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The Three Mariners, Lancaster
Lancaster
LA1 1EE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Three Mariners
A fine looking exterior ,this Robinson's pub is close to the River Lune but without river views.Low ceilings,a tap room to the left of the front door with two further rooms to the right,all comfotable and traditional.
Strangely no Robbies ale on initially leaving a choice of Orkney Corncrake and Howling Hops London Best and Pale (NBSS Good).A pleasant crawl stop but I'm not sure this is a destination real ale outlet.Friendly barman and locals.
On 20th July 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3211 recommendations about 3211 pubs]
Graham Coombs left this review about The Three Mariners
A splendid stone-built pub lurking in a grove of trees below the castle. Inside feels nicely aged and atmospheric, although apparently much rebuilt since I last visited it many decades ago. It was a little spoiled by the intrusive music however. A Robinsons pub which actually didn't have an Robinsons ales on when we first entered, although Trooper was added later, but an interesting selection included a fine Howling Hops London Best. A number of handpumps were out of use however, being supplemented by a small keg wall behind the bar.
On 18th July 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4003 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Three Mariners
This is a Robinsons pub, but unusually in my experience of this brewery's pubs it only has two of their own beers on (Unicorn and Dizzy Blonde), with changing guest beers: two from Pennine and a very good Orkney Dark Island (£5/pint) at the time of my midweek visit. There's a further hand pump not in use, and another set of hand pumps further along the bar which I have seen in use on previous visits but not this time. My infrequent visits to this pub don't allow me to get an overall picture, but I wonder if its location in a quiet spot just the other side of a busy road is affecting the trade that it gets. It's still in the Good Beer Guide, though and the beer quality on this visit was as good as ever.
On 25th June 2026
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 4842 recommendations about 4430 pubs]
Rob Hunter left this review about The Three Mariners
Visited September 2025 and made this my first stop on a trip to Lancaster. Two banks of hand pulls but only two Robbos beers on, plus some Titanic, other guest ales and ciders. I went for the Session Pale by Three Acres Brewery, which was fine if unexciting.
Free Wi-Fi advertised. Outdoor picnic benches to the front but not sure if there is a separate beer garden at all.
I'd probably give it another go.
On 9th January 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 914 recommendations about 707 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Three Mariners
This was near enough my favourite pub in the city centre a few years ago, but it has fallen slightly out of favour in the last few years since the old management moved on. A recent Robinsons refurb was thankfully very tasteful with dark wood, it has however introduced a bit of a sterile atmosphere that wasn’t there before. No issue with the real ale range and my seasonal beer was excellent. Still good but perhaps downgraded from must visit to should visit.
On 8th December 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1181 recommendations about 1141 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Three Mariners
This is a nice gastro pub stood in the shadow of Lancaster Castle, with a wide but shallow interior that offers some good drinker/diner separation. The servery is on the rear wall, slightly to the left on entry, and has a tongue and groove panelled counter front and matching bar back with three barrel ends to one side, to which the keg taps are attached. There is some excellent button backed banquette seating opposite, formed into shared booths with loads of scatter cushions and some low stools in support. A tidy fireplace dominates the end wall, but it must not get any use, as it remained stubbonly unlit on a bitterly cold, snowy winter's evening. Lots of old wooden beams and pillars give the pub an authentic, traditional feel, with old paintings and maps lining the walls only adding to this effect. To the right is a nice space with a long L-shaped banquette next to a smart stone fireplace, beyond which is a pleasant dining area with formally arranged tables and chairs and some banquette booths along the end wall. One notable drawback was the truly crappy selection of old-school pop tunes playing relentlesly in the background throughout the course of my visit.
On the bar, there was a healthy selection of cask ales comprised of Robinson Dizzy Blonde and Unicorn, Oakham Citra, 4T's IPA, Hawkshead Bitter, Titanic Plum Porter and Thornbridge Katsura, alongside three real ciders. A very personable barmaid had some good chat and dealt admirably with a lively pint of the Citra, which turned out to be in good condition once it had been tamed into the glass. There weren't too many others in the pub on this Monday evening, but the weather was shocking and it wasn't that much quieter than the other pubs I visited that night.
This place immediately struck me as a food-led enterprise, so I was surprised, having settled down with my pint, to find that I found it quite a pleasant, pubby environment in which I'd quite happily have spent much longer had time permitted. The friendly service and quality ale made this an enjoyable visit and I'd be keen to repeat it when there was more of a crowd in attendance.
Date of visit - 15th January 2024
On 12th May 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Three Mariners
Although this pub is apparently now owned by Robinsons, there was only one beer from that brewery at the time of my visit earlier this year. This was a rebadged house beer, and other beers were from Oakham (JHB and Citra), Timothy Taylor Landlord and Hawkshead Dry Stone Stout. I went for the latter, which is not as good as their own Brodie's Prime (or their local rival Barngates with their Goodhew's Dry Stout), but it was in good condition. Compared with my visit 10 years ago I would say this pub had definitely improved, with some good music on the sound system, improved furnishings and I think the layout of the interior has also changed for the better. Service was good too. (I still prefer the Sun though.)
Date of visit: 4th March 2022
On 26th August 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4842 recommendations about 4430 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Three Mariners
Claims to be city's oldest pub, and its appearance and position between the castle and quayside lend some credence. However, in the coronavirus era, most customers were sat outside on wooden tables at the front. Six real ales and a draft cider were advertised on a chalkboard beside the entrance, and I opted for the Hartley's inspired Cumbria Way (£3.95).
On 1st October 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 9210 recommendations about 9210 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Three Mariners
In the centre of Lancaster, built into the side of Castle Hill, is The Three Mariners, which proudly promotes itself as “Lancaster’s original pub”.
Externally, it’s an attractive looking old stone built 3 storey building with criss cross leaded windows and something of a country house look to it.
Apparently, there has been an inn here since the 15th Century and it is rumoured that a passage leads to the pub from the castle dungeons, through which prisoners were brought for a final drink. There’s the inevitable ghost stories on the pub’s own website, should you feel the urge to find out more.
The interior features low black beams, some exposed stonework, and padded comfortable seats in bays close to the smallish bar area, and a further larger area away on the right principally aimed at diners. There’s some framed shipping prints – hardly surprising given the pub’s name – and an old inglenook fireplace, but there’s no real feeling at all that this is an old pub with a long history. An old Mitchells Brewery mirror is still in evidence.
An unusual feature is the cellar, which is at first floor level and is apparently kept cool by a natural spring flowing down from the castle rock behind.
Somewhat unusually, the pub is set back from the road in an avenue of trees and there’s a grassy shady outside seating area at the front under these trees.
On my recent mid – September visit, the 6 pumps were serving Black Sheep, 2 Hawkshead beers ( Lakeland Gold and Windermere Pale Ale ), , Kirkby Lonsdale Monumental plus York Guzzler, the latter reflecting presumably its ownership by Mitchells. A 6th beer was noted as “settling upstairs in the cellar”. There’s a 10p per pint CAMRA discount.
Beer was in good form.
Not a must visit pub by any stretch of the imagination, but I’d be happy to call in again
UPDATE - September 2016
This pub has now been acquired by Robinsons
On 25th September 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Three Mariners
Reputedly the oldest pub in Lancaster, it sort of looks the part with flagstones, beams and stuff and there are tales of ghosts and hidden passages. It's tucked away under the castle hill set back from the road. There are two rooms in similar oldish but modernised style and a dining room at one end. Six hand pumps but I only remember the lovely Titanic Cappuccino
On 6th March 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 4168 recommendations about 3828 pubs]