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ONE PUB ONLY?
York Hotel
CRAWL FROM STATION TO GROUND ?
York and on to the Bell Bar
SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
Three Mariners and the Sun in Lancaster
|  |  Smuggler's Den
56 Poulton Road, Morecambe LA4 5HB Tel: 01524 421684 www.thesmugglersden.com
Guv'nor: Chris Mason
F ood: home cooked pub grub. Tuesday night is curry night. Food times: 12 to 3 Mon to Sat, 5 to 8 Tue Parking: spaces in front of pub, and for ten at the back - access from next road towards the sea.
TV: terrestrial plus freeview
Music: cds, occasional live local folk groups Sats
Pub games: darts (leagues), quiz league Mons, fun quiz Thurs
O 12 to 12 Mon to Sat, 12 to 11.30 Sun
This is the oldest pub in Morecambe, and it's haunted, to be expected in view of its nefarious past. It is situated in Poulton, the original fishing village which became run down before more recent resurrection. Poulton is close to the modern town centre and transport. The pub is said to be haunted and to boast a tunnel leading to the beach for purposes the eponymous name might suggest. The Smugglers is worth a visit anyway as a rare real ale pub in Morecambe and certainly when bound for Christie Park, which is close enough on foot. The beer, and perry, which I tried for a change starters, is excellent, with Adnams regular and two guests changing every week. Chris gets a mature (sober?) clientele drawn from the town hall and police station nearby, and patrons largely over 30 otherwise. There's a swear box in operation, whose contents are donated to Labrador Rescue. Meanwhile the pub won an award in 2007: the Abbot Ale perfect pub in the Granada Region. It was also the CAMRA Lunesdale Branch best pub in Spring 2007. The space comprises a spacious main bar (where there is much to absorb you including stain glass windows depicting smuggling scenes) and the vault, with darts board and adjacent kitchen. Away fans are welcome, and parties can be catered for.
BWV 8.12.07: Adnams Bitter (always) and Old Ale, Hydes Gold, Fullers London Pride (guests); Weston's Perry; Old Rosie Cider
Mick Escott
Taken from their website | |  Sun Hotel and Bar
Guv'nor: Dominic Kiziuk 63-65 Church Street, Lancaster LA1 1ET Tel: 01524 660006 Website: www.thesunhotelandbar.co.uk
Food: fresh home cooked, made to order; cheeseboard available all day Breakfast 7.30 to 12 Mon to Thu, 7.30 to 1 Fri, 8 to 1 Sat, 8.30 to 11 Sun; lunch - 12 to 3, evenings to 7 Mon to Sat, 12.30 to 3.30 Sun; cheeseboard to 9 Mon to Fri
Parking: multi storey nearby
O 7.30am to 12 Mon to Thu, 7.30 to 1 Fri, 8 to 1 Sat, 8.30 to 11 Sun
Lancaster is on the way to Morecambe, whether you're driving or not, and trains, buses and taxis are all readily available. There are many good pubs to try in this lovely old town. The Sun and Three Mariners are close to each other and to communications. They are very different from each other, too. The Sun is a vibrant hotel, modern in feeling and held in high esteem - CAMRA Lunesdale overall pub of the year in 2005. It attracts the discerning drinker and some of the ubiquitous students hereabouts. It offers various spaces in one of which is an original feature - a glassed over well to peer down but not for vertigo sufferers. Special evenings abound, like the monthly Disney Fun Night and a Slataire Brewery Night. Live Music too. Should a party wish to try the superb range of ales and/or food, minibuses are welcome and a section could be reserved. I spoke to Tom, assistant manager from Leeds, who was refreshingly enthusiastic. The young bar staff were keen and good too. The cheeseboard idea looked good to judge from the evidence on a couple of tables, a welcome option when main meals have finished.
BWV 7.12.07: Jennings Dark Mild, Lancaster Blonde, Duchy (always), Thwaites Shuttle, Wainwright, Hop Back Crop Circle, Tring Colley's Dog (guest), Lancaster Flaming Nora (rotates)
Mick Escott | |  Three Mariners
Bridge Lane, Lancaster LA1 1EE Tel: 01524 388957 W www.threemariners.co.uk
Guv'nor Roy Denby
Food: traditional bar food 12 to 3 Mon to Sat, 12 to 6 Sun, 5 to 8 Wed to Sat
Parking: Parksafe car park adjacent
Pub games: darts plus team
Disabled provision: toilets
O 12 to 12 daily
Seeming curiously away from it all outside the inner ring road, though actually close to the action of downtown Lancaster, the Mariners was formerly at the hub of commercial activity in a busy row near the river Lune. Now it's the only building left standing. Constructed in a hillside, it retains original beams and stones and a cobbled surface at the front with covered tables for those who want to smoke or enjoy the air. Do they ever need crumpled beer mats to keep the legs level? The most remarkable feature, I was told by landlord Roy (formerly at a hotel in Morecambe), is the upstairs cellar - one of 3 pubs in the country with one. Part of the building dates back to the 1300s, so of course it is haunted, by several ghosts. The pub is always busy - all ages and ranging from solicitors to tourists to students -and gets through substantial 9 gallon barrels each week plus 18s and 22s, all hoisted up to the cellar. The bar staff are well trained, attaining licensing certificates. This is an efficient pub, not big, with a single bar with comfortable seats and a dining room. Food plays a big part here. The Sunday roast was delicious. Apart from a choice of fine beers, the scrumpy is not as heavy as many at 4.8%, but I was preccupied with the Tom Woods. The bus station is in sight for the trip to Morecambe.
