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Beer of the Week (w/e 28th April 2024) with Mobyduck
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The Bodega, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 4AG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Bodega
A group of us visited the Bodega for the first time in over 3 years on a recent midweek visit to Newcastle. Being part of the old Sir John Fitzgerald chain of pubs, it's always fairly reliable for real ales. On this visit, they were also holding a real cider festival, which had grabbed my attention.
Being after a Newcastle United game, it was fairly packed soon after the match had finished. The pub has the feel of an Irish bar, with bare boards and a quite raucous atmosphere at times. Multiple TVs were showing football. Look out for the stained-glass skylights.
After finally getting through the crowds to the bar, we were greeted with a choice of 6 real ales. Fyne Ales Jarl is a regular beer. Also on were Fyne Ales Mixtape IPA #3, North Riding Snainton Strider, McColl's Bliss, Metalhead Dark Secret & Big Lamp Prince Bishop's Ale. The only cider on handpull was Ascension Wrath. All of the other ciders had to be fetched from the cellar, which didn't seem to go down well with the masses of other people waiting to be served! Real ciders on were Heck's Slack Ma Girdle, Dunkerton's Late, Vilberie & Port Wine of Glastonbury, Monkey House Blackberry & Raspberry Cider, Kiwi & Lime Cider & Scottish Raspberry Cider & Oliver's Shezam. As part of the festival, there were also some keykeg ciders that they weren't serving as it was a matchday, and a number of bottles.
We ended up spending an enjoyable couple of hours here, before leaving just as it appeared they might be about to throw us out. In fairness, the bar staff were all quite cheerful and I think they were actually still serving when we departed shortly before midnight.
Still very much one of Newcastle's best alehouses.
On 31st October 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2454 recommendations about 2453 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Bodega
despite being a single room there are some gorgeous traditional pub features remaining . It retains some wow factor but the loud music and numerous sport TVs detract. Still worth a visit for an excellent pint (Titanic Plum Porter always a plus point for me) in great surroundings. A classic no nonsense city drinkers pub.
On 12th March 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Bodega
This fine old pub from the excellent Fitzgerald chain still has two entrances marked 'Saloon Bar' and 'Select Bar', but sadly they both lead into the same large room these days. This is a shame, as I suspect that were the original partitioning still intact this would be a shoe-in for CAMRA's Heritage Pub's list, such is the splendour within. The main bar is a large open space broken up slightly by the presence of a few pillars, but still offering lots of standing room. A dark wood bar counter runs down the right hand wall with a tongue and groove bar back dominated by a huge 'Bass and Co Burton Ales' mirror. The front windows are fringed with a pleasant decorative stained glass pattern and some of the partitioning screens in the centre of the pub boast nice etched glass inserts and help to form a series of small bench booths down the left hand wall. Elsewhere, there is simple bench seating to the front and some high tables and stools opposite the bar. The walls have been decorated with some more excellent brewery mirrors of the same size and quality as the one on the bar back. The room's main attraction is the vast stained glass cupola towards the rear, supported by some impressive vaults. The pub extends beyond this, into a space with old tiled flooring where chunky fixed benches and standard chairs line the lincrusta wallpapered walls. A quick glance around this space, which for me was the nicest spot to grab a seat, showed some modern string-instrument wallpaper, a nice stained glass window to the rear, huge Bass and Aitcheson's mirrors, local art, a pull down screen and another marvellous ellipse shaped cupola with stained glass, a gold central grid and a vast light fitting. To the end of the bar there is an unusual, low panelled semi-circular area that was perhaps once part of the servery or even a snug, but which now contains an ATM.
This is another Newcastle pub with a commitment to providing a good range of well kept ales, with the choices on this visit comprising Fyne Ales Jarl, Oakham Green Devil IPA, Almasty Creation, Hop Craft Juicy Fruits, Sonnet 43 People We Trust, Bad Seed Espresso Stout, Brass Castle Coffee Cream Ale and Big Lamp Prince Bishop Ale. My pint of Jarl was in excellent condition and I also noticed several boxes of cider stacked at the end of the bar as well as a few interesting keg options from the likes of Magic Rock.
