Benton Ale House, Front Street, Benton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7XE. Tel:0191 2661512 or 0191 2665588.

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The Benton Ale House is, handily, just round the corner from the Four Lane Ends Metro Station. Although there is parking space, the choice of wonderful ales does lend itself to a good session and a rest for the driver! Cask Task did use this facility for the full squad to enjoy a variety of the beers on offer.

Built over 100 years ago and known originally as The Sun, it became the Benton Ale House in 1995 and began promoting real ales and a good name its got for it too.The pub is divided into two rooms with the bar in the middle and the decor is very pleasant throughout.

 The four regular beers being Banks Bitter, Jennings Cumberland Ale, Marstons Pedigree(my delicious choice for the afternoon) and Ringwoods Forty Niner. There are 3 guest ales on offer also.

An extremely enjoyable afternoon was had by all and the Benton Ale House is highly recommended.

The Trap Inn, Main Street, North Broomhill, Northumberland, NE65 9UT. Tel:01670 761672.

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The Trap Inn is a little isolated, just off the main coastal route through Northumberland.
 I must have passed the pub a number of times over the years without giving it a second glance. A refurbishment around 2008 has cheered the place up no end and we thought it was worth a look in.

The man on duty behind the bar was a friendly and welcoming bloke and served up a good pint of Theakstons Old Peculiar. With a choice of 3 real ales, a restaurant and accomodation the place is certainly worth a visit.

Melton Constable, Beresford Road, Seaton Sluice. Whitley Bay, NE26 4DR. Tel:0191 2377741.

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The Melton Constable is set just off the main road through Seaton Sluice by the sea inlet.
With a conservatory at the rear giving a pleasant outlook, the old pub has a good atmosphere to it.

A really good selection of five real ales, two from Caledonian Brewery, the Red and the Mellow Yellow. The others were Ruddles Best, Wells Bomberdier and Deuchars IPA. I thoroughly enjoyed my pint of Caledonian Red and a pleasant chat with both of the barmaids.

A good pub, serving food too.

Astley Arms, Marine Drive, Seaton Sluice, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE26 4JX. Tel:0191 2370057.

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The Astley Arms once, a long time ago, must have been a good pub. Before and during the 2nd World War, it must have had a loyal following.
There was a major naval base just up the coast at Blyth for a dozen submarines. All but 4 of them were lost or destroyed.
A bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label Whisky was left behind the bar by one of the submarine 'Seahorse' crew, to be collected on his return. This submariner, 'Tug' Wilson, was lost at sea along with the rest of the crew of 'Seahorse' in 1940, and the unopened bottle remains in a glass case in the Astley Arms in his, and all the other lost submariner's memory.
The two real ale pumps, Green King IPA and Black Sheep, are all that remain, in a what is virtually now a family canteen, rather than a pub.

Tilleys, 105 Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4AW. Tel:0191 2320692.

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Tilleys, sandwiching the Tyne Theatre (formerly the Stoll picture house, where I used to 'play the wag' from school to see so called 'dirty' movies in 1960, in what seems like the middle ages now) between it and The Bodega pub, feels a bit more downmarket than its sister pub. Its not really, its just that the Bodega has a more interesting interior.

Still interesting with its 'cinema' inside!! Tilleys is a bit more down to earth, shall we say, but does have a substantial range if changing real ales. JW Lees Strawberry Fruity Ale, Blackberry Cascade(2 bananas and a half pound of apples please?), JW Lees Bitter(thats better), High House Nels Best, Wylams Summer Magic and some of yer actual real? lager. I tried a pint of this, just to say that I had.

A good pub though and worth a visit.

The Bodega, 125 Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4AG. Tel:0191 2211552.

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The Bodega is a beautiful old pub, both inside and out, with its magnificent domed ceiling and traditional look exterior. Another city drinking establishment Sir John Fitzgerald can be proud of. I can't help feeling though, that the new road, sort of cutting Westgate Road in two, doesn't enhance this part of the city, but on to the Bodega's further good points.

The superb real ale range is as good as ever. Changing constantly. When we called, Prince Bishop Ale, Sharp's Honey Spiced Gold, Milestone Black Pearl (one of my favourites), Nethergate Brewery Painted Lady, Milestones Dark Knight and Durham Brewery's The Durham Magus were all sitting there, ready to be supped.

Get in and get some swallied.

The Crown and Anchor, The Market Place, Holy Island, TD15 2RX. Tel:01289 389215.

