Best Pubs in Morpeth

Morpeth has a pub scene that punches well above its weight. For a market town of its size, there is a remarkable range of drinking establishments — from Grade II listed coaching inns and CAMRA award-winners to cosy riverside locals. Whether you are after a well-kept cask ale, a hearty Sunday roast, or simply a seat by the fire with a good view of the Wansbeck, you will find it here.

Here are some of the best pubs in Morpeth.

The Black Bull

47 Bridge Street, NE61 1PE

The Black Bull sits on the corner of Bridge Street overlooking the River Wansbeck, and it is consistently one of the highest-rated pubs in town. The building dates from the early 19th century and is Grade II listed, with an old carriage entry framed by attached Tuscan columns that hints at its coaching inn heritage.

Inside, the pub is deceptively spacious. Six handpulls serve a mix of regular beers — including Anarchy Brew Co's Blonde Star — alongside locally sourced guest ales and a dedicated craft beer fridge. There is a large beer garden out the back, a private function room, and live music at weekends.

Best for: Real ale, riverside location, and one of Morpeth's best beer gardens.

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The Tap and Spile

23 Manchester Street, NE61 1BH

If you care about real ale, the Tap and Spile is a pilgrimage. This unassuming conversion of a terraced house on Manchester Street has been a regular winner of CAMRA's Northumberland Pub of the Year award, and for good reason. Eight handpulls serve three regular beers plus five rotating guests, and there is always Westons Old Rosie cider and a range of fruit wines from Lindisfarne Winery on offer.

The layout is simple: a small L-shaped bar at the front and a slightly larger carpeted lounge at the rear. The long-serving landlady keeps the cellar in impeccable condition. It is the sort of pub where you walk in as a stranger and leave having made friends.

Best for: Award-winning real ales and a proper traditional pub atmosphere.

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The Joiners Arms

6-7 Wansbeck Street, NE61 1XZ

The Joiners Arms has stood at the river's edge since 1871 and remains one of Morpeth's most cherished locals. The pub is divided into a traditional public bar at the front — dog-friendly and buzzing with regulars — and a comfortable family-friendly lounge at the rear with views over the River Wansbeck and access to a planter-decorated beer terrace.

There are plenty of real ales on the handpulls, and the pub appears regularly in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Traditional pub games including dominoes, draughts, and darts add to the character.

Best for: Riverside terrace, dog-friendly bar, and over 150 years of history.

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The Black and Grey

80 Newgate Street, NE61 1BU

Originally a 17th-century coaching inn, The Black and Grey is now a quirky, family-owned pub on Newgate Street offering cocktails, real ales, and hearty pub grub made with locally sourced ingredients. The building is steeped in history — coaching inns played a central role in Morpeth's development as a market town on the Great North Road.

Today it is known for its welcoming atmosphere, live music nights, quiz nights, and a genuinely impressive gin selection alongside the cask ales. Dogs are welcome, and there is an outside drinking area for warmer days.

Best for: Cocktails, live music, and centuries of coaching inn history.

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Waterford Lodge

Castle Square, NE61 1YD

Waterford Lodge is an 18th-century coaching inn beside the River Wansbeck, close to the award-winning Carlisle Park. While it doubles as a hotel, the ground-floor bar is very much a pub in its own right, with draught beers, handcrafted cocktails, and a spacious beer garden.

The on-site Steakhouse restaurant is worth a visit if you are after more than bar snacks, and four large screens make it a popular spot for watching sport. Its position next to the park and the river makes it an ideal stop after a walk along the Wansbeck.

Best for: Riverside setting, beer garden, and a proper steakhouse on site.

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The Electrical Wizard

1 Bridge Street, NE61 1PS

Morpeth's Wetherspoon occupies the former Coliseum cinema, which opened in 1926. The pub takes its name from Dr Walford Brodie, a Scots-born entertainer known as "The Electrical Wizard of the North", who was famous for magic tricks involving electricity and even an electric chair.

Whatever your views on chain pubs, the Electrical Wizard does what Wetherspoon does well: a wide range of real ales and craft beers at competitive prices, breakfast from opening time, and a full food menu served until late. The building itself is worth a look, retaining some of its cinema-era character.

Best for: Budget-friendly real ales in a characterful former cinema building.

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Planning Your Pub Crawl

Morpeth's compact town centre makes it easy to visit several pubs in one evening. A natural route might start at The Joiners Arms on Wansbeck Street, cross the river to The Black Bull on Bridge Street, head up to The Tap and Spile on Manchester Street, and finish at The Black and Grey on Newgate Street. The whole circuit is walkable in under fifteen minutes, though you will want to linger at each stop.

Most pubs open from midday and serve food through the afternoon and evening. If you are visiting on a weekday, the Tap and Spile and Joiners Arms tend to be quieter and are ideal for a relaxed afternoon pint.

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