CAMRA Award winners 2026!
Welcome to
The Quakerhouse
Our Story
The Quakerhouse opened as a Licensed Bar in October 1998 having undergone major alterations from the old Quaker Coffee House. The building was originally 3 cottages built in the late 1700’s when the yard was active with tradesmen such as coopers and blacksmiths.
Mechanics Yard as it is known now used to be known as Betty Hobson’s yard, indeed it is thought that Betty still haunts the yard. Whether there is any connection between this and our resident ghost, Ethel, we can’t be sure but there are plenty of stories going around, so draw your own conclusions.
MAD SCIENTIST
Micro Brewery
Our Brewery
We have in our cellar the ‘Mad Scientist’ micro brewery, Managed by brewers Brian (The Scientist) Dourish and Rob (Egor) Brunton.
The explosion of 1894
The Yards History
Joseph Smythe’s Gun Store was located roughly where Binns Department Store starts in Blackwellgate. Joseph was a well-known Gun Maker and made weapons for the nobility. However a huge explosion at his store in 1894 reduced buildings on High Row, Skinnergate, and Mechanic’s yard to rubble.
Amazingly his shop survived, but sadly his young apprentice, Thomas Howe, aged 14 died from the blast. GG Hoskins, Darlington’s well known architect of the day was also injured whilst visiting nearby Skinnergate