The County, 13 The Green, Aycliffe Village, County Durham. DL5 6LY. Tel:01325 312273.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The County is a pub/hotel/restaurant set in the village green of the picturesqe village of Aycliffe.
On the other side of the main road and entirely separate from Newton Aycliffe, the village is a beauty! The village green itself is a gem and The County an attractive part of it.
The County interior has a spotlessly clean look without losing that warm, inviting and comfortable feel. The restaurant looks very attractive and Cask Task must give it a try.

On the real ale front, the place has its own personalised County Best Bitter (supplied by the Yard Of Ale Brewery At Ferryhill), Black Sheep Bitter and another guest ale, Jennings Bitter on this occasion.

Must get back as soon as possible.

The McOrville Inn, 34 The Green, Elwick, Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS27 3EF. Tel:01429 273344.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

What an unexpected pleasure the McOrville Inn turned out to be.

Situated in the beautiful village green of Elwick, this friendly and comfortable pub serving good food and, more importantly from Cask Task's point of view, good real ale .
Nick Staffords Hambleton Ales Stud and Stallion, which was my choice incidentally, were accompanied by Timothy Taylors Landlord, making for an excellent choice of three beers.

A smashing pub well worth the trip out.

The Three Horseshoes, Pithouse lane, Leamside, Houghton le Spring, Durham, DH4 6QQ. Tel: 0191 5842394.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

http://www.threehorseshoesleamside.co.uk/

The Three Horse Shoes pub in Pit House Lane, Leamside is a place that's hard to find but worth seeking I am told...it's in the Good Beer Guide. I've tried several times to find it and will keep on keeping on. Keep toot for a new posting.

UPDATE I've found it.

The Three Horseshoes! How did I come across it?

My pal and I were wandering aimlessly through Chester Le Street looking for the Butchers Arms (an excellent real ale pub - see my listing in Cask Task). We decided to ask for directions.

A young gentleman very kindly pointed out the Butchers Arms and also mentioned two or three other good pubs in the area (one of which was the Three Horseshoes) for future visits.
That future visit day arrived on at least two occasions but The Three Horseshoes refused to be found. Until today! And believe you me (that always looks peculiar to me when written down!) it was worth it. Here's me striding purposefully towards the door, a door I have been looking for, for four months... for for goodness sake, I'm f f f stuttering now!

Nine real ales to choose from in a welcoming bar with the restaurant at the back. Sure enough, there was our helpful young friend from Chester Le Street, John he's called, to pull the Durham Brewery's Durham County beer for us. Just the job!

Must call again.

This terrible Cask Task, what a chore?? it can be, unfortunately, meant further pubs to visit with more real ales to sample.

See you.

A good real ale pub to visit though.

Had another look in a few months later, when I got a lift, and had a couple of pints and a very nice meal in the restaurant at the rear. What a good pub.

Smiths Arms, Brecon Hill, Castle Dene,Chester le Street,DH3 4HE. Tel.01913856915.

The Smiths Arms. Its taken us weeks to catch it open (not until 4pm) but was it worth while!

My kind of pub is this. Loads of friendly atmoshere. A small bar. An ancient black oven and fire range blazing away(as my parents and grandparents had in the 40's and 50's) and 4 real ales on tap. I could have moved in!!

In an isolated region near Fencehouses and Great Lumley. If you like old pubs and good beer then here they are.

A Northumberland Ales Pit Pony went down a treat as I'm sure the Black Sheep, the Jarrow Brewery Rivet Catcher and the Courage Directors would have done too if I only had time.

Hurry back if you can Jack!

To check out their website click this link Smiths Arms, Brecon Hill, Castle Dene, Chester le Street