Pilot Inn, Berwick-Upon-Tweed

The Pilot Inn has central corridor that runs from the mosaic floored entrance to the rear where I assume the toilets are located. The carpeted bar area is in a small front room to the right where a serving counter faces left into the corridor and forwards towards seating across the front windows that was all taken by locals and passers-by. On the counter I spotted three hand pumps that were drawing Inveralmond’s Ossian, Daleside’s Blonde and Stewart’s Edinburgh Gold alongside a standard keg range and Birra Moretti. While waiting for the friendly landlady to pour my drink, whilst taking a call on the phone, I noted the presence of tankards and telescopic devices hanging from the ceiling. To the left of the bar, on the other side of the corridor, is a carpeted room with seating, a copper hooded fireplace, a piano against the rear wall and a television that was airing horse racing via ITV with low sound. This pub had much more of a seaside vibe about it than the other pubs I visited in the centre of town, so I’d revisit for the holiday vibe if I ever find myself on vacation here.

A multi roomed, very much a locals pub tucked away along a back street near the Bell Tower. The main bar and counter are in the front right hand room, the other rooms were in darkness on my afternoon visit; it does look like a terraced house was converted to a pub many years back. A nice traditional bar, it has a splendid carpet, honey coloured woodwork and heavily nautical decor. Nice art nouveau windows here and there. The ceiling is covered in brass items used at sea, a lot of telescopes, flare guns, a compass and objects with mysterious uses. At lower levels there are model boats, navigation lights and photos and figurines of salty fisher folk. Two T-Bars provide a standard Scots and UK range while three pulls had two north east beers, Hadrian & Border and Firebrick, with a Cumbrian one from Bowness Bay. My first beer was a bit tired and low on condition but otherwise ok, my second pint (different beer) was flat and hazy: it’s GBG 2025 listed but maybe it’s style over substance on this and other previous showings? Uninterested staff didn’t help matters.

The Pilot is a backstreet local, a little away from the centre of town. I made a beeline for the front room with access to the bar (to the right-hand side of the central corridor). So, I didn't get chance to explore the other rooms. I assume this is the most popular drinking area, as it was fairly busy and meant I had to share a large table with what appeared to be a fellow beer/pub nut, who proceeded to list and talk about seemingly every pub in Northumberland! Whether there was even anybody else in the other rooms, I'll never know! 3 real ales were on - Rigg & Furrow Run Hop Run, Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted and Morland Old Speckled Hen. The real cider was Thistly Cross Whisky Cask. Worth getting (stumbling in my case) out of town to.