The Three Mariners, Lancaster

A fine looking exterior ,this Robinson's pub is close to the River Lune but without river views.Low ceilings,a tap room to the left of the front door with two further rooms to the right,all comfotable and traditional. Strangely no Robbies ale on initially leaving a choice of Orkney Corncrake and Howling Hops London Best and Pale (NBSS Good).A pleasant crawl stop but I'm not sure this is a destination real ale outlet.Friendly barman and locals.

A splendid stone-built pub lurking in a grove of trees below the castle. Inside feels nicely aged and atmospheric, although apparently much rebuilt since I last visited it many decades ago. It was a little spoiled by the intrusive music however. A Robinsons pub which actually didn't have an Robinsons ales on when we first entered, although Trooper was added later, but an interesting selection included a fine Howling Hops London Best. A number of handpumps were out of use however, being supplemented by a small keg wall behind the bar.

Visited September 2025 and made this my first stop on a trip to Lancaster. Two banks of hand pulls but only two Robbos beers on, plus some Titanic, other guest ales and ciders. I went for the Session Pale by Three Acres Brewery, which was fine if unexciting. Free Wi-Fi advertised. Outdoor picnic benches to the front but not sure if there is a separate beer garden at all. I'd probably give it another go.

This is a nice gastro pub stood in the shadow of Lancaster Castle, with a wide but shallow interior that offers some good drinker/diner separation. The servery is on the rear wall, slightly to the left on entry, and has a tongue and groove panelled counter front and matching bar back with three barrel ends to one side, to which the keg taps are attached. There is some excellent button backed banquette seating opposite, formed into shared booths with loads of scatter cushions and some low stools in support. A tidy fireplace dominates the end wall, but it must not get any use, as it remained stubbonly unlit on a bitterly cold, snowy winter's evening. Lots of old wooden beams and pillars give the pub an authentic, traditional feel, with old paintings and maps lining the walls only adding to this effect. To the right is a nice space with a long L-shaped banquette next to a smart stone fireplace, beyond which is a pleasant dining area with formally arranged tables and chairs and some banquette booths along the end wall. One notable drawback was the truly crappy selection of old-school pop tunes playing relentlesly in the background throughout the course of my visit. On the bar, there was a healthy selection of cask ales comprised of Robinson Dizzy Blonde and Unicorn, Oakham Citra, 4T's IPA, Hawkshead Bitter, Titanic Plum Porter and Thornbridge Katsura, alongside three real ciders. A very personable barmaid had some good chat and dealt admirably with a lively pint of the Citra, which turned out to be in good condition once it had been tamed into the glass. There weren't too many others in the pub on this Monday evening, but the weather was shocking and it wasn't that much quieter than the other pubs I visited that night. This place immediately struck me as a food-led enterprise, so I was surprised, having settled down with my pint, to find that I found it quite a pleasant, pubby environment in which I'd quite happily have spent much longer had time permitted. The friendly service and quality ale made this an enjoyable visit and I'd be keen to repeat it when there was more of a crowd in attendance. Date of visit - 15th January 2024