Holy GrAle, Durham

The Holy GrAle was my favourite new pub I visited in Durham this time around. As I arrived, a quiz was in full swing, meaning all tables were taken. It feels a little like a micropub, albeit slightly bigger. Just one real ale was on - Allendale Pennine Pale. But there were a couple of real ciders from the Napton Cidery - No. 3 & No. 5. The No. 5 was a very drinkable blackcurrant cider. The craft beer range is much more extensive - Hadrian & Border Tyne Pilsner, ABC Charlie Don't Surf, Weihenstephaner Weisse Bier, Napton Cider No. 6, Two by Two NZ IPA, Vault City Strawberry & Lime Sour, Brew York x Unbarred Granny Smith's Brambling Sour, Brew York Tonkoko & Muffin Else Matters & Marble Decadence. The atmosphere in here was quite lively, with not everybody in for the quiz. Definitely worthy of a return visit, the next time I'm in Durham.

Boxy bar conversion on the steep hill up from North Road, next door to The Angel and across from the Old Elm Tree. Odd mix of furnishings, there’s a long table on metal railing tubes along with normal sized round tables with proper chairs and a few stools of course. Different decor as well, on the white brick walls are some dog’s heads on representations of shields, some mad mediaeval style drawings cum maps of Yorkshire grace another wall. Drinkwise, there are 10 crafty keg taps on the back wall of the side counter with a blackboard to aid selection, two pulls are slightly hidden at one end of the counter, one was off the other with an odd brewery I’ve not seen before. Opposite the counter are large fridges of bottles and cans and there are more cans on the back wall surrounding a big screen.