retiredmartin

October 2023. Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Here’s a little map showing you the pubs I’d been to on that epic Saturday night in Newcastle. You can walk it in a mere 6:11, so it’s a good job the Tyne & Wear metro is such a joy.

But I left the metro behind at the Free Trade, inspired by the artwork on Hadrian’s Wall Path.

It’s thought that Hadrian himself came up with the original lyrics for Candi Staton’s classic 1,954 years later.

At this precise moment Mrs RM was sending me pics of her tea stop.

I determined to dine somewhere even smarter than Lola Jeans.

Mrs RM really was livin’ it up, but not in a Level 42 sense, though they were also playing locally.

No, she was seeing Les Dennis in 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal.

I passed along magical Grey Street just as the curtains rose, almost tempted to make a return visit to Bacchus.

I do like Newcastle’s smart Fitzgerald pubs, though Madri must outsell cask 20:1 nowadays.

I pressed in past the monument to the lone central Guide newbie.

Now, the odds on a lone new GBG entry being a Stonegate pub like the Three Bulls Head, rather than a micro called “Crafty Beer Hamster” must be very low, but that’s the beauty of this year’s wonderful new Beer Guide.

All you need do in 2023 is stick a mobility scooter outside and Bass on the pump and you’re in the good book*. How come the 3BH can get it and the Tynemouth Lodge can’t ? Someone will know.

For some inexplicable reason, I tweeted this;

Rubbish pub, great Bass.

Proof the GBG never lies.
3 bulls heads. Newcastle@thewickingman pic.twitter.com/azXWBc40g9

— retiredmartin (@NHS_Martin) October 14, 2023

It was the Bass (NBSS 3.5) talking, folks. The 3BH is a bit plain compared to the Posada or the Microbus or the Mouse, but it’s a bustling pub for blokes and lasses old and young and it’s great to see it in the Guide.

Still odd seeing folk watching horse racing at 8pm on Saturday in Newcastle, mind.

8pm ! I need to eat !

*Not actually true but you know what I mean