Nursery Inn, Hartlepool

Ordinary two roomed pub with a bell on the left hand door which lets the bar staff know somebody had come in. One weak real ale - nothing special.

Unpromisingly situated in an area where almost every house has been boarded up, which suggests a major redevelopment is about to happen. The pub looks a bit run-down, so it's almost a surprise to find it's not been boarded up itself. Inside the front door there's a choice between lounge to the left and bar to the right, so I went to the right. It's a comfortable room, with green leather seating around the walls and a substantial bar counter featuring three hand pumps. The beers on offer were Camerons Strongarm and Marstons Old Empire. I went local, as it's a beer I always like to drink when in this part of the country. The landlord was friendly and told me he's always glad to see away supporters. Although nothing special beer-wise, this is a pleasant street corner local and worth the walk from the town or the football ground.