The Old Yard, Darlington

It is indeed a taverna restaurant but there's a bar at the front with three cask, though nothing to startle the horses. My Bradfield Farmer's Blonde was fine (NBSS 3). Decor is part-Spanish (restaurant) part-trad pub (bar area) and said bar area really has minimal seating for imbibing. It's a GBG oddity; I wouldn't see the need to re-do it unless I wanted food. That said, it was very busy on a Thursday night.

Despite the tapas bar name and odd bits of Spanish decoration this isn't a bad pub. It has two separate side with their own bars but only one was in use at time of visit. There is a large outdoor area on the pavement. A good range of beers included Pennine North 2 South, St Austell Proper Job, Graphite Black IPA, Ringwood 49er and John Smiths Cask, plus a few fizzy craft.

Not sure why this is called a Tapas Bar. It has two rooms and two bars and was very busy and very good. Ringwood 49er on Hand Pump. Would revisit.

I was in two minds whether to include this place on my Darlington visit but was glad I did as the reality is that it hardly any different to any other shop conversion pub that does food. It's a long narrow room with beams and a tiled floor. There are tall tables and a rather obtrusive TV screen at the front with the bar in the middle and the rear area set out for food. The bar had six hand pumps which had three Theakston beers, John Smith's bitter, Schoolhouse Abacus and Rudgate Bicycale. I went for the Abacus which was a light beer in good nick at around the three quid mark. I would normally find the idea of visitng a Tapas Bar something of a nightmare but quite enjoyed this visit although the beer choice isn't as good as other places in town.

A popular venue in the middle of town. This is a small and homely well run bar and we might have stayed a little longer only the beer choice across their five handpumps were all nationals and not to my taste.