Latest reviews from Sunderland

“Choice of venue for pre-match drinks before last nights play of semi final v Sheffield Wednesday. Taproom is the offshoot of the brewery, so you can expect the usual "industrial chic" décor and atmosphere, i.e. canteen style tables and benches.7 keg and a couple of cask beers. Our party had 4 different keg beers, all in excellent nick, although, so they should be! Filled up quite quickly as kick off approached, but the atmosphere was more relaxed and laid back than in other pre-match venues I've sampled in Sunderland. Welcome presence of women and children. No food available on this occasion, but they do feature outside street catering. Felt it was quite pricey, but you get what you pay for. Will definitely go back.“

Martin243 719 days ago

“Excellent pub, one roomed bar, dark, traditional with leather much in evidence. Six hand pumps (including a cider), beer quality brilliant and service outstanding. The best alehouse I found on my trip to Sunderland.“

Beermenace 828 days ago

“Warm and welcoming boozer, a bit of a walk from the metro station, four ales on and my pints were spot on in terms of quality. I can see why this pub is popular with other reviewers, essential stop when you visit Sunderland.“

Beermenace 828 days ago

“Enjoyed our visit to this 2019 Good Beer Guide pub with it's great ale selection. Chose Three Kings Dark Side and Fell Tinderbox IPA and both were fine.“

gillhalfpint 1719 days ago

“Enjoyed our visit to this 2019 Good Beer Guide pub in July. Chose Salopian Professor Hicks from the ales available and it was fine.“

gillhalfpint 1719 days ago

“Enjoyed our visit to this 2019 Good Beer Guide JDW Lloyds bar. Chose Wolf Granny Wouldn't like it from the guest ales available and it was fine.“

gillhalfpint 1719 days ago

“Enjoyed our visit to this 2019 Good Beer Guide pub last month where we enjoyed Great North Eastern Graphite and Great Corby Signal Peak from the cask ales available“

gillhalfpint 1719 days ago

“Called into this 2019 Good Beer Guide JDW last month and found the usual beers on offer plus a few decent guest beers. We opted for Maxim Dray & Horses and St Peter's Plum Porter both of which served well.“

gillhalfpint 1719 days ago

“We visited here on Saturday 2nd February 2019, the we being me, Loz, Steve Matthews, Peter Fowler and his daughter Claire. we were up in the North East to spend the weekend with Peter. We got a Taxi from Poetic Licence, Roker Hotel, the taxi driver was originally from the East End but had lived up here for over 30 years and was so funny, in fact the cost of the taxi was well worth it for entertainment value alone. However if like most folk you are starting from central Sunderland then it's just a short walk west of the centre about 5-10 minutes I guess.

Having had a little read up on this place I understand that 7-8 years Jarrow brewery invested £500,000 into the restoration/refurbishment of this historic pub that dates back to 1885 ago, and what a fantastic job they did. However it is now a Camerons Head of Steam pub though thankfully still be lovingly looked after. I recall (but maybe wrong) there are two entry points, but regardless when in the main bar area the bar is on the left hand side. It's a wonderful high ceilinged room, lots of wood, etched windows, comfy seats, chesterfield sofas etc oh and a bust of a woman to the side of the bar, the barman was telling us a story about this but I've forgotten the details now.

We spent the longest period of time that I've stayed in a pub for years, (must have been in 6-7hours) we tried literally every beer on tap and then started on the bottles and cans which there was also a good selection of. This was a really friendly pub the barman whose name I have forgotten chatted to us an awful lot and clearly knew his stuff. We also got chatting to a group of AFC Wimbledon fans who came in after their 1-0 loss to Sunderland. I liked it a lot here and if I lived near here it would definitely be my local. Amongst the beers I had here were Two by Two Blackberry Porter, Brew York Clamarindo, Black Sheep 5 Barrel Project - Cocoa Brown Ale, Abbeydale Voyager IPA #14 Single Hop Galaxy, Basqueland / Dry & Bitter White Linen Suit, Collective Arts Ransack the Universe IPA, as mentioned some of these would have been in a can or bottle. I would urge anyone near here to pop by. “

Fin 1866 days ago

“The best place in Sunderland by a county mile. Good selection of cask and keg lines and real ciders but the gem is the utterly fantastic interior restored to all its glory both room downstairs and the large room upstairs all adorned with classic pub memorabilia. A real treat.“

47574xeCD 2105 days ago

“(From my archive.) Looked clean and decent enough. Interior was roomy but less "sterile" than I feared. 3 micro brewery cask ales were on when we were there, in addition to the somewhat less interesting standard cask ales. That’s certainly more than you’ll find at the average street corner boozer. Small "children’s certificate" area, I think you’re supposed to have a meal there, we didn’t and they said nothing - but then, it was matchday and pubs tend to be more liberal when kids go with their dad for the footie. Like all JDW pubs: The beer is CHEAP!“

