Bar Mondo, Bishop Auckland

Depressing. Saturday evening, and talk of closing at 10pm is never a good sign for a town centre pub. Neither is it good to see so many of the fonts with glasses over them, indicating that they are out of Guinness and Kronenbourg. Cider, Fosters and John Smiths is hardly an acceptable choice on what you would expect to be a busy night (There were about 6 or 7 customers). Neither are the odd opening hours, which sees the pub closed for most of the afternoon, and all day on Sundays. Cost cutting by the pubco I think, usually a sign that "the end is nigh". Perhaps I am being a bit unfair. Drink prices were very reasonable. The beer was drinkable, and the barman was very pleasant, professional with me, while still maintaining humour with the few regular customers. I learned from overheard conversation that the place is up for sale, and so perhaps the dire situation it find itself in, is not something that the current landlord can change. Maybe if a new owner comes in, things will improve. Certainly this could be a good lively bar, but its falling well short now.