The Smugglers Den, Morecambe

Proper locals pub , a little tucked away from the town centre. It has clearly been altered but still feels like an ‘old pub’. Very traditional with bric a brac and comfortable banquette seating. Friendly locals discussing the music playing on the jukebox, although they all turned around with surprise when we entered. Two ales on, Lees Bitter and a local blonde, there may be a tie with Lees as their craft lager was also on the bar. I really liked this one, found it cosy.

Bar to the right with three JW Lees real ales on hand pump. Small back room and one to the left. Usual keg offerings.

In the residential back streets of Morecambe, a short way inland from the town’s sea front promenade is The Smugglers Den, claiming to be Morecambe’s oldest pub ( circa 1640 ). The pub is alleged to be haunted ( well there’s a surprise ) and to have a secret tunnel, leading to the beach for smuggling purposes. Perhaps not surprisingly, a nautical theme dominates from the outset, as we pass through the front door, complete with a ship’s circular porthole. A small bar servery on the right hand side serves a well defined number of interconnecting areas, including several snug areas which may well once have been separate rooms. The interior features the obligatory black old beams, ships’ lamps, wheels, paintings of vessels, copper plates and a collection of jugs suspended from the ceiling beams. Seating is largely fixed padded seating supplemented by the usual red velour circular bar stools. The floor is part carpeted, part flagstoned. A fine fireplace on the left has some shelving containing war time memorabilia including some brass bullet casings and letters from troops on the front file. Burgundy coloured wallpaper leads to a slightly dark feel. There’s some unusual stained glass windows at the front, showing smugglers in action, which were apparently added in the 1960’s when the interior was fitted out. In summary, it’s an interesting and likeable interior, but with something of a rather contrived traditional feel. At the back, a separate area has a dart board, some exposed stone walls and a fine moulded ceiling, rather reminiscent of some of the capital’s Victorian era pubs. There’s a large garden at the back which I didn’t get to see on my after dark visit. Probably because of its location, it appears to be mainly a locals pub. Appearing to recognise this, it clearly makes no effort to attract the numerous visitors to the resort. It gears itself up to the locals with a series of regular attractions ( eg ukulele acoustic session on Wednesday, Karaoke on Friday ) There’s a number of electronic fruit machines. Background music on my visit was from the 60/70’s. There’s no food. A number of real ales are served which, on my visit, included Thwaites Gold Muddler, Scottish Borders Dark House and a Smugglers Den “house” beer brewed by Marstons. My notes are a bit patchy, but I suspect that Black Sheep might have been on as well. Quality was reasonable. The pub was proudly displaying the CAMRA 2014 Good Beer Guide sticker and the local CAMRA Branch Magazine is available, but, based on my visit, there doesn’t appear to be much in the way of enthusiasm or interest in real ales from either the staff or other punters. Worth a look in if passing, but note that it doesn’t open till 3pm between Mondays and Fridays.

Sadly this pub started to go downhill years ago when the new police station opened and it was full of police on a night they ran the place and would lock people up for the same antics what they got up to