Free Trade Inn, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Doesn't look too promising from outside and to be fair the wedge shaped interior isn't much to get excited about, painted a hideous nicotine/faecal yellow with fairly battered fittings. However two aspects work in its favour. Firstly. the fantastic elevated view of the Tyne (and bridges) from its windows and beer garden; secondly, the ale range - six in total, from Jarl, Allendale, Thornbridge and Top Out. Unsure whether the ‘Free Trade Inn’ pump featuring a cat's face actually dispensed anything, but said moggy was perched atop the (free) jukey and as happy as Larry. My Top Out Smoked Porter was in good nick, if rather heavy going. Also of note was the fridge stocking a good variety of bottled and tinned foreign fayre, plus nine craft keg offerings, the prices of which varied from reasonable to silly but were clearly marked on a blackboard. Friendly barmaid but she wasn't good at basic chores, with dead glasses littered around inside and out. If you have a day to do Newcastle and the weather’s decent, it’s worth popping out here for a pint and a view. With a bit of TLC and less litter, it could have been classed as essential.

Excellent pub, well described in detail below. It's one basic room really but with a couple of distinct areas. We sat in the area just to the left and rear of the bar and had a good look at all the pictures on the walls. There's a jukebox, the top of which is apparently the favoured lounging place for the pub cat, who for some reason is called CraigDavid. He has his own Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CDPCfreetrade. 5 beers available on our visit and between us we tried 4 of them, all were in excellent nick. Friendly, knowledgeable barstaff add to the appeal. A pub we'll be visiting again and again I suspect.

Situated in the Ouseburn area of Newcastle, a short and pleasant walk along the riverside walkway from the City Centre, is The Free Trade Inn. It’s a single split level room with basic seating and nicotine coloured walls and ceiling. There’s something of that lived in proper pub feel, enhanced by the absence of any TV’s or fruit machines, although there is a renowned free juke box. The local CAMRA branch magazine describes the interior as “shabby chic”, reflecting the fact that the area as a whole is allegedly on the up. It’s an unusual mix of old factories and warehouses and modern apartment blocks. Up a slight incline from the riverside, large windows and a small seating area over the road provide superb views of the various bridges over the River Tyne and the Newcastle skyline. The interior features plenty of black and white photos of old Newcastle city scenes and industries. A local deli and butchers provide a selection of sandwiches and pies respectively. Wednesday’s quiz night offers the chance to win 18 bottles of Budweiser, should you feel the need. A blackboard over the bar advises us to “drink beer, smoke tabs at The Free Trade Inn – a better bar by far”. The pub is a keen supporter of microbreweries and is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular. Despite the blackboard advertising beers from Mordue, Jarrow, Hadrian Border, Archers and Wylam, it transpired that none of these beers were on when I called in one Saturday lunchtime in September. Instead, notably, there was a dominance of beers from the Holmfirth Summer Wine Brewery with as many as 4 of their beers on – Zenith, Berry Big, Oregon and Teleporter supplemented by a beer each from Great Heck and Tempest Brewing Co. Beers sampled were in good form. Worth seeking out – and, in particular, do leave time to inspect the splendid graffiti in the gents toilets

Marvellous free-house pub over-looking the River Tyne and Tyne Bridge. Can't remember what I had, but was in there all afternoon..Which is a good enough reason to visit. Check out the graffiti in the toilets too!