The Three Mariners, Lancaster

Old stone building set back from the road and close to the river. Split into two areas, all modern and comfortable and there is the odd beam here and there still. Has the feel of a family middle of the road kind of place but the 5 real ales are kept well.

Official site of The Three Mariners - www.thethreemarinerslancaster.co.uk

Official site of The Three Mariners - www.thethreemarinerslancaster.co.uk

When I lived in Lancaster this was called the Carpenters Arms and it stood next to a very ugly granary, now replaced by some smart modern apartments. In those days the outside of the building was nothing special - after all, who was looking when that monstrous grain warehouse was standing right by? Inside was a fine old pub, and I mean genuinely old, and verging on tatty. But full of character. Some things have changed, and from the outside it's now a pretty stone building in a grove of trees, but inside there's no sense of history at all. It all seems to be standard pub fittings and the Three Mariners could be any old pub in any old town. It's still worth a visit, of course - don't let me put you off - just not what it used to be (the price of getting old). Six hand pumps on the bar were serving five northern beers, two from local breweries (Cross Bay Nightfall and Bowland Hen Harrier) plus three from what I used to think of as the wrong side of the Pennines (Rudgate Ruby Mild, Black Sheep Bitter and York Guzzler).

Have visited this pub for some ten years while staying at Thurnham hall. It is warm, welcoming and comfortable. It serves quality cask ales and traditional pub grub, the pies are home made. Will be there again this coming December.