The Centurion Bar, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Never previously gave the Centurion any thought, thinking it just a boring station bar. How wrong, as it has a stunning ornate interior with a large mural at one end plus a good deal of decorative tiling and larger ceramic features throughout. Restrained colours, and a high ceiling with longitudinal skylight giving the place an airy feel under natural lighting. Five of seven handpumps scattered along the bar counter were operational, and I opted for the local Firebrick Tyne 9 (a cask 'black lager', £3.50). Leave your preconceptions behind - this place is well worth seeking out.

Excellent train station bar. Restored tiles & murals lift this bar above the normal train station pubs. Up to 5 real ales.

This is a railway station bar so it is never going to be very pubby or have particularly personal service or a regular clientele however what really sets this bar apart is the simply stunning tilework on display. With the explosion of the railway as a means of travel in Victorian times, in tandem with the demands of the era, there was a need for a First Class lounge for the distinguished gentry to prepare for their journey. The Centurion Bar is located in this room, but for years all it's elegant splendour had been brutally covered, but thankfully not destroyed. The interior has now been fully restored and has probably the best comprehensive display of Victorian tiling I have seen anywhere. Walls, ceiling, columns, all covered in a range of designs and colours. There is also a huge central rooflight and a frieze one end, showing a countryside/lake scene. The ambience is partially spoiled by a couple of fruit machines and especially the big pull down screen for football which covers the frieze,but this is after all a station bar. I did also notice a pin ball table in a corner. Another big plus, for it's location and genre, there are five real ales in two sets of pumps, each side of the end wall bar. Jarrow Rivet Catcher, Prince Bishop Ale, Allendale Golden Plover and a couple of Black sheep Bitter which was on a £2.50 deal for the live Newcastle v Villa game. Cheap food menu if you need to stoke up before the journey, eg chilli and rice £4.65, ham egg and chips £4.95, chip bap £2.50. Sounds like a better bet than the on board catering to me. Obviously not a pub to settle into or use regularly, but if you get a chance, go and take a look at that tiling.