ONE PUB ONLY? Cumberland Arms CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND? Metro line to Magnesia bank then back to the ground. Only one pub but alternatively Cumberland, Free Trade, Tyne Bar and then along the river to town SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT? Bridge                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Bridge Hotel  Castle Garth, NE1 1RQ   T 0191 232 6400   W www.sjf.co.uk/pubsandbars G Christine Cromarty   F Pub food to suit all tastes from sandwiches to fish and chips 12 to 2, 12 to 3 Sun, None Sat  MP   TV   BM O 11.30 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun           Murder and prostitution was in the air on the night of my visit to the Bridge. The lights of the television crew shone brightly into the bar and another episode of Wire in the Blood was canned before the staff retired for a well deserved beer in the best of the town-centre ale-houses.            This pub is my most recommended Newcastle pub. Those who said so liked it because it is large enough to cope with the inevitable crowds and, having a fantastic location, will also have few football drinkers adding to the mix before and after a game. All are instantly made welcome. I would head for the scenic terrace although every room in this hotel-style pub has real character. It is also under the Fitzgerald’s stable, along with many more of the smaller town ale-houses found in the best pub guides. The convenience to the station is emphasised as a Pendolino is likely to pass the window as it crawls into Newcastle Central. A few hours here will see a distinct transformation in the customer base. At all times the ale is prominent, local ales making the novelty attraction for this visitor. The live music is distinctively “Geordie folk” in style - does that give you a clue to the overall relaxed atmosphere in this truly great town pub? BWV 10.2.06:  Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Six Nations,  Durham White Centennial,  Jarrow Joblings, Swinging Jibbet,  Mordue Workie Ticket,  Tom Wood Shepherd’s Delight Stedders Guides 2006 - 07                                                         Cumberland Arms James Place St., NE6 1LD  T 0191 265 6151   W www.thecumberlandarms.co.uk   G Jo Hodson   F Good bar food   SP O 4 to 11, 12.30 to 11 Sat - Sun, Summer 12.30 to 11 daily?           You never know quite what to expect in the Cumberland. They offer the choice of having your beer served the traditional way, straight from the wood, or through hand-pumps. The website says that they have a great reputation for good traditional music in the upstairs room. This is my favourite Newcastle pub and that is saying something, because there are masses of great pubs in the town. What you are guaranteed is great company, gentle humour and quality real ale. It has some interesting ways to guarantee good comfort and create a reflective atmosphere. A lending library, a bring-your-own instrument policy, plus advertising the beers on a good web-site; all make you feel that the locals cherish their pub. A great evening was had chatting with local characters. I felt that the conversation was as passionate about local issues as was my love of the choice of ales and now real ciders. It is a top pub at the top of a worthwhile climb from the river. UPDATE:  There are more ales on offer this year. The summer real ale festival will be organic (July); another is held in January. BWV 12.1.05:  Jarrow JB Bitter,  Wylam Rapper,  Knights Cider BWV 10.2.06:  Bartrams Mother - in - Law,  Hadrian Gladiator,  Mordue Radgie Gadgie,  Northumbrian Farne Island,  Wylam Rapper Stedders Guides 2006 - 07 Free Trade St Lawrence Rd, NE6 1AP   T 0191 265 5764   G Ted Pye   F Specialist sandwiches  SP   JB O 11 to 11 Mon - Thu, 11 to 12 Fri - Sat, 12 to 11 Sun           When all around was being gentrified, the Free Trade opened up its windows, painted the walls, sold real ale and put on live music. It became a place to come early to enjoy the views, or later to immerse yourself in neo-Geordie pub culture, i.e. locals necking Newcastle Brown? “Your mind’s eye says walk on. Go in, and you won’t trust your prejudiced views again. The campaign activists will need to protect this pub. Go and watch the sun set after a game. The Free Trade is a great pub heaped in the traditions of good music, good real ale and fantastic locals who know how to enjoy a good time. I just had to take a couple of visits to fully appreciate the strengths of the place. It was very relaxed, having a wide range of customers. My plan is to revisit in the summer where a great afternoon could be spent admiring all that is of beauty in the Tyne Valley, perhaps looking out across the river as well! UPDATE:  Only the Graffiti in the Gents has changed, and that is still in the style of last years offering. BWV 12.1.05:  Hadrian and Border Farne Island,  Jarrow McConnell's Stout,  Mordue Workie Ticket,  Rudgate Viking,  Wylam Bohemian BWV 10.2.06:  High House Matfen Magic,  Houston Peter’s Well,  Mordue Indian Pale Ale,  Rudgate Viking Stedders Guides 2006 - 07 Magnesia Bank NEW MANAGEMENT AFTER A BRIEF CLOSURE Camden St, North Shields, NE30 1NH   T 0191 257 4831   W  www.magnesiabank.com     G Richard and Kate Slade   F Innovative menu that is both wholesome and well priced 12 to 10, 12 to 9 Sun   SP   BM   D O 11 to 11, 11 to 12 Sat 12 to 10.30 Sun            When I chatted to locals in Newcastle Town Centre the name of the Maggie Bank kept on coming up as the must-not-miss activity for any true real ale fan. “But it is in North Shields,” I protested. The reply was “that makes it just twenty minutes away from St. James’, by Metro, therefore closer in time than many of the riverside centre pubs.” Ray and I caught the Metro and fell in love with this pub, the beer, the food and the music.            