BWV 9.12.07: Jennings Cumberland Ale (always), Everards Tiger and Beacon (always at least one), Black Sheep Bitter, Tom Woods Best Bitter, Bowland Chipping Steamer; Westons Bounds Brand Scrumpy
Taxis from Lancaster: Coastal 01524 32090
Mick Escott
UPDATE 5.10.09 ken Taylor, Rochdale fan says "Also visited Three Mariners Lancaster on way back from Morcambe excellent pub,with good Black Sheep plus about five other handpumps." | | York Hotel
87 Lancaster Road Morecambe Lancashire LA4 5QH Telephone: 01524 425353 w www.yorkhotelmorecambe.co.uk
G Mike Dennison
F The York Hotel offers quality, affordable food that everyone can enjoy. Thurs – Sun. Food on match days may include burgers on the bbq. It is also worth phoning Mark if a group of you wish to be catered for as a group.
S Outside patio and heated smoking area
Live bands, home to soul nights and annual music festival
SK BM P D
O 12 -12, 12 -11 Sun
The pub offers b and b accommodation from £25 p.p.p.n. and has wi-fi access
Close to football ground the pub organizes and runs transport for fans’ trips to away games. The local paper the visitor has nominated it as pub of the year. It is also the home of Morecambe and Heysham branch of the Royal British Legion Thatchers Gold Cider offers an interesting alternative to those of us who value the apple as a keg alternative..
Their website states:-
“The York Hotel has an excellent relationship with Morecambe FC being only 10 mins walk from Christie Park and only slightly further from the new proposed ground at Westgate. We welcome all fans before and after the game offering a unique pre-match atmosphere. Away fans can relax side by side with locals, enjoying the Sky game, quality ales and bar snacks. The season gets under way on 8th August with the visit of our old friends from Hereford, no doubt a few will be booking into the B&B? If the weather looks good for the day we will be firing up the BBQ at lunch time for Burgers.
The York Hotel in conjunction with the Indies Travel Club will be running trips to the away games and our first road trip is the short hop to Preston on Tues 11th Aug (cost - £8 leaving at 6pm), followed by the trip to newly promoted Burton Albion (cost £12, leaving at 9.45am). Other home highlights include the Halloween clash at home with Lincoln City and the Boxing Day game against Accrington. The big clash with Bradford City has been moved to a Tuesday (29th Sept) but we have had our wishes answered with the last game ever at Christie Park when we end the era with a final home clash with Aldershot on May 8th.
We welcome all fans here at the York and wish everyone a successful and safe season to come.”
BWV 15.9.09 Black Sheep Best Bitter, Everards Beacon, York Guzzler
Facebook page | | | LUNESDALE CAMRA | | 
CHRISTIE PARK
Train: Morecambe Station, the terminus of the branch line from Lancaster, is about fifteen minutes' walk, past the York.
Taxis: Coastal 01524 424424 or Go Cabs 400830
| | Morecambe FC - Bell's Bar
Morecambe Football Club, Christie Park, Lancaster Road, Morecambe LA4 5TJ Tel - 01524 411797
Guv'nor: John Whittaker
Food: set 4 course meals on matchdays - home only. Private functions by arrangement. 12.30pm start
Parking: car park at ground or street
TV: Setanta
Music: background
Disabled access: provision for wheelchairs
O Bar from 1pm on Saturdays, from 6pm for evening games
This is a good facility for home fans, by definition as the bar is under the Main Stand, for which you will have already passed through a turnstile. League membership has had a deleterious effect on access as hard core North Stand supporters (terrace standing) cannot now get there. It's good to complete the journey to your footy game with a pint of Bryson's bitter and the camaraderie of the expectant home contingent. It's a single room with a vast dining room, normally unseen, through the door at the back where the 4 course lunches (and match programmes) are provided. Toilet facilities comprise the same outside cabins used by Main Stand occupiers, a few yards away from the discreet door to the bar at the end of the Main Stand, upon which I saw no indication of its identity. All the more worth a quaff there on completing your journey, and let the alcohol subside. It's an all seater stand. Manager John has run the operation for some years now, and referred to the link between Brysons and board member Peter Cross. It helps to have someone with influence on board if you get a facility like this. The York is a short hike further down Lancaster Road towards the town centre and the Smugglers a few minutes further on. Try them all! Also Potts's pies and peas, available from a cramped window round the corner facing the action.
BWV 8.12.07: Brysons Hurricane Bitter
Buses 2, 2A, 40 and 41 pass by.
Mick Escott | | LOCAL BREWERY
Lytham Brewery ltd
Unit 11
Lidun Park Industrial Est
Boundary Road
Lytham St Annes
Lancashire - FY8 5HU
Telephone 01253 737707
www.lythambrewery.co.uk
| | WETHERSPOONS
The Eric Bartholomew 10-18 Euston Road Morecambe LA4 5DD Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
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