The metro station in Jarrow was originally on the network’s green line before the South Shields and Sunderland lines were swapped over and first opened in 1984. Like many stations on the network it is home to some local art and a statue dedicated to the famous Jarrow March is displayed inside the station.
Town centre stations are a dream in terms of the WBMT as you don’t have to stumble far to find your first pub. If you’re coming from platform 2 you need to cross the tracks towards the taxi office. Turn left onto Sheldon Street then right onto Station Street. When you get to the end of the road turn left onto Ellison Street and you’ll see the Ben Lomond pub right in front of you.
On first impression walking through the doors you would be forgiven for thinking it was a Wetherspoons and anyone who knows me will know that that’s not a criticism in the slightest. There’s a big bar in the middle and seating areas circling around so I get the impression whatever time of day you visit you’ll rarely struggle for somewhere to sit.
We got a warm welcome from the barmaid who, when we ordered two glasses of wine, informed us it would be more economical to just buy the bottle. There’s not much more impresses me than a woman who understands the importance of good wine economics. Was it the best tasting wine in the world? No. Was it only £8 a bottle? Hell yes! And that’s the important thing to remember here.
We were there at around tea time mid-week between xmas and new year and it was busy enough to assume it was a Friday or Saturday late afternoon. Other than the barmaid, wor Ang and I were probably the only lasses in there and the lads watching the sport were getting on the rowdy side but were no bother really. What I guess I’m trying to say is if you’re out for a night with the lasses and want to be sitting prosecco and cocktails, this probably isn’t the place to do it.
However if you want a pint and a cheap bottle of wine whilst painting the town red in Jarra then there are worse places you can end up!
Find out where else we’ve been on out metro pubbing adventure here
