The Angel View Inn, Low Eighton, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE9 7UB. Tel:0191 4103219.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Angel View is just off the A1M, as you approach Gateshead and The Angel from the south.

What a beautiful pub/hotel/restaurant it is. Cask Task happened to call on a lovely summer's afternoon and

had a snack and a couple pints of real ale, naturally, and enjoyed the sunshine in the central area pictured above.

Without a doubt worth a visit, Even more so if you can catch it in the sunshine, as we did.

The Central Hotel, Half Moon Lane, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 2AN. Tel:0191 4782543.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Central Hotel as it is called, although always known as 'the coffin', because of its shape, was always a real traditional old pub. Used on a couple of occasions in the past in movies, The Central was always known as a bit of a rough dive, but always worth a visit because of its character.

It was allowed to fall into abysmal disrepair but the Head of Steam pub group managed to get some help and lottery money, to completely refurbish it, inside and out. A good job they've made of it too, without losing too much of its old ambience.
With live music upstairs and reasonable food served along with some wonderful real ale (about 8 to choose from) downstairs. Its taken about 2 years to get it to its present state, opening a bit at a time.
On Cask Task's 3 visits over the past 18 months or so its been interesting to see its development and sample some of these beers. Wylam Angel, York Brewery Guzzler, Consett Cast Iron, Ossett Brewery Corker, Copper Dragon Brewery Freddie Truman, Black Sheep, Marston Moor Brewery Cromwell and Hadrian and Border Brewery Byker Light.

Walk out of the door, down the bank, and you're on the old Swing Bridge and the Quayside. Marvelous.

The Pavillion, Hotspur North, Backworth Business Park, Backworth, Tyne & Wear, NE27 0FG. Tel:0191 2680711

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Pavillion Bar and Grill is what you would call 'ultra modern'. So 'ultra modern' we almost drove past it as it looks nothing like a pub!
Extremely comfortable and welcoming once inside. Very swish.
A Sir John Fitzgerald place opened in 2008, it has a good selection of real ales. Red Car Rocks, Hadrian and Borders Tyneside Blonde, Jarrow Brewerys Swinging Gibbet and the customary Black Sheep. My Swinging Gibbet was smashing.
Good food too.
Definitely worth a visit.

The Wheatsheaf Inn, New York, Tyne & Wear, NE29 8EH. Tel:0191 2708277.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Wheatsheaf Inn is a quite attractive old place which we had some difficulty finding. Not helped by the roadworks upheaval caused by a water leak problem. This had been going on for some time apparently, causing great financial loss and much aggravation to the pub.
We found the place comfortable and homely on our visit. The ales being Courage Best Bitter, which went down very well, Websters Bitter and Mordues IPA.
Lets hope the roadworks problem is sorted quickly.
A good pub.

Shiremoor Farm, Middle Engine Lane, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE29 8DZ. Tel:0191 2576302.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Shiremoor Farm is a beautiful converted farmhouse now almost impossible to recognise as such. This Sir John Fitzgerald establishment is now a huge restaurant and bar with a selection of real ales, wines and reasonably priced food.
The interior is attractively done out with beamed ceilings and comfortable furnishings.
A couple of good real ales are always available. Mordues IPA and Timothy Taylors Landlord were the two when Cask Task called. The IPA washed down a very nice roast beef sandwich.

If you are in the area it is certainly worth a visit.

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

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

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.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

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.

BeeHive Inn, Hartley Lane, Earsdon, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE25 0SZ. Tel:0191 2529352.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The BeeHive Inn is on a quiet country lane between Earsdon and Old Hartley.

I must admit I've passed this Grade II listed pub and never given it a try, until this late, rain soaked, thursday afternoon. It had a reasonable selection of drinkers and mainly diners, even on this awful day, and it got busier as the afternoon continued. Obviously, the pub was doing something right!
Two real ales on in this little place and both in good health. Timothy Taylors Landlord and the Northumberland Brewery BeeHive Bitter.
Reluctantly, having to leave without sampling the food there, off I trundled, promising to return at some point for a meal.
The sooner the better.

The Bamburgh, 175 Bamburgh Avenue. South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 6SS. Tel:0191 4541899.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Bamburgh is tucked away off the main coastal road. A fair size, offering food as well as three real ales.
Green King IPA, Abbot Ale and Speckled Hen.
The place is comfortable.
That's about it.

The Havelock, Bonemill Lane, Washington, Tyne & Wear, NE38 8AJ. Tel:0191 4159739.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Havelock came to me by chance on a beautiful summer's day while motoring through Fatfield.
I parked up and ordered a pint of Workie Ticket and a sandwich and I'm pleased to say both were Ist class. There were only two real ales on but the Mordues was excellent. So good in fact I came back the next day to sample it again.

Good service, good food, good beer. A smashing pub.

The Beacon, Earsdon Road, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE25 9PT. Tel:0191 2536931.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Beacon was introduced to me over 30 years ago by my accountant who lived in Whitley Bay, and I think still does.I was impressed then and even more so now.

