Wylam Gold Tankard and Youngs Bitter.
Its a pub Jim, but not as we know it!