The Marine, South Shields

Back in South Shields after a 13-year absence, the Marine was one of two or three pubs I wanted to visit. Situated on a lively street, it didn't look too promising from the entranceway. But inside, there was a decent atmosphere and a very good range of drinks. Service was swift and professional. Bass & Allendale Golden Plover are regular cask ales. Guests were Theakston Old Peculier, Two By Two Porter, Darwin Face Beer & Cullercoats Shuggy Boat Blonde & Grace Darling Gold. The Porter was enjoyable. On the real cider front, there was Thistly Cross Whisky Cask & Dudda's Tun Disco & Sweet Apple. Craft beers were Two By Two Snake Eyes, Brew York Juice Forsyth, Tempest Long White Cloud, Northern Alchemy In The Sun & Campervan Leith Juice. All drinks are listed on a blackboard to the left-hand side of the bar. The long and thin bar has a raised area of seating over 2 areas to the left-hand side and an area with TV screens and a pool table off to the right-hand side. There are probably still better pubs in South Shields. But this one is right up there.

I would say that this pub has been refurbished since the review below and have won some Camra awards in the meantime. There were eight handpumps on the bar on our recent visit with seven in use serving five ales and two ciders. We called in on a Friday Eve and the pub was packed with a lot of beer drinkers. The prices were good and beer quality was sublime. The beer line up was Allendale Golden Plover which is a regular, Camerons Strongarm, Roosters YPA, North Riding Porter and North Riding Centennial. The keg Line up was also ok TwoByTwo Snake Eyes, Black Iris Endless Summer, Northern Alch Brightness, Kirkstall Verdita and Full Circle Hoop. The pub serves food and bar snacks for example a Naga Chilli scotch egg £3.

The marine is a large pub a ten min walk from the beach into the main town. It is one long main room with seating for diners on a higher level to the left with a pool room behind it to the right. the decor is traditional but very worn and could do with a spruce but not desperately shabby. To my surprise there were three real ales on the bar which is unusual for south shields, I tried the local shuggy boat blonde from the Cullercoats brewery and this was a very nice well kept pint at an ok £2.75, there was also collingwood brewery Victoria pale ale at £ £2.85 and big lamp brewerys big red for £2,80. The palce was empty on my visit expect for a very drunkien man sat at the bar necking john smiths so not the best atmosphere ever but the beer made up for it. I would probably call back here if in south shields purely as it is better tan most of the other crap places.