I really loved this place which I thought combined excellent beer with a genuinely attractive and interesting interior. I could have quite happily spent several hours sat under those magnificent cupolas whilst working my way along the handpulls and I would suggest that this place is up there with the best the city has to offer. An essential port of call for anyone visiting Newcastle.
On 17th May 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Bodega
Traditional alehouse with few frills bar the booth seating to the right side and a fairly spectacular large central glass roof dome. Eight ales on, my Hawkshead was in good nick. Friendly barman and locals, got chatting to a Mackem whist watching Sunderland desperately scrabble for Premier League safety on the TV. Towards the end of a very long day’s crawling so perhaps didn’t appreciate it maybe as much as I should have done but it’s still very good.
On 6th July 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Bodega
This is now a large single bareboarded room but both entrances to the Select Bar and Saloon Bar remain. Initially on entering it looks a bit featureless and spartan but once inside the spectacular pair of leaded stained glass domed rooflights can be seen and light this deep pub well during the day. The bar is to one side with booth seating opposite, banquettes and stools elsewhere and a few high tables in the middle. Mostly dark red walls and ceiling, decor is mostly brewery mirrors plus a range of excellent black and white drawings of nearby buildings including the pub by a local artist which can be purchased.
A few screens dotted around were showing football on Sunday lunchtime, but that is not the only entertainment as unseen from most of the pub floor, a small recess at the back houses a dartboard. There is also a quiz night with prizes on a Thursday.
The main draw here though is the excellent beer range served and kept by knowledgeable and friendly staff. My Sunday afternoon visit had the standard house brews of Durham Magus and Big Lamp Prince Bishop plus Oakham Inferno, Durham Apollo American IPA, Tempest Long White Cloud, Fyne Ales Avalanche, Prospect Pickaxe and Salamander Ramraider Porter. Now that isn't bad at all; sadly I had a train to catch otherwise I may just have been tempted to stay a while longer. It was especially good to see a barrel change in the middle of the day involving a bucket and lots of pulling through, something I see less and less.
Coming soon beers are listed with brief descriptions on a chalkboard by the bar. Another Newcastle pub with a loyalty card system, buy eight, get the ninth free.
This is a cracking pub and only a short distance from Central Station especially if you scoot up Pink Lane, well worth a quick one if you have time between trains or obviously a longer one if you can!
On 7th December 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Bodega
Lovely pub in the 2010 Good Beer Guide. It has wonderful domed ceilings. Different rooms and booths make an interesting interior. Had Wentworth Holster Pils.
The above was in August 2010. Revisited yesterday.
Maintains it's standing by being in the 2012 Good Beer Guide. It is a good real ale pub, and we chose Brodies Old Street Pale and Brew Company Blonde at this visit, both in good condition.
The above was in March 12 and we enjoyed another visit yesterday. Gundog Black Hunter was excellent, and our other beer of choice Great Heck Heckstra Gold went down well too.
On 29th August 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Bodega
Part of the Fitzgerald's chain, formerly an old music hall, attached to the Tyne Theatre hence the pubs size. Definitely one to visit this pub, staff friendly and helpful. Has a great range of ales I enjoyed the Bronte Ales Heathcliff, Big Lamp Prince Bishop and Berkshire Mr Chubbs Lunchtime Bitter. Will defo return.
On 19th March 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Sheppard left this review about The Bodega
Interesdting pub, very unusual inside with large glass domed ceilings and strange décor. There are six pumps selling perfectly conditioned beer. Brilliant!
On 6th November 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 192 recommendations about 192 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about The Bodega
As good as ever this pub. been a favourite for years but always a toss of a coin to do this one or the bridge when changing trains at Newcastle. Some nice dark ales on during our recent summer visit.
On 28th August 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Bodega
Fine one roomed pub with a magnificent dome ceiling, a couple of alcoves and a friendly welcome. Sells a good range of ever changing guests, usually with one from Mordue and one from Durham. I've always had a decent pint here. Good pub that we always call in when staying at the Holiday Inn Express just round the corner. The smoking area is part of the loading bay at the back, unusual.
On 21st June 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]