Drovers Tavern, Beamish, Stanley

Located within the Beamish Museum grounds, this is not a pub in the traditional sense as there is an entrance fee payable in order to access the museum, but there is no entrance fee specifically for the pub, and the nearby Sun Inn which is also within the museum is already listed. This pub is within the 1820’s section of the museum, and is thus a little more basic and agricultural compared to the 1900’s Sun Inn. Indeed, it looks to be housed in an old barn of some sort and certainly doesn’t look like your traditional pub. Inside it’s very rustic, and reminded me of some Natural Trust cafes which have been built in similarly repurposed agricultural buildings. There’s quarry style tiling on the floor, plain whitewashed walls and plenty of oak beams on the ceiling. An old brick fireplace was to one end, and all the light fittings were of the cast iron variety. The furniture too was suitably rustic, and there were one or two old farming implements around, but on the whole it didn’t have much in the way of any décor. The solitary ale on tap was their own Drover’s Ale, whilst the only cider choice was bottled. Overall, not your usual pub certainly and consequently a little tricky to mark, but worth popping in if you’re at the museum.

Official site of Drovers Tavern - www.beamish.org.uk