It has been the Mordue brewery tap for ten years but also offers a great range of regional and local ales. The three rooms around the bar were instantly full up with; initially those wanting a good meal, then music-lovers revelling in live music that is so often found in the best Tyneside pubs. The pedigree of this music connection is found in the disks on the wall, earned by Lindisfarne, members of who frequent the bar. Moules of a gargantuan scale was ordered for Ray, a Mongolian Curry for me. Pretentious food? Not a bit of it; just different and, judged by the apparent popularity, well worth the chef's effort. I could have whiled away the evening watching local chat-up lines being bandied about and summarily dismissed. The Metro called and thirty minutes later we were having a last beer in town. BWV 10.2.06:  Archers Trouser Twitcher,  Black Sheep Bitter,  Durham Magus,  Mordue Five Bridge,  Workie Ticket,  Theakston’s Black Bull BWV Dec 2009 Deuchars IPA, Durham Magus, Everards Tiger,  Mordue Workie Ticket, Theakston's Old Peculier, Best, Black Bull Bitter. Stedders Guides 2006 - 07          Tyne Bar Maling St, Byker, NE6 1LP   T 0191 265 2550   W www.thetyne.com    G Martin Eve   F Real farmers-market pies and hot panini’s   SP   TV   JB O 11.30 to 11 Mon - Thu, 11.30 to 12 Fri - Sat, 11 to 11 Sun           This is a different, almost American-feeling bar, i.e. dimly lit and with free juke-box, and music posters. The pub is, well, atmospheric; I visited the pub twice this year, once during the Tall Ships race when it was full to bursting and the garden music was in full swing. The second visit was a cold January night when the warmth of the pub and its characters was really appreciated. It can get crowded but is usually a place to relax after the stroll along the waterfront. Its website revels in quotes of how good it is. The Tyne Bar also has a great reputation for live music, having the space for bands in the larger bar. The best bet would be to enjoy the beer in the beer garden under the bridge and plan an assault of the hill to the other two pubs in this guide. UPDATE:  The live bands continue to lead the way. In summer the outside stage is used to effect, creating a unique under-bridge setting. Of similar interest was the move to promote Erdinger beers, the Donkel was a novel and delightful diversion for this dark beer lover.  BWV 12.1.05:  Font Valley Hoppy New Beer,  Jarrow Rivet Catcher,  Mordue WorkieTicket,  Wylam Magic BWV 12.2.06:  Durham Magus,  Humpty Dumpty Humpty Dumpty,  Wylam Rocket Stedders Guides 2006 - 07 Well worth a visit is:- Newcastle Arms 57, Saint Andrew's Street NE1 5SE Tel (0191) 2602490 CAMRA local POTY 2006, 2007, 2008 Taken from their website "Regular (Deuchar's I.P.A.) & 5 ever-changing guest cask ales. - Reliable providers of "hard to find" ciders & perrys.- Selection of house wines available by the bottle (£9.50 -11.00).- Premiership/FA Cup/Champions League matches shown live.- Wireless internet access provided by The Cloud.- 300 yds from SJP, the ideal spot for a pre/post match pint.- On the very fringe of Newcastle's China town, a perfect meeting   venue for a night out at one of the area's renowned Chinese restaurants on adjacent Stowell Street.- 4x Annual Beer Festival (Feb, June, Sept & Nov) - Our last ended on 28th June 2010 & featured over 35 real ales. Next beer festival will be   held from Thu 2nd -Sun 5th Sept 2010."  NEWCASTLE ARMS   Bodega 125 Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 4AG  Tel: 0191 221 1552 W www.sjf.co.uk  O 11-11 (midnight Fri & Sat), 12-10.30 Sun         Only up the road from Tilley’s, yet this pub is much more atmospheric and friendly then its neighbour. There are two lovely ornate domes with stained glass windows on the roof and lamps hanging down. The pub will be busy on matchday but the Newcastle fans are a friendly bunch and are always interested in having a chat. Up to 5 ales are offered and food is served at lunchtimes. BWV: Big Lamp Prince Bishop, Durham Magus, Mordue Workie Ticket and Guest Ales. Alex Robinson Crown Posada 33 Side, NE1 3JE Tel: 0191 2321269 W www.sjf.co.uk  O 12 (11 Thu)-11; 11-midnight Fri; 12-midnight Sat; 7-10.30 Sun         A lovely pub, which is about 1.5 miles from St James’s Park but well worth a visit if you have the time. The pub is listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Interiors and is Grade 2 listed. It is a small boozer with a long narrow with screened snug at the front. You will find beers from small local brewers. BWV: Hadrian Gladiator, Jarrow Bitter, Taylor Landlord and Guest Ales. Alex Robinson Tilley’s 104 Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 4AF  Tel: 0191 2320692 O 12-11 (10.30 sun)           Street-corner pub located 1 mile away from the ground, very busy on match-day but it is a friendly pub with knowledgeable bar staff. There are about half a dozen real ales on offer, there are no regular beers and often the beer selection is themed, such as from a particular part of the country or a style of beer. Food is served at lunchtimes. Alex Robinson NEWCASTLE CAMRA ST JAMES'S PARK  LOCAL BREWERY JARROW BREWERY Robin Hood Primrose Hill, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear, NE32 5UB Telephone:  0191 483 6792 www.jarrowbrewery.co.uk   WETHERSPOONS The Keel Row  Unit G3, Ground Floor, The Gate Cinema Complex  Newgate Street  Newcastle upon Tyne  NE1 5RF  Opening Times:  Mon-Sun 10am-1am The Mile Castle  Westgate Road & Grainger Street  Newcastle upon Tyne  NE1 5XU The Union Rooms  48 Westgate Road  Newcastle upon Tyne  NE1 1TT  Opening Times:  Sun-Thu 10am-midnight; Fri/Sat 10am-1am  The Quayside  35-37 The Close  Quayside  Newcastle upon Tyne  NE1 3RN  Opening Times:  Sun-Wed 10am-midnight; Thu-Sat 10am-1am