The Stanley Jefferson, 5 Market Place, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, DL14 7NJ, Tel:01388 452830.

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The Stanley Jefferson is right in the middle of the town. As usual with a Wetherspoons house, it was busy with friday afternoon meals constantly passing through the place and a 8 real ales on tap.
The name comes from Stanley ( another fine mess you've got me in to ) Laurel who was born here in Bishop.
One of Wetherspoons best, the pub served up Abbot Ale (2 pumps ), Old Peculiar, Spitfire, Ruddles Best ( at £1.59 a pint, I had some of that ), Ringwoods Forty Niner and so on.
A popular and comfortable pub.

The Old Mill at Knitsley, Knitsley Mill House, Knitsley, Consett, Co. Durham, DH8 9EL. Tel:01207 581642.

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The Old Mill at Knitsley is in the most beautiful of country settings next to a trout stream.

The interior is very inviting, extremely attractive and comfortable with a couple of real ales on tap. My pint of Hobgoblin went down a treat, as we sat outside in the sunshine and watched the trout and the ducks meander by. Marvelous.
It is well set up, with an area under canvas, to accomodate large parties and weddings.
I think a meal must be tried to appreciate the place properly. Another time perhaps.

 That other time is here! 20/10/2010.
Cask Task enjoyed a venison casserole and a couple of pints of Pedigree, with a beautiful woman, near the open, wood burning fire. What a treat.

Surtees Arms, Chilton Lane, Ferryhill, County Durham, DL17 0DH. Tel:01740 655724.

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The Surtees Arms was 60yards further up the road. My car's sat/nav turned me into a side street! Funny. When I looked in the mirror, I looked exactly the same. Not like a side street!

Stupid boy.
The pub occupies a corner site with the Yard Of Ale Brewery at the rear. It opens at 4pm.

I was made most welcome by the governor, busy at his books when I limped in, and he very kindly filled out my notes for me.
CAMRA Durham pub of the year, the Surtees is an old place, with the look of a proper drinking establishment. Offering four real ales.
Top of the bill is his own One Foot In The Yard at 4.5%, Best By Yards Best Bitter at 4.3%, both of which are alternated with the brewery's First Yard, Yard Hopper, Winters Yard, Yards Ahead, Y'Ard Ass, Yard Bird, and a good Black as Owt Stout.
A Cornish Orchards Scrumpy and the guest Hadrians Gladiator were the other two.

The Surtees is open all day on Saturday and Sunday when food is served.
A most enjoyable pint was had, and a bit of convivial conversation too.

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!

Derwent Walk Inn, Ebchester Hill, Ebchester, Consett, County Durham, DH8 0SX. Tel:01207 560347.

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The Derwent Walk Inn is set on the side of a hill giving superb views of the surrounding countryside for miles around. Especially from the added conservatory seen here on the left.

A Jennings house, it supplies a good selection of their real ales. The powerful and densely dark Sneck Lifter (I couldn't resist a pint of this), Cocker Hoop, Cumberland Ale and Bitter, all on sale here.

Once ensconced in the conservatory, with a pint in my hand, I couldn't resist the food menu and enjoyed, with friends, a good home cooked meal. The staff were friendly and reasonably responsive to our needs and the visit was a success.

A pub well worth the sojourn.

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.

The Bay Horse, 28 West Green, Heighington Village, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, DL5 6PE. Tel: 01325 312312.

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The Bay Horse was not the pub I was looking for when I came to the picturesque village of Heightington, but what a pleasant surprise this one was. A comfortable and welcoming atmosphere and a grand selection of real ales to choose from.

Hobgoblin, Copper Dragon, Marstons Pedigree, Black Sheep, Camerons Strongarm and Timothy Taylors Landlord all on tap. Marvelous.

Ist class village pub with good beer.

The Spotted Cow Inn, 31 The Green, Elwick, Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS27 3EF. Tel:01429 266373.

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The Spotted Cow Inn was a chance visit for Cask Task, when the journey to Teeside had to be made to replace a faulty Sony stereo system, under guarantee, from Curry's store in Teeside. What a boring old fart the Cask Task real ale taster can be. Not to worry. The Spotted Cow in the lovely village green in Elwick was a pleasure to sup your ale in.

