Crows Nest, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Bustling and lively Greene King pub close to Haymarket metro station. Greene King IPA is the regular beer, but they also had their XX Mild & Pennine Millie George. In addition, they had 3 Lilley's boxed ciders - Bee Sting Perry, Cheeky Pig & Apple and Blackberry Cider. It's a reasonably nice traditional-looking pub with a quieter room to the right-hand side of the bar. There are plenty of TV screens for sports fans and CAMRA discounts are offered.

This good looking pub near Haymarket station rather flatters to deceive as inside it's just one big room with 2 big screens and loads of other TVs showing the football on our Sunday afternoon visit. There's a small alcove to the right of the bar for a bit of peace, but that's it. Having said that my pint was in very good nick and they actively promote the 10% CAMRA discount. It'll not be a regular haunt, but we may well call in again on a non football day.

Initially suspicious when I spied the Greene King livery in the distance, I wondered if I'd had my leg pulled about this one being a decent visit. Fortunately, I hadn’t and it was. Housed in a grand building, the interior doesn't really live up to the potential but there's certainly a few things of interest, from the grand mirrored bar back with inlaid clock through to the wrought iron columns and intricate dado as well as a jumbo map of old Newcastle. For a location that doesn't command a huge amount of natural sunlight, the dark blue colour scheme seemed a bit too much and dulled the atmosphere a bit. Six pumps at the bar with only one GK beer, with two guests apiece from Sonnet and Stu Brew (apparently a Newcastle Uni student brewery). My Stu Brew Red was a lovely drop in good shape and without a hint of old GK in the line. Friendly service and a 10% CAMRA discount. A good place, though not quite premier league. Wonder how much GK IPA they sell?

A fine old hotel rebuilt in 1902 and obviously messed about in recent years leading it to be a bit of a nondescript but pleasant enough pub. There are some nice old fittings left and the beer on the six pulls was fairly decent. Another one for the Percy Street crawl rather than a must-do.