The Oldest Pubs in Alnwick

Alnwick has been a significant stopping point on the Great North Road for centuries, and its pubs reflect that long history. Several of the town's drinking establishments occupy buildings dating back to the 1600s and 1700s, and a few carry stories that are genuinely remarkable. This is not a list of the best pint or the cosiest snug -- it is a guide to the pubs with the deepest roots.

The Dirty Bottles (Ye Olde Cross)

The most famous pub in Alnwick sits on Narrowgate, just around the corner from Alnwick Castle. The building dates to at least 1600, and its original name -- Ye Olde Cross -- is thought to derive from a carved cross on the front wall, believed to be a symbol of the de Vesci family, the Norman lords of Alnwick who held the barony before the Percys.

The pub's more colourful name comes from a famous local legend. In 1725, the innkeeper was rearranging bottles in the front window when he collapsed and died of a heart attack. His widow declared the bottles cursed, insisting that anyone who moved them would suffer the same fate. The bottles were left untouched, gathering dust and cobwebs for decades, until at some point they were sealed behind a second interior pane of glass for safekeeping.

Best for: The sealed window with its dusty bottles is still visible from Narrowgate today. It is one of Alnwick's most photographed curiosities.

The pub closed in the 2000s but reopened in late 2014 under the name The Dirty Bottles, finally embracing the nickname locals had used for generations. It is now a Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England. Inside, the decor is more contemporary than the building's age might suggest, with live music, a decent drinks list, and a lively atmosphere that draws tourists and locals alike.

The Plough

The Plough on Bondgate Without occupies a building whose history predates its use as a pub. The stonework includes an inscription stone dated 1714, hinting at the structure's earlier life. According to the Alnwick and District Local History Society, The Plough is one of a handful of Alnwick pubs where the building itself is significantly older than the licence.

Today it is a cosy, traditional pub with exposed beams and a reputation for hearty food, particularly its pies and Sunday roasts. It sits close to Alnwick Castle, making it a convenient stop for visitors exploring the town's heritage on foot.

The John Bull Inn

The John Bull Inn on Howick Street dates from the 1830s, a period when Alnwick saw a boom in new pubs following the Beer Act of 1830. That legislation made it far easier to obtain a licence, and the town's pub count surged almost overnight. The John Bull is one of the few survivors from that era.

It remains a resolutely traditional establishment. The bar is cash only -- a rarity these days -- and the interior is unpretentious and welcoming. The pub hosts a regular singaround on Thursday evenings at 8pm, featuring traditional and folk music with a Northumbrian flavour. It is a regular entry in the Good Beer Guide, and the real ales are consistently well kept.

Best for: The John Bull's cash-only policy is not a gimmick -- it is simply how the pub has always operated.

The Black Swan and The White Swan

The Black Swan and the White Swan were the principal coaching inns serving the London-to-Edinburgh mail coaches that passed through Alnwick. Both date from the 18th century, when the town was a vital waypoint on the Great North Road. The coaching inn trade brought considerable wealth to Alnwick, and these two establishments were at the heart of it.

The White Swan on Bondgate Within is now a hotel and retains some handsome period features, including an Olympic-class ballroom fitted with original panelling salvaged from the RMS Olympic, the sister ship of the Titanic. The Black Swan, also on Bondgate Within, has had a more chequered recent history but remains one of the town's most historically significant buildings.

The Tanners Arms

The Tanners Arms on Hotspur Place is an ivy-covered, stone-built pub with a flagstone floor and a rustic interior that feels genuinely old, even if the pub's exact founding date is harder to pin down than some on this list. The ever-changing selection of real ales frequently comes from North Eastern and Scottish Borders microbreweries.

The pub hosts a popular open mic night on the last Friday of every month and is regularly cited by visitors as one of Alnwick's most atmospheric drinking spots. It is the kind of place where the building itself feels like part of the experience.

Walking Alnwick's pub history

The beauty of Alnwick's historic pubs is that they are all within easy walking distance of each other. You could start at The Dirty Bottles on Narrowgate, peer at the cursed window, then head through to Bondgate Within to see the old coaching inns, before finishing at the John Bull or The Tanners Arms. The architecture and the stories change at every stop, and it amounts to an informal heritage trail through 400 years of Alnwick's social history.