The 19 best North-East and North Yorkshire pubs according to readers

Whether it's a country-side spot with great grub or your village local, the region is home to some world-class boozers - but some have been missed more than others.

A choice of top-quality tipples and a menu filled with fantastic food are often a given, but pubs across the North-East and North Yorkshire are also community hubs.

With pubs meaning something slightly different to everyone, everyone has their favourite. 

To celebrate the region's great watering holes, both historic and new who have faced prolonged hardship throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we asked you where you miss the most.

Here is what you said:

The Joseph Pease pub in Darlington. Photograph: Stuart Boulton

Moorcock Inn, Middleton in Teesdale

A cosy inn with good rooms and good food, the venue prides itself on homecooked food.

The inn also champions 'from farm gate to dinner plate', with its food being locally sourced from Bail Hill Farm. 

Black Bull, Melsonby, North Yorkshire

The much-loved Black Bull really is a local gem, with many of you saying it is the pub you miss most.

Angus Stokoe said it is a "great little village pub" while John Fenwick, saying the same, praised the Black Bull's landlords, open mic nights, live entertainment and quiz nights.

He added: "A real focal point for our community. Can’t wait to get back there."

David Brown said: "Not sure how this pub has not won any award tbh."

The Station Hotel, Bishop Auckland

The station hotel comes highly recommended amongst North-East fans.

The bar destribes itself as a "trendy industrial bar" that is family friendly and serves home cooked meals. The Station Hotel even has its very own parmo.

Phoenix Club, Newton Aycliffe

The 55-year-old small pub, which describes itself as small and friendly, hosts bingo, poker and line dancing nights.

Employee Patricia Reed praised the friendly pub and said she is eager to get back to work.

The Merry Monk, Bishop Auckland

Describing itself as "one of Bishop Auckland's best kept secrets", The Merry Monk boasts great beer, saff and fantastic Sunday lunches.

Jimmy Nicol said: "Great staff, great atmosphere."

Railway Tavern, Darlington

Multiple people said they missed this award-winning traditional and friendly pub, which comes complete with an open fire place.

With a wide-range of tipple to choose from, the Railway Tavern has a beer garden and a juke box, pool table, darts and dominoes.

The pub says this was "probably the very first railway tavern in the world, built specifically for the passengers of the Darlington to Stockton line".

The Quakerhouse, Darlington

Ale bar The Quakerhouse has ten real ales on tap as well as a choice of cider and lager, offering something for everyone.

The Camra 2020 Pub of the Year a microbrewery in the basement, named 'Mad Scientist'.  

The Quays, Darlington

Richie Moore misses The Quays, which prides itself on good drink offers and down-to-earth staff, for its Friday night karaoke.

The busy pub is well placed on Tubwell Row, attracting lots of happy faces from the town centre in pre-Covid times. 

Ebony Champagne Bar, Durham

Wtith a Trip Advisor Travellers' Choice award, it's not just regulars who miss the "prestigious" Ebony Champaign Bar.

The venue, which has sold afternoon tea vouchers while closed, has stayed up-to-date with its customers throughout the pandemic - and staff miss you too.

The Gypsy Rover, Redcar

This micropub, armed with real ale and cider, was not short of recommendations. 

The dog-friendly community-orientated venue, once the home of an insurance company, has been praised for its great beer, nice atmosphere.

The Hop & Grape, Redcar

Located close to the seafront, it's no surprise that one reader misses stopping off at The Hop & Grape after fish and chips.

The dog-friendly pub, which says it is looking forward to welcoming back customers, has something for everyone with a "great selection of drinks, all the best sporting action, pub quizzes and live music".

Hole in the Wall, Darlington

The popular Hole in the Wall is well missed amongst locals, who are "always welcomed with a warm welcome".

The craft ale and beer spot, known for "fantastic" pie and mash, opened a takeaway counter to keep serving its customers through lockdown restrictions

O'Gradys, Redcar

O'Gradys is a traditional Irish bar serving food all day, also close to the seafront. 

Keeping up demand for its kitchen, the bar has continued to serve food through lockdown but it's safe to say it's function rooms will be missing smiling faces and live music, which entertains customers on Fridays and Saturdays. 

The Pub and Kitchen, Cassop

This modern village pub welcomes muddy boots and paws. It has everything you need from a local and more, with great food, comedy and live music as well as real ale and a fire. 

The Crook Hotel, Crook

Live music spots seem to be widely missed, with another venue hosting musicians making the list. 

Helen Moore can't wait to return to newly-refurbished The Crook Hotel, which offers a range of cask and craft ales.

She said: "For its great staff, always made to feel welcome and they have good bands on."

Firkin Alley, Barnard Castle

Firkin Alley prides itself on being "all about the conversation", with the miscropub serving traditional pub snacks alongside real ales, real ciders, wines and craft lagers.

There's no TV or juke box here making it the ideal place for a catch up rather than a dance. 

The Copper Beech Pub, Darlington

The traditional pub with outdoor space and open fires offers home-cooked, made-to-order meals at "reasonable and competitive prices".

The Copper Beech has plenty to offer the whole family, including HD and 3D facilities for sports fans and a family-friendly restaurant. 

Red Alligator, Bishop Auckland 

Ellen Staley highlighted the Red Alligator, which she sais is "a proper pub with decent pub grub, great drinks, friendly atmosphere, great barman and smashing locals".

The pub, named after the 1968 Grand National winner trained by Denys Smith from Bishop Auckland, prides itself on being friendly and using locally sourced ingredients. 

Tap and Tun, Bishop Auckland

Opening its doors in September 2019, the Tap and Tun was serving customers for just months before the pandemic hit and yet it is amongst your most missed. 

With a large roof top drinks terrace, live sport and a wide range of drinks from cocktails to real ales, the pub has continued to champion community spirit throughout the pandemic.