Hartlepool

[sheffield hatter]

Can anyone recommend some decent pubs in Hartlepool? I'll be there on 3rd October and should have time for two or three before the game and one or two after.

Cheers

[gillhalfpint]

Rat Race by the station if open. They sometimes have odd hours on match days depending who is playing, but it is a brill micro pub.
Jacksons Arms in Tower Street interesting back street boozer.
Causeway and Brewery Tap Stranton.
Grand Hotel can get interesting beers. I got Sonnet 43 brewery showcased there once.
Mill House near the ground is welcome for both sides and has started putting a couple of Camerons beers on. My son should be there today.

[sheffield hatter]

Rat Race by the station if open. They sometimes have odd hours on match days depending who is playing, but it is a brill micro pub.
Jacksons Arms in Tower Street interesting back street boozer.
Causeway and Brewery Tap Stranton.
Grand Hotel can get interesting beers. I got Sonnet 43 brewery showcased there once.
Mill House near the ground is welcome for both sides and has started putting a couple of Camerons beers on. My son should be there today.

I went in the The Mill House (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/4027/) before kick off - just Camerons Strongarm on, which was ok. The Grand Hotel (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/4011/) is a very noisy sports bar with three hand pumps (two Black Sheep and one from Sonnet 43).

Jacksons Arms (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/4020/) was ok, nothing special on the beer front. They had a hand-written pump clip for Monument Bitter, but the landlord was unable to say where it came from. To be fair he tried looking it up in the GBG - two possibilities, neither of which turned out to be the right one - I have since Googled it and it turns out to be this one (http://www.tynebankbrewery.co.uk/p/core-beers.html). I also went to Jax (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/82896/), which had two hand pumps including a very good Titanic Plum Porter and one from Clarks of Wakefield, and the Nursery Inn (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/4031/), Camerons Strongarm and Marstons Old Empire.

I did Rat Race Ale House (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/68607/) both before the match and while waiting for my train. An odd place, with no bar and not much room when Luton Town real ale fans are around, but a good friendly atmosphere and excellent beer. I had Fat Brewer Black and Blue porter, very yummy. Photos and reviews to follow.

[gillhalfpint]

Great to hear my old home town not doing so bad on the beer front.