Smiths Arms, Stockton-On-Tees

This is the only pub in the village of Carlton and is a decent village local. Entering from the car park to the rear brings you into a corridor where you can either head left to a dining room, or right to the public bar. I headed right and found some fairly cheerful bar staff a few older customers and a couple of younger ones too - a good overall mix. Strangely, there was a sleeping baby in a pram in one corner. I have no idea who that belonged to! Locals were bemoaning the price of beer in other venues and the much shorter opening times these days. Apparently the Smiths Arms is one of the few local pubs to open on weekday lunchtimes. 3 real ales were on - Tetley's Cask and 2 from the local Three Brothers Brewery - Northern Pale & Trilogy Blonde. My Northern Pale was a good start to my day out in County Durham.