The Shakespeare, Durham

Update – September 2013 This is a traditional, basic pub with bare floorboards, a boarded ceiling and some padded settles in a number of adjoining similar areas. Outside, the pub proudly proclaims that it is “one of the most haunted pubs in England”. 4 beers were on – London Pride, Deuchars IPA, Deuchars Autumn Red and Jennings Cumberland Ale. A blackboard beside the bar provides exceptionally helpful descriptions of the beers – thus, for instance, we are told that London Pride is an “English Bitter”, whereas Deuchars IPA is described as an “India Pale Ale”. Similarly Deuchars Autumn Red is a “Best Bitter”. This is a basic drinkers pub where beer and conversation are very much the order of the day. The beer range is distinctly unexciting, but it’s a better pub than my previous review below would indicate. Original review – September 2008 Early 19th Century CAMRA National Inventory pub in a narrow shopping street leading up to the cathedral. The pub is larger than it looks from the outside as it extends back quite a way into several rooms behind the bar, including a small wood panelled screened snug. Taken as a whole, I found the pub a bit featureless and the pine floor boards and cream coloured walls made the pub feel a bit cold and uninviting to me. It lacks the cosiness of, say, the Victoria Hotel or the front bar of the Dun Cow nearby. It didn't help that, on a wet and windy evening, the barman insisted on having the front door open. There was a reasonable range of real ales on - Deuchars IPA, Everards Tiger, Fat Catz Devonshire (?) - and the staff and locals were welcoming and hospitable, but, in all honesty, I didn't really warm to this place

Friendly pub. 3 different rooms, a bar, back room and a cracking wee room just behind the bar...similar to a snug. Plenty pictures of local areas. Decent pint of Everads Tiger.