O'wa the Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Many years since I was last in Swalwell to visit the Sun Inn, this time I was back and Owa the Road at this deceptively large micropub. There are 4 real ales. On my Saturday afternoon visit, these were Great North Eastern Rivet Catcher & Inter City Porter, Three Kings Ring of Fire & Firebrick Pagan Queen. My Inter City Porter was one of the ales served from the wood and was in an excellent condition. As the local CAMRA cider pub of the year, the cider range was also good - Orchard Pig The Hogfather, Naval Gazer & Explorer, Gwynt y Ddraig Happy Daze & Dog Dancer, Bootlegger Moonshine, Snail's Bank Very Perry, Gwatkin Squeal Pig & Sandford Orchards Slack McGirdle. In addition, there was a blackboard displaying a range of over 50 gins. Mrs Scrumpy would have been spoilt for choice, had we not discovered that the pub has no license for children. In spite of this, it was my favourite pub of the day in the Tyne & Wear area.