Ship Isis, Sunderland

The Ship Isis was another Sunderland pub that I visited on Wednesday having not been in for almost 9 years. I remember it being one of the best pubs in the city and recorded 7 real ales and 3 real ciders last time I was here in April 2013. This time, there were just 4 real ales and 1 real cider. However, the craft beer revolution has sprung into action since 2013 and several craft beers were also selling this time. The 4 real ales were Salamander Forkbeard, Wensleydale Black Dub, Ossett White Rat & Darwin New Fang, whilst the cider was SeaCider Passion Fruit. Craft beers were Polly's White Oak, Boundary More of a Phenomenon, Alpha Delta Hera, Caps Off Milk Stout, Mexican Craft Loba Paradiso & Overtone Milk Stout. This was to be a very fleeting visit. However, my half of Black Dub was very enjoyable indeed. The bar is long and narrow and it was much quieter than my previous visit here after a football match. This time, there was just myself, the barmaid and one other customer. It's almost as good as I remember, but the ale and cider selection has certainly been reduced. My notes concluded that it is still the best pub in Sunderland. But in hindsight, Fitzgeralds certainly runs it close. Either way, it is still very much worth a visit.

Enjoyed our visit to this 2019 Good Beer Guide pub with it's great ale selection. Chose Three Kings Dark Side and Fell Tinderbox IPA and both were fine.

I have paid several visits to The Isis pub over the last couple of years and it is a place I enjoy going back to when in Sunderland. An impressive 10 pumps at the bar, and at the time of my most recent visit one of these was off and one was serving cider. This is a Cameron's pub and I have noticed there are usually a couple of their beers on with the rest being guests. On my most recent visit the pub was pretty much empty, the lass behind the bar looked a bit bored and presumably the older lady propping up the far end of the bar was the manager. I have, however, been in when this pub has been very busy, so if nothing else it's nice to be able to get a seat! I had a White Rabbit which was a Cameron's collaboration white stout, and £1.80 for a half. Unfortunately I found it a bit odd and did not really taste like a stout. I have definitely had better examples of pale stouts before this. However the pub still gets a 9 from me, you could spend hours looking at the interior with its impressive and imposing dark wood bar and marvelling at the different beer choices on offer. There is keg stuff available too which I did not pay too much attention to, but everything is listed on a big chalk board behind the bar. Definitely one to seek out when in Sunderland, in my opinion.

This pub, also known as Ship Isis, dates back to the 1880's and was taken over by the Jarrow Brewery in 2011 after a period of closure. However, the brewery sadly went out of business recently and the pub has been picked up by Cameron's Brewery, who, judging from the reviews below, have kept things much as they were. The entrance takes you into a passageway from which a door to the right leads into the main bar area. This is a grand room with a high ceiling, dark wood panelling and lincrusta wallpaper above, creating a smart, traditional look and feel. The servery runs down the left hand side with a boxy dark wood counter and an amazing bar back which seemed to be loosely styled around a ship's head with some large figurehead plaster statues at either end, mirror inserts and some decorative detailed touches in the woodwork. Large lamp posts run along the counter and there is a smart brass canopy and shiny keg fonts to admire. Seating is mostly arranged down the right hand side, with some good standing room to the rear, and most options appeared to be of the sturdy, well-made variety. There was a good mix of local photographs and old-school breweriana on the walls, all in keeping with the room's classy look and the huge ceiling mounted light fixtures were swamped with hops, in a nod to the pub's beer-led approach. Low-tempo jazz and blues music played during my visit and there was a good buzz from those in on a Saturday night. The entrance corridor also leads to a separate lounge area, but sadly I neglected to visit this room before departing. The ale range was up there with anything seen elsewhere in the city, as a long row of handpulls offered a wide selection including Rudgate Ruby Mild, Hadrian Border Reviers IPA, Fell Tinder Box, Ilkley Fireside Porter and Credence American Pale. My pint of the latter was excellent and having placed my order with a barmaid, a very friendly chap who I took to be the manager intervened to ask if I was a CAMRA member, thus helping me make a small saving on the cost of my pint. I really liked the feel of this place which seemed like an oasis of calm on a Saturday evening in Sunderland. The beer was outstanding, the welcome warm and friendly, the interior comfortable and attractive and the ambiance of the sort that makes you want to settle down for a long session. This is a great place and should be an essential port of call for anyone looking to take in some good pubs in Sunderland.

Splendid old pub renovated by Jarrow brewery in 2011, not sure how much retro they added but it certainly looks the part. Lobby area on entering with bar to right featuring high ceilings, wood panelling, ships wheel adorned with hops, ornate carved wood bar upper, white marble maidens either side holding it aloft and a general air of old grandeur. Shame about Coldplay and the fruit machine spoiling the ambience. To the right of the lobby are two doors leading into another room, which is amazing - a gentleman's club with red leather banquettes, sherry barrel stools, wood panelling, chesterfields, turn-of-the-century black and white prints. Quiet in here, no music or bleeps. Twelve pumps with seven ales (mainly local) and three ciders in the main bar and my Jarrow Rivet Catcher was in fine form. Also a decent keg range with Chouffe, Liefmans and Brooklyn lager as standouts. Really, really good.