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Detail Pages
The Stonewell Tap, Lancaster
Lancaster
LA1 1NP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Stonewell Tap
This is an excellent city centre bar in the main retail district, which seems to cater to more of an alternative crowd. You enter into a nice brick floored main bar area with the servery down the left-hand wall. The bar has a dull wood panelled counter and modern looking bar back and is probably the least interesting feature of the pub. Good seating options can be found to the right, including some tartan tub chairs along the right-hand wall, below an exposed stone wall that is typical of many Lancaster pubs. Beyond the bar is a lower level, bare boarded seating area with lots of armchairs and other such comfy options, plus shelves full of board games - in fact, I was the only person sat down here on a Saturday night who wasnt playing a board game - and some arty murals of local relevance. The front part of the pub had been cleared out in order to accommodate a live music set up, although it was unclear if seating is normally available here. When the band weren't playing, a great selection of nostalgic 90s tunes thrummed away in the background.
After a long day of travel and pub crawling, I was happy to settle down in this place and work my way through a cask ale range that comprised Fell Crag, Farm Yard TVO 54, Lancaster Cascade and Lonsdale Singletrack. All of the beers sampled were in good nick and my only real issue was that half of the bar staff seemed totally useless, although they were bailed out somewhat by the other half, who were very proactive.
It's rare that I'll cut a crawl short to stay in one place for longer, but this place had a great vibe, good music, well-kept beer and comfy furniture, all of which was too good to leave after a long day travelling up from South London and crawling around Morecambe. Definitely one of the best pubs I found in Lancaster.
Date of visit - 13th January 2024
On 22nd March 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Stonewell Tap
Marketing itself as a craft beer bar, this had ten of a possible 16 keg taps on the bar-back in use, offering a very good selection of styles. Real ale is also available from a total of five handpumps, although one of the clips visible in the late afternoon had vanished by the time of my mid-evening visit. However, this left the Golden Plover from Allendale Brewery (£3.80) which proved a good pint. Apart from that, the place features a split-level layout created from two adjoining buildings, with both parts featuring semi-modern furniture and decor.
On 28th September 2020
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Stonewell Tap
This was the White Horse when I first went in, around 1974, but was then the Stonewell Tavern for a long time and now the Tap. The recent change has also seen a change of emphasis - it was a lunchtime and post-work food and cask beer pub for many years, but now it's craft keg and live bands. There are five hand pumps, but only two beers on midweek, up to four at the weekend. The keg offering is more numerous, with 16 taps, and I went for the Farmyard Impish or Admirable? imperial stout 11%, and yes the question mark is part of the name. Very nice, even more-ish (moreish?) - and only £2.40 for a third. I noted an appearance a few days later by the Intensely Staring Cats - their poster was appropriately illustrated. (Note that weekday opening is 5pm.)
On 17th February 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3724 recommendations about 3461 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Stonewell Tap
first visit since it got rebranded and restyled inside. it's nicely done and a pleasant place to drink but too quirky for me with sofas and uncomfortable shabby chairs and tables taking up too much space. an improvement on the old place though and the old regulars still seem to be coming in.
On 1st June 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Stonewell Tavern
Closed due to flooding (temporary)
On 4th March 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]