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The Crown and Anchor is right in the middle of the pretty little village itself. But don't visit when we did, 25th August, the kids holidays, as the place was packed.
There's so much to see, Lindisfarne's tiny castle, the Priory ruins, the little church, the village itself and of course the real ale pubs! Always check the tides as its a full days visit to enjoy it to the full.
There were 3 real ales on offer, High House Farms Nels Best, and Hadrian and Borders Tyneside Blonde plus my choice of Secret Kingdom, the darker brew. There was of course a London visitor whinging about the quality of the northern beer, but a pint of my recommended Nels Best settled him down.

Lindisfarne. A grand little Island to spend a day or so on.

Dyke Neuk, Meldon, Nr Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3SL. Tel:01670 772662.

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The Dyke Neuk is in a small village a few miles outside of Morpeth.
Have a look for it and pay a visit. I highly recommend it.
In picturesque countryside, the pub has a good atmosphere and a comfortable and welcoming interior.
A couple of good real ales, from Wylam Brewery and Hadrian and Borders, ensure you'll enjoy your drink. I spent a very enjoyable two and a half hours there and a delicious roast beef sandwich certainly helped.
A smashing pub.

The Rohan Kanhai, 1/4 Woodhorn Road, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9AS. Tel:01670 857692

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The Rohan Kanhai. Named after the popular and famous international West Indian cricketer. A superb batsman, who played for Ashington for a short time. This is yet another busy Wetherspoons eating and drinking establishment.
Although I lived for 10 years just a few miles up the road from here, I'd never been in. It was typical Wetherspoons. Characterless, but cheap and cheerful. Ten real ale pumps, all in working order,and all at ridiculously low prices, eg. Courage Directors, which I had, at £1.79 a pint and a reasonable menu of food to boot.
Atmosphere a bit like a works canteen mind you, but it is good to see a pub buzzing.

Red Lion Inn, 22 Northumberland Street, Alnmouth, Northumberland, NE66 2RJ Tel:01665 830584

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The Red Lion. What grand little pub, right in the middle of the main street and loaded with atmosphere, good beer and good food. Through the arch and carry on for a few yards and there's a lovely beer and food garden looking on to the river Aln.

A 1st class choice of real ales from Wylam, Black Sheep, Allendale Golden Plover and Roosters Farm House.

What a smashing pub.

A must visit if you're going to Alnmouth.

The Sun Hotel, 6 Castle Terrace, Warkworth, Northumberland, NE65 0UP.Tel:01665 711259.

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The Sun Inn.
Having had a little run up the loverly coastal route, I was caught in the most horrendous of downpours, so I decided to stop and wait for it to clear. My daughter had stayed for a couple of nights some years ago and recommended the Sun Inn at Warkworth, so I pulled in. I'm so pleased I did.
What a comfortable and cosy bar. Coopers Bar its called and it served a delicious pint of Courage Directors. Northumberland Brewerys Fog On The Tyne and a pint of Theakstons were also on tap. The rain came down for 2 hours and had to force down another Directors. The things I've got to do for Cask Task!

The lounge, conservatory and restaurant were most tempting, but the downpour stopped and I had to make for home. What a pity. I really felt like making a night of it.
This old coaching inn with its views of the Coquet river to the rear and the Castle at the front is worth a stop.

The Hermitage, 23 Castle Street, Warkwoth, Northumberland, NE65 0UL. Tel:01665 711258.

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The Hermitage is yet another favourite of mine in the beautiful village of Warkworth. The old river crossing, 100 yards down the road, is still standing and the riverside itself is worth a stroll along, if you want to build up a thirst.

I always called in to the Hermitage Inn, knowing its a Jennings house and the Snecklifter would be available. Thank heavens the place has not changed and is still its comfortable and welcoming old self, with all the usual Jennings real ales to choose from. Jennings Bitter, Cumberland Ale, Lakeland Stunner and of course the Snecklifter.
They still serve decent food there too.
A good pub.

Black Bull, Bridge Street, Warkworth, Northumberland, NE65 0XB. Tel:01665 711367.

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The Black Bull. Yet another old favourite of mine, which always had a wonderful fire glowing in the dark winter evenings. Originally candlemaking in the 1700's, the building became a pub in about 1830, I think, and only recently had inside loos installed.
Its latest owner, a cheerful chap with a keen sense of humour, has an official notice above the three urinals stipulating strict water recycling instructions on where to put your waste. The urinals are marked 'lager', 'real ale' and 'bottled beers'. I think they were to be recycled through the Masons Arms!
A welcoming little boozer with a couple of hand pulls on. Maxims and Wylams Bitter.
Very nice.