Ringwoods Boondoggle(would you believe?), Jennings Stickle Pike(which I've never seen before on my travels, so I had a good pint of that) and Jennings Cocker Hoop were the three on offer. Very enjoyable.
Another good real ale pub in Elwick.

The Chester Moor, Front Street, Chester Moor, Chester le Street, Co Durham. DH2 3RQ. Tel: 0191 3883390.

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On the A167 next to the old Chester le Street football ground, the Chester Moor has always seemed to be a lively pub, and we were not disappointed in that respect. Nor were we disappointed in the choice of real ales.
Wells Bombardier, Black Sheep Best Bitter and Ruddles County, which Cask Task enjoyed, were let down by the service offered at the bar. We realised that it was busy, but there was no need to look on us as a niusance and an inconvenience to require a couple of pints of real ale!
We were about to have something to eat but decided to look elsewhere.
Nice pub. Shame about the bar maid.

The Wheatsheaf, Pelaw Grange, Chester le Steet, Co Durham. DH3 2AB. Tel: 0191 3888800

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On the A167 between Birtley and Chester le Street, the Wheatsheaf is a very attractive pub, both inside and out. The disappointment to Cask Task was the bar only had one real ale tap.
A bit of a blow this was, but as we were there, we sampled the Neames Spitfire which turned out to be satisfactory.

The Travellers Rest, Front Street, Witton Gilbert, Durham, DH7 6TQ. Tel: 0191 3710458.

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The Travellers Rest at Witton Gilbert, a village a few miles outside Durham, is not the prettiest pub to look at, but the interior does make up for it. Enter from the car park at the rear and your into an extremely comfortable and inviting bar and restaurant area.
The 4 steps at the back were a bit difficult for me by the way.

The real ale selection of permanent Black Sheep Bitter with 2 changing guest ales, which were St Austell Tribute and Caledonian Auld Acquaintance on this occasion, was superb. Particularly the dark and delicious Auld Acquaintance.

A good real ale pub and well worth a visit.

New Board Inn, Hill Top Esh, Co. Durham, DH7 9RL. Tel.0191 3736914.

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The New Board Inn was introduced to me about 3 years ago when I had an al fresco meal and a pint there on a beautiful summers day. The view from up there is terrific. Across Bobby Robson's village Langley Park and beyond.

Cask Task decided to sample the hospitality under its new management and was not disappointed. Except for the dull weather and only one real ale hand pull on. Still, the welcome was good and so was the Courage Best Bitter. A well kept real ale which I hope is to be added to in the near future.

The comfortable interior of the New Board Inn has not changed and the place has still got its good name for food.
Without a doubt worth a visit.

The Royal Oak, 7 Manor Road, Medomsley, Consett,Co Durham. DH8 6QN. Tel:01207 560336.

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What an attractive pub the (Royal) Oak is.
A good, comfortable and inviting place, although only two real ales on offer. Not to worry as they were both in good order. Theakston's Best Bitter and Mordues Five Bridge Bitter didn't let us down and the staff were friendly.
A warm and relaxing pub for an enjoyable couple of pints. Certainly worth a visit.

Chester-Le-Street Cricket Club, Ropery Lane, Chester-Le-Street, Co.Durham. DH3 3PF.Tel: 0191 3883684.

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On entering a car park, off the main street in Chester Le Street, was The Chester Le Street Cricket Club.
I didn't realise it was there, with the emergence of the international(?) ground at the other side of the town. What a pleasant bar it turned out to be. Quite large and totally glass fronted. A great spot to relax, sup your real ale and watch the cricket. Marvelous!

4 handles on but only 2 in service. Consett Ale Works Red Dust and my choice, Captain Cook Brewery's Slipway.
Very pleasant. Pleased we called in.
Very nice.

Lloyds No.1--The Wicket Gate, Front Street, Chester-Le-Street. Co.Durham, DH3 3AX. Tel:0191 3872960.

