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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
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The Shakespeare, Durham
Durham
DH1 3NU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Shakespeare
A narrow building in a street of interesting buildings of many types, there is a notice taped to the window beside the door advising of the existence of further seating in the room to the rear of the bar. Just as well, as the presence of more than 10 people would make the front room seem crowded. The bar counter occupies most of the left hand wall, and has four hand pumps. I remarked on the presence of four nationally known brands, and the barman indicated that he'd heard this before (with the implication that it's not going to change any time soon). I went for Fullers London Pride, which was as good as this beer ever gets this far from home and served with a sparkler. (Landlord, Tribute and Hobgoblin Gold were the other options.) I quite liked it here, as it was quieter than its location in the touristy streets of Durham might have led one to expect - maybe that's because they don't do food.
On 25th May 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Shakespeare
Once an outstanding pub, reputedly the oldest extant in the city, it’s come down a bit over the years. Four pulls of mainstream casks and the usual suspectson keg, the cask is not something to brag about. Our visit was only made tolerable by the decent bar staff.
On 24th January 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Shakespeare
My final stop of a Saturday evening crawl in Durham City was this old pub in the centre.
It does in fact have a couple of rooms. The front room was full. So, I continued to a fully enclosed room at the rear, which was rather warm.
Bar staff were friendly. But the only two real ales were Deuchars & 6X.
On 4th August 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Shakespeare
The Shakespeare is a decent looking pub that is on a shopping street which heads up to Durham Castle.
Once inside this is quite a small pub with a single oblong shaped room,the bar is on the left side,the room is bare boarded and the seating is bench type and chairs.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Jennings Cumberland which went down well,the other beers were Brains Reverand James,Deuchars IPA and London Pride.
The pub was very busy and there were no TVs or background music.
I thought this was a decent pub to have a drink in.
Pub visited 19/3/2016
On 24th April 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Shakespeare
A basic central local. 4 real ales from national brands. A bit average.
On 15th June 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Shakespeare
Update – September 2013
This is a traditional, basic pub with bare floorboards, a boarded ceiling and some padded settles in a number of adjoining similar areas. Outside, the pub proudly proclaims that it is “one of the most haunted pubs in England”. 4 beers were on – London Pride, Deuchars IPA, Deuchars Autumn Red and Jennings Cumberland Ale. A blackboard beside the bar provides exceptionally helpful descriptions of the beers – thus, for instance, we are told that London Pride is an “English Bitter”, whereas Deuchars IPA is described as an “India Pale Ale”. Similarly Deuchars Autumn Red is a “Best Bitter”.
This is a basic drinkers pub where beer and conversation are very much the order of the day. The beer range is distinctly unexciting, but it’s a better pub than my previous review below would indicate.
Original review – September 2008
Early 19th Century CAMRA National Inventory pub in a narrow shopping street leading up to the cathedral.
The pub is larger than it looks from the outside as it extends back quite a way into several rooms behind the bar, including a small wood panelled screened snug.
Taken as a whole, I found the pub a bit featureless and the pine floor boards and cream coloured walls made the pub feel a bit cold and uninviting to me. It lacks the cosiness of, say, the Victoria Hotel or the front bar of the Dun Cow nearby. It didn't help that, on a wet and windy evening, the barman insisted on having the front door open.
There was a reasonable range of real ales on - Deuchars IPA, Everards Tiger, Fat Catz Devonshire (?) - and the staff and locals were welcoming and hospitable, but, in all honesty, I didn't really warm to this place
On 2nd December 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Best Pubs left this review about The Shakespeare
really nice pub that fells like nothing has not changed(in a good way) i like it with all original fixture & fittings, very friendly pub.
quality of outstanding especially the London pride.
friendliness- very friendly chatty pub, the bar person was very friendly & polite.
atmosphere - great atmosphere welcoming, friendly, felt like i could of sat here all day with a few pints .
prices - about average for durham.
clenliness- clean enough.
toilets- need a good clean .
food served - doesnt serve food proper ale pub
drinks served - fosters,john smiths, strongbow, Guinness, and nice choice of ales. not a mind boggling choice what is nice to see.
On 16th December 2012
- rating: 10
[User has posted 32 recommendations about 32 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Shakespeare
I would have liked to rate this traditional pub a little higher. Their beers were very well kept and thought the Everards Sunchaser was superb. The downside was that the toilets need sorting out. Told Mrs Ale to hold on, until we reach the next port of call.
On 10th August 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Guy Hannay-Wilson left this review about Shakespeare Tavern
Friendly pub. 3 different rooms, a bar, back room and a cracking wee room just behind the bar...similar to a snug. Plenty pictures of local areas. Decent pint of Everads Tiger.
On 1st September 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 23 recommendations about 23 pubs]