The Sun Inn, Stanley

Official site of The Sun Inn - www.beamish.org.uk

Official site of The Sun Inn - www.beamish.org.uk

Not really a pub in the usual sense, as it is located within the Beamish Museum site for which an entry fee is charged, but as it is already listed on here it warrants a review, and is perhaps slightly different to paying an entry fee specifically for the venue in question. It’s situated in the “1900’s Town” part of the museum, and was apparently moved here from Bishop Aukland. It consists of two rooms internally, with the main bar being at the front, and a smaller snug in the rear, as well as an old piano situated in a small alcove between the two. The front bar has a curved and carved wooden bar counter, black wooden boards on the floor and green wallpaper on the walls. Wood panelling was on the lower part of the walls behind the fitted bench seating and an old fireplace was off ton one side. Several stuffed animal heads were on the walls, as well as a few old pictures and brewery mirrors. The rear room has patterned cream wallpaper on the floors and red carpet on the floor, but was otherwise broadly similar in style. Beers on tap were all badged as their own but produced by the Firebrick Brewery, and on this occasion consisted of Bondgate IPA, Winder’s Ale, Old Miner Thomas and 2 Bob Bitter. The solitary cider was Pockerley Orchard from the same supplier, although the prices were most unlike the 1900’s, with a couple of halves coming in at £6. A difficult one to mark as it’s not a “real” pub, but is nonetheless a must visit if you’re at the museum.

Fine reconstructed inn within the museum's '1900s town', having the bar and rear room crammed with interesting heritage features. Four real ales on handpump, three from the nearby Stables brewery - including the Beamish Hall (£3.60) - and one from Firebrick.