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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Sun Inn, Stanley
Beamish
Postal town: Stanley
DH9 0RG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Sun Inn
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.
On 24th July 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Sun Inn
UPDATE FROM 26/10/20 visit:
The Sun Inn has now re-opened. Whilst the current pandemic prevents customers from drinking inside, you can still go in to get served at the bar and to take drinks outside.
The front room still has its wooden tables and chairs, with sawdust on the floor. A smaller room at the rear had tables and chair stacked up. You definitely cannot drink in either room.
No cask ales are currently being sold. But there are 3 bottled options from Firebrick. I went for the Winders' Ale, which I really didn't enjoy. Drinking outside in the cold may not have helped.
A nice reconstruction of a pub, which I finally managed to visit the third time of asking. But drinking outside is not quite the same.
ORIGINAL VISIT JULY 2019:
We last tried to visit the Sun Inn several years ago, not realising that you had to pay a museum entry fee to get to the pub. The only issue was that the museum was closed on the day of our visit.
This time, the museum was open. The only issue was that the pub itself was closed. Apparently, it cannot comply with government regulations for coronavirus.
The entrance ticket is valid for 12 months. So, hopefully I can get back before next summer and finally get to visit.
On 1st November 2020
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Sun Inn
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.
On 25th August 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Wynne Route left this review about Sun Inn
Although within the Museum site, this is a fully functioning pub selling Real Ale 11:00 am to 4:30 pm.
On 6th April 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 349 recommendations about 334 pubs]