The Three Mariners, Lancaster

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

Claims to be city's oldest pub, and its appearance and position between the castle and quayside lend some credence. However, in the coronavirus era, most customers were sat outside on wooden tables at the front. Six real ales and a draft cider were advertised on a chalkboard beside the entrance, and I opted for the Hartley's inspired Cumbria Way (£3.95).