Tuesday was my fifth successive trip to Newcastle in sub-zero temperatures, which says something about the cruelty of the Premier League fixture calendar.
But you can never tire of the Tyne,
or this month’s exhibition by Heather Phillipson in BALTIC,
but can you get bored of Tyneside micros ?, I wonder.
My usual confused stroll over the Millennium Bridge and down the Quayside takes me south of the castle, entirely the wrong way for the railway arch pubs, but I do at least get to see something gorgeous.
The walk up Castle Stairs would defeat a younger man, and means I earnt the stottie cake or whatever it is I’d enjoy at SJP (keep reading).
Four new entries in the Toon this GBG year; two micros, two brewery taps. Breaking all the rules, it was Tyne Bank and Wylam who were shut till Thursday.
Box Social seemed to be open forever, which will upset the Herne hierarchy who insist that micros are shut when you least expect it.
Pubmeister beat me here, he always does. I’m sure he told me Split Chimp used to be here before moving to a glamorous new location, which raises all sorts of ethical ticking issues, but luckily I know I Chimped (verb) at their new home.
Box Social is one of those small modern beer bars that would be Pub of the Year in any small Hertfordshire or Buckinghamshire town, and coincidentally they sell Mad Squirrel. But I’m a gentleman, so I go for their own Gentleman’s Nectar (NBSS 3/3.5). Actually, I just pointed to the first thing I saw as they didn’t have Federation Bitter on.
Looking now I see To 0l, Wylam and Summer Wine, which I suspect is still crafty by Cambridge standards.
Only three other drinkers, two upstairs and one down, but I suppose some people have to be working at 4.30pm on a Tuesday. Thank goodness for Paul Mudge, Duncan and myself. Decent banter about Bruce Willis films, if that’s your thing.
One thing I forgot to mention about Station East was the rattle you get when a train passes overhead. It’s possible some folk would pay good money for the experience. Box Social had that rumbling noise too. It may even have improved the lacings.
retiredmartin 
https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/six-nations-to-fill-pubs-with-higher-class-of-git-20160205105932
What, even in Newcastle?
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PS, I love the place, but I doubt that there are many RU fans there.
If you’re crafty, sorry, canny, then you might get away with using the Vermont Hotel lift, rather than the castle steps, incidentally. That was always handy when progressing from the Crown Posada to the Bridge Hotel.
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The Crown Posada and Bridge Hotel were two of the pubs I used when I was last in Newcastle in 2001.
Time to go again methinks.
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Would make a great Proper Day Out (there’s even Bass in the George), but perhaps too far for some (or perhaps not).
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Well, Paul, I see that the Vermont – which I always liked – is doing a twin room, that is, with two double beds, for £67.50 just now.
I was just thinking the same thing. I was last there in 2011, and Martin’s pictures stirred the longing.
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Where’s the fun in that ?
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Well, I don’t like to mention knees, really.
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The walk up Castle Stairs would defeat anyone with knees as wonky as mine.
“the rattle you get when a train passes overhead …… It may even have improved the lacings” – .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rQEbQJx5Bo could have been your title.
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My first paid employment was in the Bridge Hotel. Sadly, the owners were allowed to destroy the old and very original public bar with snob screens. Great vinyl fair at Tyne Bank this afternoon!
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What reputation do the Fitzgerald pubs have these days ? Fifteen years ago they looked smart pubs with good food, a sort of more pubby Brunning & Price, and always with good beer.
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They’ve lost the plot a bit in some cases. Gone upmarket for little reason in some – full on B&P in the Brierdene, Whitley Bay which has proved disastrous for them, but by and large reliable with decent beer. The Crown Posada hasn’t changed a bit thankfully.
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Does the Posada still have the portrait, of who appears to be Ho Chi Minh? He had a connection with Newcastle, I seem to recall.
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Played right wing back for 1912-13 season
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EP,
That “the owners were allowed to destroy the old and very original public bar with snob screens” is a tragedy given how rare unspoilt pub interiors are.
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“4.30pm on a Tuesday” is when we clear the pint that’s been in the line all night in all those pubs that don’t get round to opening until 4pm.
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Not often you see them OTB in W.Yorks, but Box Social are making some nice beers. Crown Posada is a lovely pub but when I visited last summer the beer quality was only just average.
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Did you visit ‘Beer Street’, literally next door, as a pre-emptive?
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Definitely not ! Duncan didn’t do it and it would have been rude to. Not saying I won’t when go back for Tyne Bank and Wylam when they actually open.
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