The Oldest Pubs in Hebburn

A town built on coal and shipbuilding was never going to be short of proper pubs, and Hebburn still has a good scattering of traditional locals with real history behind them. From a back-street bar that has been trading since Edwardian times to a pub named after the town's most famous warship, these are Hebburn's oldest and most characterful pubs. For our full round-up, see the guide to the best pubs in Hebburn.

Wardles Bar (since 1908)

The clear elder of the town's pubs, Wardles Bar on Albert Street has been trading since 1908, making it well over a century old. A traditional back-street local at heart, it is a sports and pool bar with its own dedicated pool hall and regular live music, and it has the lived-in character that only comes from serving the same streets for generations. If you want a genuine sense of old Hebburn, this is the place to start.

Best for: Best for: a proper century-old back-street local with a pool hall.

The Kelly

The Kelly on Hedgeley Road wears its heritage in its name, a nod to HMS Kelly, the destroyer built at Hebburn's Hawthorn Leslie shipyard and commanded by Lord Mountbatten. A welcoming neighbourhood pub, it keeps that shipbuilding connection alive while serving the surrounding streets, and it is well regarded locally for its Sunday lunch.

Best for: Best for: a friendly local with a direct link to the town's shipbuilding past.

The Mill Lane locals

Mill Lane, on the edge of the town centre, is home to a small cluster of long-standing community pubs. The Mill Tavern is a traditional local decorated with an industrial theme that nods to Hebburn's heavy-industry heritage, with live music, karaoke and sport, while the Cock Crow Inn nearby has grown into the town's main family food pub. Together they make Mill Lane a good spot to sample Hebburn's traditional pub culture.

Best for: Best for: traditional community locals with an industrial-heritage feel.

Frequently asked questions

What is the oldest pub in Hebburn? Wardles Bar on Albert Street has been trading since 1908, making it comfortably the oldest pub in Hebburn. It is a traditional back-street sports and pool bar with its own pool hall and regular live music.

Which Hebburn pub is linked to HMS Kelly? The Kelly on Hedgeley Road is named after HMS Kelly, the destroyer built at Hebburn's Hawthorn Leslie shipyard and commanded by Lord Mountbatten.

Where are Hebburn's traditional pubs? Several of the town's traditional community locals are on and around Mill Lane, including the Mill Tavern and the family-friendly Cock Crow Inn, while Wardles Bar sits on Albert Street near the town centre.

Know a historic Hebburn pub we should add? Get in touch.