Porthole, 11 New Quay, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 6LQ. Tel: 0191 2576645.

LEFT CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Porthole is next to the ferry terminal in North Shields and hasn't got the most inviting of exteriors. Once inside though, the picture does change for the better as the soft jazz music greets you.

A bit dated the interior might be, but don't let this put you off, as the place has a good atmosphere and some good real ales to choose from. The live jazz, afternoon and evening, certainly adds to the enjoyment.

Real ales of the calibre of Courage Directors, Durham Brewery White Velvet, Bass Premium Ale and Wentworth Brewery Harvest Pale Ale were the choices.

A very enjoyable and friendly visit. A good real ale pub.

Hugo's at the Coast, 29 Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4DZ.Tel: 0191 2578956.

Hugo's at the Coast is on Front Street Tynemouth.
What a street this is for real ale drinkers. Cask Task discovered another pub there on sunday after a meal at Il Forno at Tynemouth Metro station.

This one's from the Fitzgerald Group and is another busy treat for the drinker. A fair sized one room affair for the booze.
Black Sheep, Deuchars IPA, as regulars, plus World Top Brewery Falling Stone and Edinburgh No.3 as guests. Typical Fitz pub. Busy but seemingly well run.

Must get back again in day light to get a decent photo. And a soberish one if possible.

Cumberland Arms, 17 Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4DX. Tel:0191 2571820.

The Cumberland Arms in Tynemouth fell on to my travels for Cask Task by accident, I'm so happy to say.
Every month or so a small gang of my friends have a little jaunt out for Sunday lunch. 'Il Forno' was chosen this time. A good restaurant placed handily in the Tynemouth Metro station. Just fall off the train and 'Bingo' your in. And very nice it was too. But I digress.
Only 2 minutes walk around the corner is Front Street and the Cumberland Arms, so after the meal, in we trooped.
Some 15 years or so ago, the lads from my place of work at the time met on a number of occasions right here. What a good real ale place it was too and still is.
Rather narrow, but quite long inside and on three different levels. No good to me now of course, because of my stroke, but a good ale house it certainly is. With a bit of a nautical feel to it too. The gents is, believe it or not, labeled the 'Bhoys'. The 'Gulls', being the other variety!
Tetleys Cask, Cumberland Ale, Directors, Whitehorse Giant, Brunswick Most Wanted, and Mordue's Workie Ticket were all there, amongst the ten or so hand pumps on two levels, but I could only have one 'Most Wanted'. Too much of a climb to the toilets for me.

Don't let me put you off though 'cos this is a good real ale house. I only wish I could have stayed longer.

The Turks Head Hotel, 41 Front Sstreet, Tynemouth, NE30 4DZ. Tel:0191 2576547.

The Turks Head (By the way, not a lot of people know this, as Michael said), is a seaman's knot in the shape of a turban on a turk's head.
A crowd of us fell in here and it was packed. Another Ist class real ale pub in Front Street. Two with a nautical feel in the space of 100 yards. Marvlious, as Wrighty used to say.
Built around 1850, The Turks Head Hotel comes complete with its own sheep dog,'Wandering Willie', alas dead since 1880 and now in a glass case in the bar.
Having 8 pumps the real ale fans like those of my ilk are well looked after. 2 Wells Bombardier taps, 2 Courage Directors, a Deuchars IPA and 80/- and 2 Mordue's Workie Ticket. What a superb colletion.
A good feel to it, The Turks Head certainly is a superb real ale pub. The Directors and the Workie Ticket were spot on.
I hope it's not too long before I'm back.
Get yourself up there.