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ONE PUB ONLY?
Kings Arms
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Fitzgeralds, then down hill to the Saltgrass and Kings Arms before a taxi to the ground.
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
The Ropery comes highly recommended.
|  |  Fitzgerald's
2 Green Terrace, SR1 3PZ Telephone 0191 567 0852 w www.sjf.co.uk
G Matt Alldis
F Varied menu to suit all tastes 11 to 3, 12 to 3 Sun
MP SK BM
O 11 to 11, 11 - 12 Fri / Sat 12 to 11 Sun
Ten constantly-changing beers are found here in an area popular with both young and old. This pub changes as the different groups come and go. It is sometimes very crowded, yet at other times it offers real tranquillity. There is always a quality selection of real ales, particularly northern ales. It is quite a large pub, offering separate sections rather than rooms. Apparently the wireless internet access is proving popular with business trade and regulars alike. I enjoyed sitting in the rear of the pub chatting with a couple of old-timers who were keen to stress the friendliness of the staff as a major factor in it being their choice. They were also keen to make sure they had a seat before the younger crowd came in for their usual beer and chat-up session.
UPDATE: Fitzgerald’s continues to offer great ale, and the beer garden is likely to be improved. General Knowledge quiz on Wed
BWV 13.1.05: Archers Pixie Juice, Scatty Cow, Brains SA, Cains Raisin, Greene King Morland Original, Harviestoun Jack the Lad, Orkney Skull Splitter, Thwaites Original, Ushers Winter Storm, Weston’s Country Perry
BWV 10.2.06: 3 Rivers IPA, GMT, Archers Best, Boggart Hole Clough Bog Eyed, Dark Star Espresso Stout, Hophead, Empire Long Bow, Isle of Mull Island Pale Ale, Wharfedale Folly Gold, Weston’s Country Perry | |  Kings Arms
1 Hanover Place, SR4 6BU Telephone 0191 584 2394 W www.threehorsehoesleamside.co.uk/kings_arms.aspx
G Lucie Young
F Toasted sandwiches
CP SK BM D
O 11 to 11Mon - Thu, 11 - 12 Fri - Sat, 12 - 11 Sun
This is a place to find rare micro-brews “that are tip top and blows your doors in.” (Steve Potts) The Guvn’or is a relentless hunter of real ale and the customers come from afar to sample. My visit was one of my highlights of the year’s research, thanks to the easy conversation and genuine warmth of the bar-flies. As Jean Downey says “It’s great because of the pre-match banter between friends and strangers alike.” Mickie Downey goes on to say that “it has a great pre-match atmosphere, full of football families of all ages and friendly away fans.” They will, however, spin some tales of fans getting a boat to the game. Better to walk via the river-side path or get a taxi. It has “good beer, good, craic, live football and I go.” (Kipper) It can’t have everything I suppose.
UPDATE: Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2005, iPod music is available; an outdoor marquee is in place.
BWV 13.1.05: Anglo Dutch Spike on T’Way, Concertina One Eyed Jack, Glentworth White, Ossett Silver King, Wentworth Bumble Bee
BWV 10.2.06: Abbeydale Matins, Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Halifax Joker, Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted, Newby Wyke Grantham Gold, Northumberland Bucking Fastard, Oakham JHB, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Saxon Diamond Lil Cider | |  Saltgrass Inn
37 Hanover Place, Deptford, SR4 6BY Telephone 0191 565 7229
G Paul and Gillian
F Bar food/snacks, plus home-cooked, freshly-prepared, restaurant menu 12 to 3, 5 to 10
SP BM
O 11 to 11, 11 to 12 Fri - Sat, 12 to 11 Sun
Do you remember seaside, scrimshaw and seashell pubs? Well in Deptford, among the riverside warehouses, you can find the Saltgrass. It is dark and comfortable, intimate and cosy, a place to revel in winter warmth. The banter alone is well worth the taxi ride. Andrew of Houghton praises the “great pre-match atmosphere.” Similarly John Watson of York says “what more could you want than well-kept beers with friendly staff and regulars, and a good real fire?” While “the fire keeps some in on freezing days when the lads are playing below par”, for Dave “it is the barmaids, who are dead fit”. Daryl is one of those landlords who sell their businesses as their passion. Any real ale fan will learn masses from spending time in his company. The guest ale choice is always reliably good, mixing well-known brands with rarer regional ales.