Extremely comfortable and pleasantly decorated. The pub, from Cask Task's point of view, was enhanced by its array of real ales. Rudgate Brewerys Ruby Mild, Butcombes Traditional Bitter, Otter Brewerys Otter Ale, Ringwoods Forty Niner, Deuchars IPA and my choice for the day of Exmoors Fox. Very nice.

A fair number of diners in there suggests the food must be good too, but we'd certainly be back for the beer alone.
Smashing pub.

Monkseaton Arms, Front Street, Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE25 8DP. Tel:0191 2513928.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Cask Task found the Monkseaton Arms a bit of a disappointment.
Lacking in any kind of atmosphere this large pub offered a couple of Wylams beers but no life.

Ye Olde Ship Inn, Front Street, Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE25 8DP. 0191 2513677

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

As our intrepid gang's search continued through Tyne & Wear, up came Ye Olde Ship Inn at Monkseaton.

Expecting to be greeted by old sea dogs and the interior walls festooned with fishing memorabiliar, we entered. A comfortable and very pleasant old pub it turned out to be. The decor, however, bore no hint of its sea washed past, but the selection of real ales did make up for that.

Adnams Extra, Theakstons Bitter, Ruddles and Shepherd Neames Bishop Finger was the choice and a very good hour or so was spent there.

Not a bad real ale pub at all.

The Black Horse, 68 Front Street, Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE25 8DP. Tel:0191 253 6931

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE


The Black Horse at Monkseaton is reputed to be a great real ale pub and I must admit to being impressed on first arriving. It's a warm, welcoming and comfortable place.
With four ales on offer I settled down to a nice pint from the Jarrow Rivet Catcher, the Durham Brewery's White Amarillo, Hadrian's Tyneside Blonde or my old favourite Courage Directors. My preference for the darker stuff pushed me for the Directors.
A bit of a disappointment though, as I think the Directors may have been a bit on the old side and was unrecognisable from its normal tasty self.

Millstone, Haddricks Mill Road, South Gosforth, Newcastle, Tyne & Wear, NE3 1QL. Tel:0191 2853429.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Millstone was a pub not before visited by Cask Task and turned out to be a quite cosy and comfortable place.

Not a real ale pub as such but offering Spitfire and Bass.

The Rockcliffe Arms, Algernon Place, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 2DT. Tel:0191 2531299

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

To find the Rockcliffe Arms sat.nav would be handy! Search it out though because its well worth it.

What a gem of a real ale pub it is. A good manager, friendly clientele and a marvelous selection of ales, well kept. A beer drinkers paradise in a quiet side street and comfortably furnished to boot.

Cask Task enjoyed the Caledonian Brewers Passion but High House Farm Top Tup, Dark Star Brewerys Hophead and the rest of the six real ales looked in fine fettle.

An absolute must visit if your in Whitley Bay.

The Briar Dene, 71 The Links, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 1UE. Tel:0191 2520926.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Briar Dene must be amongst the best real ale pubs in the north east.
Its a Fitzgeralds at the north end of the links. Just when you think there's no watering holes left, there it is. What a lovely building. An absolute pleasure to have your pint in there.

Extremely well appointed with the wood, carpets and furniture giving it a superb feel.
The inevitable Black Sheep, Downtown Brewery Apple Blossom Ale, Derventio Annubis, Spitting Feathers Special Ale and Thirst Quencher, and Elland Brewery Angel Easy complete the line up.

What a treat. Right on the water front.

Fitzgeralds, 2 South Parade, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 2RG. Tel:0191 2511255.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

This is a typical Fitzgeralds and large with it!

Comfortable, welcoming and a good atmosphere. I do like a Fitzgeralds pub. Always a good choice of real ales too. Four on here. Westoe IPA, a good strong one this, Allendale Wolf, Axolotl Salamander, a new one on me this one and Harvest Pale.

A good relaxing hour or so well spent.

Fire Station, 18 York Road, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 1AB. Tel:0191 2939030.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Fire Station. Yet another huge Wetherspoons pub/restaurant with 'cheap as chips' real ale.

We caught a beer festival featuring 50 real ales on in this one! Unfortunately, only a fleeting visit allowing a pint of Black Chalice for me but an amazing selection featuring Elland Marathon Ale, Moorhouse Amber Rambler, Springhead Spring Chicken and on and on and on........

A bit soulless as usual but if the dosh is a bit scarce this is the place to nosh and sup!

The Black Bull, Rose Cottage, Matfen, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear. NE20 0RP. Tel:01665 886330.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

We found the Black Bull in the beautiful village of Matfen, on a glorious sunny day in March. We nearly didn't go into the pub, the village was so breathtakingly attractive.
First impressions of the Black Bull were good only spoilt by the miserable landlady's slating of real ale and the imposition she had to put up with to stock and serve it! A glorious welcome we got there!
The Hadrian and Borders Tyneside Brown Ale was depatched with great haste and we quickly returned to continue our admiring examination of Matfen village itself. What a picture it is.