After a morning in Newtownards including a visit to Spoons, I took a short bus ride to Bangor to meet up with the rest of the group. We followed an ice cream and a stroll along the seafront with a few beers before heading back to Belfast for the evening.

The Rabbit Rooms

Area: Near the Water
Style: Traditional bar with a nautical style
Visit order: 1

Following a wander along the shore, it was time for a beer. The Rabbit Rooms made a pleasant first stop. I started with a red ale while we looked over the menu, which was tempting enough to make us briefly reconsider our plans. It was fairly quiet, but a handful of locals propping up the bar gave the place a relaxed, local feel.

Sorry Rabbit Rooms, I forgot the pictures here.

Jenny Watts

Area: High Street
Style: “Bangor’s Oldest Pub”
Visit order: 2

Bangor’s oldest pub has plenty of character, with photographs and memorabilia covering the walls and giving you something to look at wherever you sit. Seeing their own Out of Office beer on the bar was an unexpected bonus and naturally had to be sampled. There was also a chocolate orange stout from Out of Office on the bar. A quick taster confirmed it was excellent, but at around 7% it felt a little ambitious for the middle of the afternoon. Maybe next time.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Out of Office	Jenny’s (keg)	4.0%

The King’s Quay

Area: Off Main Street
Style: Smart neighbourhood pub
Visit order: 3

We weren’t sure what to expect as it’s tucked away down a side street. It turned into a real treat. Plenty of folk in, pool table occupied and as an added bonus, a cask ale on the bar. There was a great atmosphere here and it’s another of those pubs that you could settle into for the rest of the day. After two beers though, we felt Belfast calling us back and had to sup up and head back for the train.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Bangor Bay Brewery	Bangor’s Best Bitter	3.9%
Bangor Bay Brewery	New Zealand Pilsner (keg)	4.8%

Bangor turned out to be much more than somewhere to fill a couple of hours. Three very different pubs, all worth visiting, and enough to convince me there’s another trip waiting to happen. There’s plenty more exploring to do too, as the coastline is beautiful..