UPDATE: The planned Wearside regeneration is the hot topic, and can only be good news.
BWV 13.1.05: Bass Draught, Black Sheep Bitter, Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Weston’s Scrumpy
BWV 10.2.06: Black Sheep Bitter, Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Everards Tiger, Wychwood Hobgoblin | |  Ivy House
Worcester Terrace, SR2 7AY Telephone 0191 567 3399
G Bob Fairlie
F Good quality student-style food 11 to 2, not Sun
CP SK JB P D
O 11 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun
The Morning Advertiser really rates this pub, in particular the innovation of Phil to introduce iPod technology to the sound systems. My interest is in the ale. Bob, the boss of 19 years, certainly has a great local reputation for providing great ale. Two beers were on offer but they rotate regularly and expand to five or six at weekends. This is when the pub gets very busy. The students give way to town regulars seeking something out of the central shopping drag. The Ivy House is surprisingly convenient for a back-street pub. It is just up the road from the local bus station and between two metro stations, no more than five minutes away.
Of interest to pub architects is the hemispherical design caused by the pub being a 1950’s conversion of three separate houses. Owned now by Barracuda, the push is on to offer real ale in their houses. The Ivy sets a good example of how it will appeal to a very wide range of customers. Bob was insistent that the eclectic tastes of his customers mean the place is rarely routine or even predictable. This sounded just perfect for a visitor. It is very friendly and lively. The pool table was ignored by Ray, who obviously didn't want to be thrashed again. “You know you will love it” says the bar top slogan. I am sure this is true.
BWV 9.2.06: Black Sheep Bitter, Darwin Ivy, Evolution
They now have a facebook fan page | |  Royalty
88 Chester Rd., SR2 7PR Telephone 0191 565 9930
G Paul Ward
F Menu geared for students, i.e. hearty and good value 11 to 7, 12 to 6 Sun
CP SK JB P D
O 11 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun
Real ale came to the Royalty in the summer of 2005 and the pub had reached the point, by the time of my February visit, that two ales were being proposed, as each guest (and there are only guest ales), were changing every two days. Paul and Ben, the assistant manager, were very keen to continue the trend, recognising the link between the University customers and their love of ale. The links with academia go further when you chat with Ben and find out about the brewing research that goes on just down the road.
The pub is very large and advertises a no baseball caps or track-suit policy. On matchdays the range of students means that almost any shirt might be found. The pub is very convenient for the sign - posted matchday parking. The student-priced food will also satisfy many a fan. The pub is lively yet friendly, large yet comfortable. The end of the pub we chose had a pool table, the central area is flag - stoned, the other end separated into a carpeted lounge. It is significantly the home of the Sunderland surfing crowd. The TV was tuned to the tide table pages on Ceefax and, as the wind increased, I witnessed an event that was new to me. Phone calls were made and locals found excuses to head for the coast. I really liked the atmosphere in the Royalty. It deserves to do well, if only for the future of real ale, as these locals graduate and take their enthusiasm with them into future careers elsewhere.
BWV 9.2.06: Tetley’s Cask Bitter | | | SUNDERLAND CAMRA | | 
STADIUM OF LIGHT
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LOCAL BREWERY
Darwin Brewery Ltd,
63 Back Tatham Street,
Sunderland,
Tyne & Wear,
SR1 2QE
Telephone: 0191 514 4746
www.darwinbrewery.com | | WETHERSPOONS
The William Jameson 30-32 Fawcett Street Sunderland SR1 1RH Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
The Lambton Worm Victoria Building Low Row Sunderland SR1 3QA Opening Times: Mon-Sun 9am-11.30pm
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