Pride of The Felling

The Old Fox

 

Recently when I’ve gone down to Gateshead Stadium. I’ve walked to the match (well from wor hoose, it’s all downhill) walking through the Felling and calling into the Wheatshief and The Old Fox on the way.

These two pubs are found on Carlisle Street, which is situated between the Felling-by-pass and sunderland Road, and are by far, the best two pubs in the Felling. (well probably the only two good’uns…..Ed)

The Old Fox used to be a regular haunt for myself and my old mate Andy, mainly around the mid 1980’s, when his first marital home was a flat across the road in Church Court. We regularly popped in to The Fox, especially on a Friday night, when they had a live band on, playing on the tiniest of stages in the corner. We used to work our way along the bar, savouring a pint of each selection, with our particular favourites at the time being Theakstons Old Peculiar and Castle Eden Ale (which they still sell) The bar is a Camerons pub, but also has five guest beers, along with the Hartlepool brewers regular favourites. Over 20 years have passed and the pub hasn’t changed a bit, it looks exactly the same and maintaining the same good habits; a good selection of ales and regular live bands 

 

 

About 50 yards further down the street is The Wheatshief, standing proudly alone, everything around it demolished and no more, just like the flats and maisonettes where Andy once lived. Again, just like The Fox, The Wheatshief hasn’t changed at all, the only clue that you haven’t been transported back in time is the modern flat screen TV in the corner showing Sky Sports.

One of Tyneside’s oldest micro breweries Big Lamp recently celebrated it’s 25 year anniversary and The Wheatshief was one of the original Big Lamp pubs. They serve a 5 star pint of Prince Bishop as well as Sunny Daze as regulars, with a changing barrel, where they’ve recently had ‘One Hop Wonder’ and ‘Keelman Brown’ as guests.

The pub also had a birthday of it’s own last year, 100 years since it served its first pint, and in 2009 it again takes it’s place in the Good Pub Guide, looking at the number of ‘We’re in it’ stickers on the front door, that makes it at least the last six or seven years running.

This is a great old fashioned pub, the landlord Jimmy is a canny lad and even though I’ve walked into the pub alone, I’ve always ended up having a bit crack and a laugh with the regulars at the bar, this along with the excellent beer, makes it a priority stop off point on my way to the Heed match

Honest Lawyer in Scunny

I made my first trip to Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire for United’s home game with Leicester City at the top of Football League One at Glanford Park.

My first port of call, just around the corner from the train station, was the Honest Lawyer (surely that’s a metaphor!…Ed) on Oswald Road, which was formerly the home of a Co-op Society grocery store, when opened in 1935.  Unfortunalty it was just a fleeting visit, as I was meeting up with some of the 100FGC squad at the Wetherspoons ‘Blue Bell’ pub further down the street. However I found the pub to have a great atmosphere and seems very friendly and welcoming, as well as a good beer selection there’s also food to be had, which looks top quality, served on big plates with generous helpings. The Honest Lawyer is handly placed next to the train station, so is a good stop off point while waiting for your train, making it the ideal place to start and finish a visit to Scunthorpe. 

visited 22nd November 2008

supped – Timothy Taylor Landlord (4.3%)*****

My Matchday 194 Glanford Park

(picture source Stedders Guide www.footballandrealaleguide.co.uk)