Reached 171 with a 15 pub crawl yesterday. In York, I started with the new Leeds Brewery pub, the Eagle & Child, a couple of doors along from the Three-legged Mare. Next was the longer established Leeds Brewery pub, The Duke of York. Number three was just around the corner, Pivni. I also did Ye Old Shambles Tavern, though no one offered me a cheese sandwich. Next was the recently opened Pavement Vaults and finally in York The Three Tuns. Then it was back to the station for my train to Darlington.Originally Posted by sheffield hatter
In Darlo I headed for The Britannia Inn - the review by a one-poster in July is not strictly accurate. Yes, there are five hand pumps, but only Black Sheep Bitter and John Smiths Cask at the time of my visit. The Sheep was in good nick, but no sign of the promised three guests. Next was meant to be The Half Moon, but due to incomplete research I hadn't realised that Wednesday is their late opening day. I called in at The Quays instead, and then the Sam Smiths pub, The Glittering Star. Then back to the station for my next train, to Thornaby for Stockton on Tees.
At this point the rest of the day was thrown into jeopardy: a freight train broke down on some points outside Darlo station, effectively blocking all lines through the town. There was no information about how long it would take to clear, so after half an hour I got a refund on my pre-bought ticket and settled for doing the rest of the crawl in town - at least the Half Moon would be open soon. Just as I came out of the ticket office, however, there was an announcement: my train had made it through and was waiting at platform 3. I hastily bought another ticket and caught the train, arriving in Thornaby not too far behind schedule.
First stop was going to be The North Eastern, which advertises real ales, although What?ub says there are none. On passing the main window, it was clear that although there are four hand pumps, there are no beers on. I contemplated going in anyway, because it's a nice-looking pub, but I couldn't stomach the idea of drinking John Smiths Smooth Crap, so I gave it a miss. At The Sun Inn I found out that the bar manager there had previously been at the North Eastern, and it was him that tried to introduce real ales, without success. I also went in The Royal Oak and The Green Dragon, a very nice Sam's pub that appears to have been put together from several random rooms. Although there was a pub of the same name here many years ago (it's situated in Green Dragon Yard), it's not clear that the right derelict building was revived when the modern pub was created. This information came from the owner of Golden Smog, a micro-pub in an obscure yard off the High Street. Final stop in Stockton was Dr M'Gonigles Emporium, with a surprising five hand pumps.
On the way back through Darlington I just had time between trains to pop into The Old Vic. Fifteen pubs, 15 different beers, ranging in price from 90p for a half of Sam Smiths OBB in the Glittering Star to £1.85 for a half of Bootleg Urban Fox in the Three Tuns. Total for all beers was £22.00, and for trains £20.60. About the same as I would have paid to go to a football match, and much more enjoyable.
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