Up the main line to Darlington. A short hop from Durham and a send off for a friend heading into hospital for a major op.

Coniscliffe Road

ORB Micropub

Area: Coniscliffe Road
Style: Micropub, clue is in the name
Visit order: 1

I associate ORB with sunshine, I’ve only visited when the weather has been great and we’ve sat ourselves outside. There are always friendly greetings on arrival and we may have been better inside today as it was unseasonably warm. The beer was a little warmer than was required on a day like today, but enjoyable all the same. I hope it’s a cooler day on our next trip to ORB; I’d like to try the inside.

Number Twenty2

Area: Also Coniscliffe Road
Style: xxx
Visit order: 2

A wide range of real ale on show as ever in Number Twenty2, a busy pub with plenty of wood fittings and a high ceiling. We got the booth by the door, which was a lovely quiet spot in this busy location. It was still hot and we were looking forward to a bit of corporate air conditioning. Number Twenty2 does what it does very well, with good beer, plenty of choice and a busy atmosphere. Sometimes that’s enough.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Rudgate Brewery	Treble Charge	3.7%
Rudgate Brewery	Citra	4.2%

Skinnergate

The Tanners Hall

Area: Skinnergate
Style: Spoons
Visit order: 3

Ah, air conditioning. And cold beer. And a meal deal of course. This was a bit of a reset to bring our temperatures down.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Erdinger Weissbräu	Erdinger Weißbier (bottle)	5.3%
Mad Squirrel Brewery	$UMO (keg)	4.7%

The Corner House

Area: Skinnergate
Style: New Independent Pub
Visit order: 4

A welcome addition following the closure of the previous pub in this location. This is a pub operated by Talking Tides, a local microbrewery. The pub itself is a lovely spot. Comfortable, classy and a pleasure to be in. Friendly bar staff gave us the quick history which was good to learn, then a couple of beers and a game of dominoes.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Talking Tides Brew Co.	Low Viz	5.2%
Talking Tides Brew Co.	Majuba	5.2%

The Quakerhouse

Area: Mechanics Yard
Style: Laid back and traditional
Visit order: 5

A Darlo classic. Located down one of Darlo’s ginnels, lanes, or yards. Traditional interior with top ales and a great atmosphere. Nice to sit in the yard as it was well shaded. The upstairs room is also well worth a look.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Trig Brewery	Plough On	3.4%
weekend project	High Force	4.2%

Back of Boyes (Houndgate)

House Of Hop

Area: Houndgate
Style: Homely independent bar
Visit order: 6

I always enjoy my visits to the House of Hop, and there are old school sweets on each table, Parma Violets anyone? And dominoes. I won a game this time. There is a good mix of folk in here and you feel at home as soon as you step through the door.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Iron Pier	Bitter	4.0%
First & Last Brewery	#5 Learn To Fly	5.5%

The Other Side

Area: Houndgate
Style: Micropub with an alternative theme
Visit order: 7

Another new one to me. It’s less than a year old, I think. Steampunk vibe and a happy atmosphere. The independent pub scene is strong in Darlo and there were a couple we didn’t get to this time.

It’s next door to Vesuvio which is an unlikely place for real ale but worth a visit for sure. That’d be the one that got away on this trip.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Mithril Ales	On The Other Side	4.0%

A great Darlington pub crawl. There’s a theme in Darlo, you find one pub and another turns up next door. ORB and Twenty2, House of Hop and The Other Side (and Vesuvio) and The Corner House and Spoons. It’s a relatively small town centre, but there is an impressive selection of good independent pubs and micropubs to sample.