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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about McConnell's Gin & Ale House
Not an obvious location for an ale pub, this one is tucked away down a side street 5 mins from the Metro and has a lovely tiled frontage. Definitely not Irish, despite the name. Four pumps with three on and an odd set in Bombardier, Longman Old Man and Arbier Jarrow Stout - two darks and a national brown beer. No complaints on my two halves which were in good order. The interior is an opened-out staple-shaped thing with bouncy pub carpet, exposed brick, modern wood panelling and bottle green button back banquettes. Look upwards and you’ll notice that the ceiling is wallpapered in a surprisingly fetching black and gold embossed manner. Piped music choice was awful, dunno if the locals were responsible or the staff. For those who like stereotypes, the locals at the bar all sounded like Tim Healey and played dominoes, though I was a bit surprised by how well-heeled a few of them were for the area. Excellent toilets, like my mum had cleaned them. I liked it here though the layout works against it being a top-notch place. Worth getting off at Jarrow to sample if you are doing the Steamboat at the Metro line’s terminus in South Shields.
On 26th May 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about McConnell's Gin & Ale House
Formerly the Jarrow Crusader, and recently reopened after a period of disuse, this is nothing like the Irish pub that its name might suggest. It has a beautiful tiled front and inside too it reeks of quality. Wood panelling alternates with wallpaper on the walls, the ceiling is papered too, in extravagant style, and the carpet and furniture are all top class and almost new. A solid fuel stove at each end of the large room (obviously previously at least two smaller rooms), interesting local photos and chandeliers complete the picture.
The bar is also a classic of its kind, with the eye drawn inevitably to the row of five hand pumps centrally placed. There are no beers on yet from Jarrow brewery, apart from the keg Irish stout, but the selection available at the time of my visit was reasonably interesting and the Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted that I had was in very good condition. The landlord was friendly and helpful (I was trying to complete my photos of all Jarrow town centre's pubs, but had lost my way to a couple) and the atmosphere on a Friday afternoon was congenial. Definitely worth seeking out.
On 4th April 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3482 pubs]