Warkworth House Hotel, No16 Restaurant & Bar, 16 Bridge Street, Warkworth, Northumberland, NE65 0XB. Tel:0165 711276,

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Warkworth House has been a favourite of mine for a number of years though I must say it was for its food rather than its beer.
There have been a number of changes to the bar, now known as No.16. A fairly good number of enhancements, but the beer choice remains totally inadequate. Two pumps on show but only one
in service. The inevitable Black Sheep of course.
Still a good place to eat though.

Masons Arms, 3 Dial Place, Warkworth, Northumberland, NE65 0UR. Tel:01665 711398

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The Masons Arms in Warkworth seems to have gone through quite a series of management couples in the last few years. Somethings not right about the place, obviously. A pity because the pub is in a beautiful village. Good luck to the latest couple and I hope they have more success.

The Masons has been a real ale house for as long as I can remember and that, I'm pleased to say, has not changed. With 4 active pumps on the go there is a decent choice from Theakstons XB, Adnams Bitter, Wells Bombardier and Deuchars IPA.

Food is also served.

The Plough, Middle Farm Buildings, Cramlington, Northumberland,

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The Plough, in what's termed as Cramlington old village, is an attractive part of a still growing, characterless, modern town. In this inviting little oasis sits the Fitzgerald's pub.

I hadn't been for about 12 years, but the chain's attention to its real ales was still apparent in the Plough. I had always found this a large busy place, but I think the lack of a food option, which I'm sure it used to have, seems to have left it a little lacking in lunch time custom.
Still an interesting place though, being built on a farm site, with part of the lounge being the old circular 'ging gan' for grinding the corn.
The bar is still kept as a separate area to the lounge.

Six good beers on offer being North Yorkshire Brewery Organic Flying Herbert, Old Speckled Hen, Nethergate Brewery Painted Lady, Abbott Ale, Ruddles County and the inevertable Black Sheep.

Brockwell Seam, Nothumbrian Road, Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 1XZ. Tel:01670 732071.

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The Brockwell Seam at Cramlington is another one of those, not unattractive, but soulless new pubs that have crept up on us over the last 20 or so years, and long may they continue to do so. As far as I'm concerned, anything that keeps the pub business going is a bonus.

I've walked in to umpteen of these and they do keep the real ale business growing. In the large, mainly characterless, sprawling town of Cramlington, its a pleasure to see a Brockwell Seam pub amongst the housing estates.

With a couple of real ales on offer, Waggle Dance and Wells Bombardier, we stopped for a while.

The Shoulder of Mutton, East Road, Longhorsley, Northumberland, NE65 8SY. Tel:01670 788236.

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The Shoulder of Mutton stands at the side of the A697. An attractive looking pub with a sizeable garden at the rear.
Although four hand pumps were showing, alas only two were in action. Courage Directors from one and Everards Tiger from the other.
Still, any port, I was going to say in a storm, but on this particular gloriously sunny day, we lounged for a little while, Directors in hand, in the beer garden. Not a bad way to finish the days trek.

The Queens Head, Townfoot, Rothbury, Nothumberland, NE65 7SR. Tel:01669 620470.

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The Queens Head is a pub I've never visited, although driving up to Rothbury many times, as I do like the town. Mind you, having called once, I'll certainly call again. This is my kind of pub.

The place really feels lived in. Old, welcoming, comfortable with its ancient leather armchairs and dining room furniture. Cask Task settled in for a pint of Ruddles County. Smashing.
Also on sale were Marstons EPA (English Pale Ale) and Black Sheep.

I could have stayed there for an hour or two but the quest must continue.

The Anglers Arms, Weldon Bridge, Longframlington, Northumberland, NE65 8AX. Tel:01665 570271.

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The Anglers Arms has long been one of my favourite country pubs for summer visits. This 1760's coaching inn by the river Coquet is a beauty, for both drinking and eating, with its railway pullman carriage attached at the side.

The four real ales of Old Speckled Hen, Wadsworth 6X, Fullers London Pride and Jennings Cumberland Ale were on offer. Disappointingly, the Cumberland Ale was cloudy and was returned by yours truly, but the London Pride was Ok.

I must call again for a meal.