Stonebridge Inn, Nevilles Cross, Durham, Co Durham, DH1 4PJ, Tel:0191 3709422.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Stonebridge Inn was visited by Cask Task in the early part of 2010, only to draw a blank as far as real ale was concerned. It's only stocked in the summer season we were told. 3 forlorn hand pulls were temporarely redundant.
Cask Task is made of sterner stuff, and did as asked, to find only one in action on the return visit. Spitfire was the one, so a couple of pints were had. The consolation, however, was the accompaniment of some fine sandwiches to go with the beer. One steak sandwich and two exellent lamb sandwiches were served up and despatched with vigour.
Only one real ale choice was a disappointment but the food did make up for it.

Duke Of Wellington, Darlington Road, Durham, Co. Durham, DH1 3QN. Tel:0191 375 7651.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Duke of Wellington looked very welcoming from the outside, so in we went.

What a lovely pub it is. Attractively decorated throughout and an excellent array of real ales to choose from. What more can you ask for.

Six pumps including Black Sheep, Deuchars IPA, Timothy Taylors Landlord(2 pumps), Spitfire and Ruby Red. I thoroughly enjoyed my Black Sheep (in tremendous condition by the way) and sat back to sup it.

A popular eating place and I really look forward to trying it out in the near future.

1st class pub which I thoroughly recommend.

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

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

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

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

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.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

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.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

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 Shakespeare, 63 Sadler Street, Durham, DH1 3NU. Tel: 0191 3843261.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Shakespeare, in Durham, came on one of those sudden and impromtu visits to the beautiful old city.

With the castle, built around 1072, and the cathedral in 1093, the Shakespeare is in good company, originating around 1190!! If you don't believe me, just try out the gent's toilet! I fully expected to see the manacles still hanging from the walls and the moaning of the incarcerated ghosts.

This small atmospheric pub is still back there. Go in and sample it.
With 4 real ale pumps to pick from the Shakespeare does offer good beer. Deuchars IPA and Fullers London Pride being the mainstays. Bath Ales Gem and Ringwood Brewerys Huffkin, the two back ups.

Go on. Take your torch with you if you're the nervous type!

Market Tavern, 27 Market Place, Durham, DH1 3HJ. Tel:0191 3862069.

LEFT CLICK ON EITHER OF THE ABOVE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

The Market Tavern in Durham's city centre is a busy little pub in an ideal situation for the shopper, although I'm told its a noisy place in the evening, due to the student population.

Cask Task was a lunchtime visitor and found the place relaxing and enjoyed an excellent pint of Orkney's Dark Island beer.

An old building with a very traditional look about it the Market Tavern has six real ales on offer from the Best Bitter by Theakstons, Mordues Workie Ticket and Radgie Gadgie, Houstons Tartan Terror, Fullers London Pride and not forgetting the delicious Dark Island.

The Market Tavern's 3 or 4 hundred year history can be read by left clicking on the sign above.

A pub well worth a visit if you're in town.

The Church Mouse, Chester-le-Street

The Church Mouse
Waldbridge, Chester-le-Street, DH2 3SL.
Tel: 0191 389 2628 http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thechurchmousechesterlestreet/

The Church Mouse.What a wonderful name for the place, but then , as I've regularly drank and eaten at its sister places, The Badger at Ponteland and The Snowy Owl at Cramlington over the years and both have strong romantic attachments for me, it is not surprising.

They all have the same feel and atmosphere, but I mustn't go rambling on ...it's get's too personal.

The Church Mouse tries, and to a certain extent succeeds, to give the 'pub' feel with its small selection of real ales.The Caledonian 80, with its hint of caramel in the taste, was a surprisingly good pint but I must push on before the tears of nostalgia take a hold! As well as the Black Sheep and the Timothy Taylors Landlord beer!

See you later.

The Dun Cow Bournmoor

The Dun Cow, Primrose Hill, Bournmoor, DH4 6DY. Tel:0191 3852631.

A fine pub/restaurant, a bit isolated on the A1052, but in beautiful countryside.

Once inside the feeling of warmth and comfort was smashing (except for the bloke lying prone on the floor in the bar area; but more of him and the ambulance personel in a moment).
There were two good real ales to be had. Adnam's Broadside(lovely) and Old Bear Brewery's Bruin, which were juggled regularly with others.

Now for the afternoon's entertainment.
This bloke apparently stumbled in the bar. Not unusual you might think(I know I often do so myself), but this poor sod has a metal insert in one of his legs which collapses. No, I'm not making this up and it's not the intro for a joke!

So the ambulance arrives to find him lying on the floor and in excruciating pain. They can't move him without a pain killing injection. Now comes the tricky bit. The bloke's petrified, and I mean really petrified, of needles!
After a half hour of failed persuasion, the ambulanceman is silently wishing he'd kept his job at the Co-op delivering pies. But without warning, the National Health training and a bit of individual wit and skill comes in.
'What's that over there?' says our intrepid NHS man.
'What ?' says our quaking patient, turning his head to see.
Then .GID IP!! The needle's in and 20minutes later the patient's on a stretcher and off to hospital. Genius, pure genius!

A pleasant afternoon. A tasty pint. Comfortable surroundings. Cracking (Ooh, that was uncalled for Jack!) entertainment.

On to my next task. Duty calls.

Butchers Arms, Middle Chair, Chester le Street, Co Durham, DH3 3QB. Tel: 0191 3883605.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Butchers Arms Pub just off the main street.Has 6 pumps, although only 3 were in use on my visit.One was Hob Goblin which was well kept and delicious as usual. Good beer house.

Cask Task's second visit was really encouraging. The place was buzzing and a few more wooden handles had been added. one of which, the dark and delicious Old Thumper, was supped with great gusto.

Apparently the barmaid from our initial visit has taken over the Butchers and was making a good job of it too. Best wishes from Cask Task.

An even better pub now.

Floaters Mill, Fence Houses. Tel:0191 3856695. 23/1/2009

The Floaters Mill , Woodstone Village, Houghton le Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6BQ is a large, attractive pub/rest in the village of Fence Houses. Although not my idea of an ideal drinking establishment, the Floaters Mill has its good points.
For instance the attractive restaurant section, by far the greater part of the pub, looks superb.
An ideal place to have your family, friends, fiance or for that matter your mistress out for a meal. In the summer it would be an smashing place to sit outsde, with a kids play area too.

On to my area. The bar is modern but comfortable, has a choice of 3 real ales and I must admit the Jennings Cross Buttocks, (Jennings do have some cracking names for their beers) a tasty dark sultry drink was lovely!