I did this run many a time, as some grand bains were allowed in the snug, the domain of the local family matriarchs. As you say local knowledge was vital.
Almost every Sunday lunch time in there at one stage, after a game of footy on the beach in the morning, the home made pie was to die for, then down the Cat and Dogs if it was sunny.
I used to live a few doors away from The Grapes and the Sheet and Anchor already mentioned, but it was long before you lads would be visiting.
I used The Brewery Tap a fair bit when I worked in the town centre. At that time it was a Whitbreads Pub. The intriguing bit though was why. How come Whitbreads had a pub virtually on the premises of Vaux Brewery? I never did find out the answer to that but I was led to believe that Vaux's Board found this anomaly to be embarrassing and regularly tried to buy the place from Whitbreads. Finally Whitbreads gave in but made Vaux pay the proverbial arm and leg, (so I was told). A few years later the whole site ended up being demolished.
Real shame that the only brewery we had in Sunderland was closed down,although u can still get Double Maxim it is now brewed in Sheffield ffs. Then again over the years a lot of towns and cities lost their breweries up and down the country.There does seem to be a lot of micro breweries popping up all over and no doubt there will be one or two in Sunderland (although not aware of any!). Fond memories of the Vaux Drays and their magnificent Horses
Double Maxim is brewed at Rainton not in Sheffield.http://www.maximbrewery.co.uk/ so still a local brew
Had some good drinks in jacksons before the match Quite a few times and the landlord gave me Cuban Havana cigars for free
I was lead to believe that at the time of Vaux brewery closing down,that Wards brewery in Sheffield took on the brewing of Double under license. Obviously the info at the time was probably incorrect.Didnt realise that it was taken over by another local brewery but nice to find out that it was.Talking other local breweries,is the Castle Eden brewery still going? or has that too gone by the wayside?
Maxim brewed at Rainton now. Still think the castle Eden brewery is going. Once got a free tour of Camerons brewery. The other party didnt turn up so we were asked if we just wanted to stay in the Tap room and enjoy the free ale. Well just to be sociable I agreed. There were 9 beers on tap and my boss said "try a half of every one then get a pint of the one you like". The beer was f*cking free. Is he for real. Why not just drink a pint of every one and then have some more. Only had 2 hours but we all forced 10 pints down. CROWN Ale. Remember that in the 29? Like drinking paint stripper. Well that was brewed there and bugger that gives ya a stottin headache in the morning.
Talking of all these pubs, I wonder how many of us have crossed paths in the past without knowing it?
Billy yeah might a been the one that brock me nose in three places,the Gannett ,the continental and the Gluepot!
