Crown & Anchor Inn, Berwick-Upon-Tweed

Of the 3 pubs on Holy Island, this one appears to be the one most popular with locals. Entering from the corner, you first find the bar. A haunting wooden monk greets you as you enter, along with a rather nasty smell on our visit. This room has a coal fire and a large Crown & Anchor sign above one table. There are old pictures of what I assume is the pub on the walls. Seating is on old church pews and there are food condiments on each table. The second room is larger and is more of a dining room with a slightly more modern look. We arrived shortly after 11am. So, nobody was in to eat at this point. There were a few more drinkers in the garden however, which offers some nice views. Children and dogs are allowed in. Music was playing, but there is no wifi. In fact, I got the impression that mobile phones are frowned upon, with a sign encouraging conversation at the expense of the wifi. Rather unusually, 4 stools at the bar were reserved for some local drinkers from 11am. One did arrive not too long after us at 11:30, but there was no sign of the other 3 when we departed. At the bar, the 3 cask ales on were the most adventurous for Holy Island - Rigg & Furrow Run Hop Run, Hadrian Border Grainger Ale & First & Last Equinox. The cider was Aspall's. Having a local feel, the pub still has to accommodate the hoards of tourists who visit the island. I got the distinct impression that staff and locals only do this grudgingly. However, without them, the pub and the island's economy would not survive.

A nice looking pub from the outside but just has that feeling of aiming more at diners. Two rooms, one has lots of stripped wood and church pews, while the other has some unpleasant modern furniture and there is a garden outside. It does have 3 handpumps though, offering Muckle Muckle Tickle, and Hadrian Farne island and Tyneside Blonde. My least favourite of the 3 pubs on the island.

White painted pub near the harbour, two bars, a triangular public bar and a more rectangular one used more for eating. Both have a counter but the beer pumps and taps are in the public, three pulls and two low T-bars. Beers from the local usual of Hadrian Border plus Great North Eastern and Cheviot. There are three pubs or pub-like places on the island, this one is GBG listed but honestly I didn’t find much difference in the beer quality between the three maybe the Manor House was the weakest beer wise. Old pew seating with light grey tongue and groove below, cream painted above. Lots of old photos mainly of hardy fisherfolk and a few jokey signs. They take bookings for tables and put little blackboards on them.