The Birtley Ale House, Talbot Terrace, Birtley, County Durham, DH3 2PS. Tel:0191 4100593.

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The Birtley Ale House, as it's now known, is right on the main street in Birtley.

 Taking up a corner site, you can't miss it, and if you're a real ale fan and you're in the vicinity, you must call in and sample its wares.
Mark the owner, and a very hospitable chap we found him to be, used to be at The Old Fox in Felling. My home town incidentally and frequent drinking hole.

With 6 real ales always available at The Birtley Ale House, it's certainly a treat.
Hadrian and Borders Northern Star, Camerons Snake Joke, Caledonian Deuchers IPA, 80/-, and Double Dark, a beautiful stout, of which I had a couple, on at our visit.

There are a couple of live entertainment nights per week to help the ale go down.

Well worth a visit.

The Barley Mow. Durham Road, Birtley, County Durham. DH3 2AG. Tel:0191 4104504.

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The Barley Mow at Birtley first came in to my life at the back end of the 1960s, when I worked at the Drum Industrial Estate which is directly opposite. It was a liquid lunch time escape from the drudgery of the job I had at the time.

I'd never heard of 'real ale' at the time so what a pleasure it was to go back to find this old pub is awash with the stuff now. 8 hand pumps of various beers!
Daleside Blonde and Old Leg Over, Black Sheep, Cathedral Golden Imp, Marston Moor Cromwells Ale, but I plumped for Wychwood's Bountiful.

The bar has been kept very basic but the lounge is well carpeted out and is comfortably decorated with plenty of solid wood. There's a fair sized eating area too.

It was nice to see the place looking good with tasty beer on hand.

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 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!