The image above is of the sun rising behind the Tyne Bridge, looking from Newcastle towards Gateshead. The audacious Sage Gateshed (sometimes called The Hedgehog, among other less polite terms) can also be seen.
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Newcastle page (a Sunderland page is coming soon!).

 
 
 
  Welcome to the e-pubguide.info page for Tyne and Wear.

Historically, the land to the North of the River Tyne made up the county of Northumberland, while to the South of the River lay County Durham. In the 1970s however, a new county was created to encompass both Newcastle (traditionally in Northumberland) and Sunderland (traditionally in County Durham). The reasons for this were made out to be economically, culturally and socially beneficial to both cities yet the marriage of the Tyne and the Wear is not an entirely harmonious one - Sunderland and Newcastle have shared a great rivalry since the days of the English Civil War, and today the local rivalry of the two cities' football teams is the most bitter in English football. The demise of Newcastle and Sunderland's legendary coal mining, shipbuilding and engineering industries have been harsh, and the region has toiled to reinvent itself; Newcastle having fared rather better in this than Sunderland. So what of the county's pubs? There are plenty of good pubs to be found in Tyne and Wear - Please look at the information below and follow the links provided to find out more about the Great British Pub in Tyne and Wear.

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The Bridge Hotel
Castle Garth,
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne,
Tyne and Wear,
NE1 1RQ
Tel: 0191 2326400

Situated at the end of the magnificent Victorian High Level Bridge, The Bridge Hotel has for years been regarded as one of Newcastle's finest real ale pubs. While the City Centre and The Quayside have become famous for their vibrant bars and nightclubs, proper pubs in Newcastle are like everywhere else becoming increasingly difficult to find. The Bridge Hotel however is one such proper pub; seemingly unspoiled by change, the pub has retained many of its original features, including the cosy seating areas and the grand, impressive bar. The choice and the quality of the beer on offer is equally impressive, with six cask ales available and in fine fettle when we visited, including tasty offerings from local breweries. The Bridge Hotel really does feel like stepping back in time, and we hope that it continues to offer its own unique brand of Tyneside hospitality for many years to come.

 
 

Fitzgerald's
Green Terrace,
Sunderland,
Tyne and Wear,
SR1 3PZ
Tel: 0191 5670852

If Newcastle's diminished number of proper pubs is cause for concern, then the paucity of cask ales and proper pubs in Sunderland is alarming; the town centre has undoubtedly seen an increase in quantity of pubs and clubs over recent years, but the quality has decreased dramatically, and since the tragic demise of Vaux Breweries, Sunderland has become awash with fizzy lager and keg beers. The shining light is Fitzgerald's; set in one of Sunderland's few remaining 18th Century buildings, Fitzy's offers the discerning drinker an oasis of fine ales, character and charm. Yet this is no 'dominoes and whippets' boozer; Fitzgerald's appeals to a diverse clientele, and is usually extremely busy, especially so at weekends and on matchdays. The beer on offer is also some of the best in the town, usually with at least six cask ales, many of which originate from North East microbreweries. There is also a good selection of bar meals available. Given its central location, it would be a shame not to pop in to Fitzgerald's next time you are passing.

   
 

The Saltgrass
Hanover Place,
Sunderland,
SR4 6BY
Tel: 0191 5657229

Like Fitzgerald's, The Saltgrass is one of Sunderland's few surviving proper pubs. Situated just outside the town centre, The Saltgrass is easy to get to and worth seeking out. The Saltgrass takes its name from the tidal marshes that once made up this part of Deptford and although there was once many pubs in this part of Sunderland, there are now very few - only The Saltgrass, The King's Head and The Ropery remain. The Saltgrass retains a traditional layout, with two rooms - once the Bar and Smoke Room - now the Bar and Restaurant. Small and cosy inside, the bar is friendly and welcoming, and keeps a good pint of cask ale; there were only two to choose from last time we visited, but the Black Sheep Bitter was in very good shape. We were also fortunate enough to sample the food in the restaurant - very, very good and evidently very popular - The Saltgrass is establishing itself as much for its restaurant as for its bar, yet successfully manages to keep the two separate and without compromise.

   
 

The Crown Posada
The Side,
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne,
Tyne and Wear,
NE1 3JE
Tel: 0191 2321269

Good beer is available in Newcastle, you just have to look for it. Oddly enough, despite its grand facade and prominent location at the heart of Newcastle's Quayside, The Crown Posada seems to get somewhat overlooked by the stag parties and hen night brigade - possibly a good thing! The interior of the Crown Posada is truly magnificent; the ornate ceilings and stained glass windows are superb, and are just two of the reasons why the pub's interior is protected by ???. The Crown Posada retains its traditional layout, with a long narrow bar area, a lounge to the rear and a snug at the front. It is a friendly and welcoming pub, the cheerful barman dispensing the cask ales (many of which are from North East breweries and all six of which were beautifully kept on our last visit) with great competence. This really is a gem of a pub, probably the best in the Quayside.

 
 

 

For e-travelguide's Newcastle Pubs page, please click here

 

  
 

 

E-travelguide's Sunderland Pubs page will be coming soon!

 

 

 
 
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