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Cask Task spotted this building, Lloyds No. 1--The Wicket Gate, on the way through Chester Le Street and decided to investigate.
Lo and behold, the interior was like a thoroughly modern and posh night club!
But no, here we have yet another Wetherspoons where you have to carefully wipe your feet before going in. It must have cost a few bob to do out, but I must admit, it was impressive.
As usual with Wetherspoons, the real ale choice in The Wicket Gate was terrific and the prices very reasonable.
Ruddles Best, Abbot Reserve, Elgoods Snickalmas, Hook Norton Brewery Twelve Days and on and on. 9 handles in total.
The place is set up for food and though a bit soulless, as Wetherspoons is, how can you complain? Enjoy your ale, sit back, and stop whingeing.
Certainly worth a look and a pint or two.

The Victoria Inn, 86 Hallgarth, Durham, DH1 3AS. Tel: 0191 3865269

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In The Victoria Inn, an old pub in Durham itself, gave Cask Task its next major adventure.

The bar itself is fairly small, but as the snow was tossing it down outside, a roaring fire was ablaze inside. We took our pints and settled down beside the fire.

A knock came on the main door (see the corner door on the photo).
A customer left his seat opened the door, looked out, closed the door, took up the door mat, lifted a hatch, thereby revealing the sheer drop into the cellar below, and returned to his seat and pint.

If this had been a comedy, an incoming customer, in a rush to get out of the snow storm outside, would have opened the door and immediately strode into the cellar below.
Now, I kid you not, but I'm only lying to you about the last bit. Another older, and somewhat wiser, customer yelled a warning, leapt up, and managed to re-open and prop open the door, thus averting tomorrow's headlines in the Sunderland Echo. I had to laugh!

The little place was full and obviously popular with good real ale on hand. Our Durham Brewery Magus was drunk but a fine choice of Wylam Gold Tankard, Big Lamp Bitter and Nick Stafford Hambleton Ale Festive Folly was also there.
A lovely old pub.

Ye Old Elm Tree, 12 Crossgate, Durham, DH1 4PS. Tel: 0191 3864621.

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What a smashing pub Ye Old Elm Tree is.Although the weather nearly prevented me from gettng in.
A good old fashioned snow storm, on top of the existing ice on the sloping pavement and the two entrance steps, became like tackling the north face of the Eiger to a gronk like me! It's grand to find there are still some kind souls about and an Elm Tree customer, following me in, guided me into the welcoming and warm bar. Everyone in there, including the owner, was easy to talk to and helpful for Cask Task's onward journey.
Ye Old Elm Tree's forthcoming real ale beer fest, 28th Jan 2010--1st Feb is to be given a Cathedral theme based on Durham, York, and Glastonbury,etc with plenty of beer to choose from. Sounds good to me.

A pint of Nick Stafford Hambleton Ale's Reindeer was immediately supped and enjoyed. A difficult choice from the Elm's fine selection, including Consett Ale Works White Hot, Fowlers Yard Durhams Festive Ale and Double Maxim.

The friendly lot from Ye Old Elm Tree gave us instructions for our next port of call as sadly we had to continue the good work elsewhere. What a chore this is.

Bridge Hotel, 40 North Road, Durham. DH1 4SE. Tel: 0191 3868090.

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After a little parking problem The Bridge Hotel turned out to be a quite pleasant find.
First of all the Braine Brewery's Reverend James pint was tasty and The Bridge itself was a comfortable place to drink it in. Quite busy with diners, the atmosphere was good and the other two choices on the real ale front were Speckled Hen and Wells Bombardier. Safe but popular.
Worth a visit.

The Beamish Mary, No Place, Beamish, Stanley, Co. Durham, DH9 0QH. Tel:0191 3700237.

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The Beamish Mary in No Place.

The pub named after her, probably a coalmine, is an inviting and cozy little place complete with glowing open fire. A grand sight on a winter's evening, complete with a fine selection of real ales.
Back Shift Bitter and Lamplight, both local brews, Consett Red Dust and White Hot, Northumberland Fog On the Tyne, Daleside Old Leg Over, Hadrian Farne Island as well as Weston's Old Rosie Cider. By, you could have a good night in here.

It's a shame we were pushed for time (the driver had to pick the wife up from work; must get a new driver!) but we must call again, to down some more of that very nice Back Shift Bitter.
Smashing pub.