If you take a left turn outside the main entrance of Lancaster train station, there is a path that takes you over the hill by Lancaster Castle. The Castle itself has a long history including its role as a bastion against the Picts and Scots tribes and was the location of the trials of the Lancashire Witches and has rather grimly witnessed over 200 executions. As recently as 2011 it was a fully functioning HM prison and in recent years has also become a music venue alongside 50 others within the October Lancaster Music Festival, an event I have yet to visit.
The path then drops back down to the River Lune where I used to visit the Wagon and Horses and then onto the George and Dragon pub. If you then walk along the riverfront towards the centre this brings you to Lancaster Three Mariners on Bridge Lane.
The pub is the oldest in the city and the Grade II listed building dates to the 15th century and has an olde world feel with wood beams and low doorframes and is reputedly haunted. It is a CAMRA award winning pub and as a result you can purchase some tasty ales. One night in 2017 I saw an act called Acoustic Blues play there.
As you continue to walk past the bus station and up Bridge Lane you reach the highly recommended Bombay Balti House where I have been visiting on and off for around twenty years and attended as part of my 40th birthday celebrations.
If you then turn into Church Street and past my favourite Lancaster pub, the Sun you arrive at Lancaster Study Room. This is a very chilled establishment which also contains a restaurant. Whilst visiting here on a night out in September 2016 there was a young local acoustic artist called Oliver strumming away in the corner.
On the other side of St Nicholas Arcade shopping centre from there lies Lancaster Tap House which can be found down a quiet side road called Gage Street. As the pub name implies, they have a plethora of fine ales and over fifty bottled beers to peruse and choose from and is a terrific little bar. They have regular musical content and on one visit in August 2013 we enjoyed a set by a decent young local singer called Sarah Comer.
Further across town on Parliament Street, you would find the Lancaster Yorkshire House. It has more recently changed its name to Yorkshire Taps and is run by the local Mitchells Brewery. On a Christmas lads’ night out in 2013, we could hear music emanating from the function room upstairs so obviously had to investigate further.
In the small music room, a band called Two For Joy were on stage. They are led by prolific local musician and artist Ben Hall who is joined by other band members. They have supported local legends Lovely Eggs who have also played at this venue. Ben has also exhibited his art works in the city been involved in a musical side project called Mr Ben and the Bens. My records display to me that from a statistical viewpoint this became my 200th different venue visited.