The Standard, Northallerton

Another nice little locals' pub, on the main road but worth stopping at. It is U-shaped round a central counter. with wood panelling, stone floor and a friendly landlord. Darts is available on one side and there is a beer garden at the back. Ales on were Wainwright Gold, Bradfield Farmers Blonde and a very tasty Pennine Heartland Amber. I was quite shocked to be the only person in on a Friday lunchtime - it really deserves better custom.

The Standard is situated a short walk away from the town centre to the north. This was another Northallerton pub with a friendly barmaid and equally friendly customers, most of whom were playing dominoes to the side of the bar. A garden at the rear contains an old aircraft, which the landlord purchased at some point in the past. With a number of different seating areas, you could be just as much at home coming for a quiet pint here, as you would engaging in conversation with others. Hambleton Stallion is the regular ale here. Guest beers were Thwaite's Wainwright & Marston's 61 Deep. The Stallion I had here was far better than the Thoroughbred I'd had earlier in the day from the same brewery.

Opens @ 5pm Monday to Thursday. Bar central with rooms to the right and left front and rear. Three weak real ales and rest on keg.

GBG listed old pub at the northern end of the town, a double fronted Victorian building with stone floors and traditional cream walls over brown wainscotting. An open plan interior but several comfortable and cosy areas are formed by vestigial walls and traditional furnishings. The bar counter is centrally placed with three handpumps on one face, serving Taylor's Landlord, Hambleton Stallion and Golden Pippin on my visit, there is an used pump round the corner and a single T Bar of the usual suspects. Furnishing is a traditional mix of benches, chairs and stools beside rectangular tables with a number of old barrels as décor and tables, quite a few old photos and some prints plus stoneware jugs complete the décor. There is a dartboard in the front room and a games machine tucked away under a staircase in the bar. The garden has a jet plane rather than a few gnomes.

Official site of the Standard - www.thestandard-pub.co.uk

Official site of the Standard - www.thestandard-pub.co.uk