Canny Lad, Tynemouth, North Shields

Now called Pleased to Meet You and similar to its sister bar in Newcastle city centre, this is a nicely appointed bar/restaurant. On my Thursday morning visit, it was mainly populated with people having breakfast or an early lunch in the lower front section nearest the window. As you venture towards the bar at the rear, it becomes much darker. Three handpulls are situated at the end of the bar nearest to you as you enter. Almasty Tynemouth Pale is the regular beer. Guests on during my visit were Thornbridge Ruin & Arbor Blue Sky Drinking. Getting served at this end does not seem to be the done thing. In fact, the over-zealous waitresses thought I was waiting there for a table. Once eventually served, my Tynemouth Pale was very nice indeed. I hadn't been to any of the previous incarnations of these premises. But Pleased To Meet You is certainly worthy of a visit, despite being on the foodie side of the pub spectrum.

Not what you'd expect from the name or from the look of the outside, but this is a clasic Fitzgeralds pub. Much bigger than it looks on the outside, it's on two levels and has a separate snug area at the front of the pub. There's also a few tables and chairs outside, but as it was blowing a gale these were being used by some hardy smokers. Very nicely furnished and with friendly bar staff. Three beers available on our visit and my pint of Wallsend Two By Two No 7 was in very good nick. Rightly listed in the CAMRA GBG2015.

A visit to Hugo,s was well worth it. Four handles on the bar serving Three kings beers and another four Three Kings beers supplied by cellar runs. A great evening in a great pub.