retiredmartin

July 2025. Darlington.

I have a confession to make.

I’m suddenly hilariously behind on the blog, with 62 pubs in the last 3 weeks to write up. It’s almost as if I’m ticking the GBG or something.

But I’m not. Only casually, anyway.

You join me in Cockerton, a mile east of Darlington, attempting to finish Durham, but distracted by Darlo’s beguiling art and alleys.

And then, when do I reach my micro/gin bar target, it’s unexpectedly closed (family dramas, I’m told), so today I’ll just have to bring you an old favourite.

The Quakerhouse isn’t as smart as I remember 20 years ago, but it’s not as scruffy as a certain Gainsborough alleyway pub, either.

“Which beer is going fastest ?”

It’s a question that, if not answered immediately, allows you to draw unfortunate conclusions in a bar with only two other punters.

But the Mithril is fine (NBSS 3), if a bit floral, as Mithril is won’t to be.

And the banter at the bar is (albeit largely unintelligible) all about beer, and the upcoming “Rhythm and Chews” festival.

Oh. My bad. Rhythm and toons, apparently.

A quirky place, an essential Darlo stop, but if you’re not sitting at the bar and fluent in Darlo you might feel a bit left out.

I call it quits for the night, admire the Morrissey lyrics,

and head back to Cockerton, where a NCTSS 5 awaits.