Sigmund 2549 days ago

“Must declare an interest, as this pub is owned and managed by an old school friend of the wife. Cosy old fashioned two room pub just outside of the city centre. Bohemian/alternative feel, welcoming vibe. Loyal regulars. Scores low on selection, as only has a couple of hand pulls, one of which will usually be from the Maxim brewery. However beer is always very well kept. Lots of Sunderland AFC memorabilia on the walls - the SAFC fanzine "A Love Supreme" started here. Good Juke Box. Well worth dropping in if you’re in town, and can be combined with a visit to The Ship Isis just down the bank.“

Martin243 2573 days ago

“On the opposite side of the Metro and Rail station to the shopping centre, the pub is at the end of one of the main shopping streets that only buses are allowed to traverse part of. It’s on the corner of a road junction and faces the Winter Gardens building, although its own construction is a very dull concrete effort that wouldn’t look out of place in ’Cold War’ Eastern Europe. Thankfully the insides are warming enough with a traditional pub style look this chain is known for as well as its rotating ale selection which is the real reason to come here. You can enjoy these whilst looking at a painting of Charles I being beheaded!“

ManVsBeer 3473 days ago

“Not too far away from its sister bar, the Lambton Worm, this Lloyds Bar in the Wetherspoon chain is a funky fixture and fittings conversion of an older period building. The two don’t really go together but once inside it’s a very comfortable place to drink with carpets and soft furnishings. You can get a decent selection of ales here. If you’re here on a weekend night the central dance floor with its low-hanging lights is cleared and you also enjoy loud music and dancing until the early hours. In the daytime it’s very much for diners and quiet drinkers though.“

ManVsBeer 3476 days ago

“Opposite the elevated Minster and its grounds, this ground floor Wetherspoon is underneath a Travelodge Hotel in a fairly new building on the opposite side of the road to the University. It’s a traditional design for the chain with carpets and soft furnishings but it’s all well kept and inviting and relatively light and airy inside. The ale selection is good and you can marry a drink with live sport too if there’s a big game on.“

ManVsBeer 3476 days ago

“The best pub in Sunderland for real ale, especially in terms of the selection on offer. Fyne Jarl is a permanent beer and is always on good form. There is usually at least one beer from Durham Brewery available.“

SaintMatty 3516 days ago

“One of the best pubs in Sunderland for real ale and ’craft beer’. A traditional street corner boozer with good food and a good atmosphere.“

SaintMatty 3516 days ago

“Large old school pub with lots of wood and tile. Service was decent and prices good. Typical pub food but slight bit better. They know how to take care of beer, every one perfect with head and no sourness. Lots of different beers to choose from. A n absolute winner in my book.“

Ferris 3536 days ago

“Nice pub with friendly staff and local micro beers inc. Fyne Ales Jarl permanent as a house beer, always kept and served in excellent condition, applies to all beers there. Nice home cooked food too. If in Sunderland, head for here first, you may stay for the night“

boropaul 3568 days ago

“Well refurbished large historic pub with long bar, smaller room to the side plus space upstairs. Choice of ales from Jarrow and other good brewers.“

robbgg 3593 days ago

“Sprawling two roomer , usually busy but efficiently staffed. Good selection of beers, well kept. Food wise, the Chicken curry, rice and chips is something of a local legend. Never feels over expensive, and but for the distance from the Stadium of Light, would be far and away my favourite pre-match pub. I just wish the pubs in Sunderland lent themselves to a crawl better. Too far from the Isis and vaults to be a stop on the way to the in town ’Spoons venues.“

Martin243 3641 days ago

“Large Wetherspoon Lloyds bar in the centre of Sunderland. Pub occupies two floors and features freeview tv showing sports when avaialble. Music in the evenings. Range of beer is somewhat limited and dominated by local choice. But not bad.“

DnAuK 4387 days ago

“Large sprawling pub in the centre of Sunderland. Could have gotten caught up in an Irish theme but has thankfully shirked this in favour of good beer instead. Multiple areas give multiple focus. One bar can offer sports and commentary whilst another music. Almost perfect. Add am improved beer range and it would be.“

DnAuK 4387 days ago

“Bright modern Wetherspoons outlet in a nice part of Sunderland town centre. Decent outdoor area and big projection screen for sport make it unsual for a Wetherspoon pub, and very busy on match days. Range of drinks is slightly tempered but what they do have seems to be served well.“

DnAuK 4387 days ago

“Jarrow Brewery outlet in Sunderland in a big old Victorian Pub. North East locals familiar with The Central in Gateshead can take that as a reference point. Big main room, and a cosier smaller room with plans to open a restaurant upstairs.I’ve scored the ambiance low, as it was packed on the Friday we went (just before Christmas, lots of once a year drinkers.) All the Jarrow products, lots of guest ales, good selection of bottles. Didnt eat there so can’t really comment on the food. I’d like to go back when it’s quieter, but they’ve just about got it right.“

Martin243 4513 days ago