please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Tap & Spile was my 7th pub of the day in County Durham on Saturday. None of the previous 6 were listed on the site. I've requested most of these to be added. But only the Lambton Worm in Chester-Le-Street and the Newfield Inn in Newfield were of note. The Tap & Spile however was my favourite pub of the day in the county. It's a traditional two-roomed local in the Framwellgate Moor area. 8 ales are split across handpulls in both rooms. The selection on Saturday evening was Salopian Shropshire Gold, Pennine Hair Of The Dog, Maxim Ward's Best Bitter, Roosters YPA, Rudgate Battle Axe, Ossett Clearwater, Anarchy Hard Times & Tyne Bank Motueka Dollar. The cider was Old Rosie. Both rooms were busy and it had a cosy atmosphere. Dogs are welcomed.
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The pub has two front bars and a large back room. Its been a local CAMRA award winner. Found a varied selection of ales from near and far, with eight constantly changing handpumps, seemingly well kept. Very welcoming atmosphere, with friendly bar staff.
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This ia a small public house like what they all used to be. A constantly changing beer menu. Not so many minor breweries from outside the North-East represented. Quality beer at a price which deters noisy students.
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My local. The best real ale pub I know bar none. Lesley knows her stuff, and the proof is in the product, the knowledgable staff are always chirpy and on hand to assist. The crack is tip top, the pub is alive with all sorts of ages and groups and the atmosphere is brilliant. Shame Enterprise don't plough some of their profits back into the pub.
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Love this pub (I travel for about an hour to get there). It has two sections, one a rammed spit and sawdust side - which is always full to the brim, the other more like a dining area (no food served though), which is less full.
It stands out for its serve of drink though. A country mile above every pub in Durham.
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Excellent pub for real ale with a wide range of mostly regional ales on at any one time. Cider lovers are catered for with Old Rosie. Bar snacks, including olives can be brought by the third of a pint. Landlady Lesley knows her stuff about beer and keeps it in beautiful condition. Nice friendly atmosphere; great if you want a good chat. The exterior has been given a lick of paint and looks very smart now. Well worth a visit if in Durham.
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the best real ale pub in Durham city. It looks like a right dump from outside but the selection of ales that it offers is superb and at a very reasonable price. The most outstanding factor about this pub is the atmosphere (which makes the whole experiance worthwhile) and the helpfulness and knowledge of the staff which makes this a topper drinking experiance
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Looks near-derelict from the outside; clearly Enterprise Inns can't be bothered to replace the boards with the pub's name. Put it this way - when I first saw the Tap and Spile, I thought it was being closed down.
Thankfully, the lessee takes better care of the interior than Enterprise do of the fabric of the pub; this is a well-maintained, clean boozer, with separate rooms (all kitted out in dark, well-aged wood), a pool table and six ales, mostly from northern, smaller brewers (Copper Dragon, Rudgate, Salamander etc). These tend to be in perfect condition and on the rare occasion that they're not, the bar staff will happily replace. Free papers and the fact that well-behaved dogs are welcome edge this one up to a 9/10 for me.
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Always at least six beautifully kept ales, listed on a 'Beer Menu' at the bar in order of strength. Also Old Rosie cider and Leffe Blonde if you are with non-ale drinkers. Four main rooms divided by a central corridor. On the right, family rooms with pool; on the left, bar and lounge with predominantly wooden interiors. No piped music, resulting in an excellent convivial atmosphere. Definitely worth the 20 minute walk from the city centre. Quiz on Wednesdays at 9.
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Nice Pub, large selection of excellent ale, crazy but helpful staff, shame no food any more, shame about the distance out of town!
But well worth a visit!
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Great pub. Bit of hike to get there, though.
anonymous - 22 Oct 2006 13:05 |
y colleague.... Linda reckons this place has crackin cider. and a 'tinternet pal of mine says it has crackin ales. they both say it has a crackin quiz... weds i think. ill check it out and post back
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