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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Tilleys Bar, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 4AW
Pub Type
Leased (Marstons)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Tilleys Bar
Tilley's is often a bar we overlook when in Newcastle, preferring to bypass it and head instead to the nearby Bodega. So, it's been several years since I last visited.
I'm not sure if it still is, but Tilley's used to be part of the Head of Steam chain. The last time I visited in 2017, they had 7 cask ales. These days, it is reduced to just 4. Anarchy Blonde Star & Cameron's Strongarm are the regular beers. Guests for our Sunday evening visit were Oakham Citra & Titanic Plum Porter. Amongst the keg beers were Wylam Jakehead, Fierce Lemonade Raspberry (not really a beer, but fairly refreshing), Tooth & Claw Squeeze & Jellyfish Nebula & Yeastie Boys Bigmouth. Whilst reducing the cask ale range, they also seemed to have dispensed of the real cider they use to stock.
It was very busy inside with plenty of Newcastle fans preferring to head for a drink instead of watching their team's qualification for the Champions League in the ground. Or perhaps they'd not been to the game and had been watching inside the pub. Either way, it wasn't the Newcastle game that was being shown on the multiple TV screens.
The main drinking space is around the bar and the entrance. There is further seating up a couple of stairs to the rear, where I spotted a dartboard. This is another Newcastle pub that seems to have gone downhill since Covid. I will downgrade my score a couple of points. However, whilst some Newcastle pubs have deteriorated, I can still say that Newcastle is a good day out for drinkers. Visits to the Bridge Hotel, Lady Grey's and the Wobbly Duck were excellent as usual.
On 26th May 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3111 recommendations about 3109 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Tilleys Bar
Modern semi-spartan corner bar with a large main area for drinking on entering and a smaller, quieter raised area to right. In the main bar are a number of booths which notably all have sockets prominently displayed to allow for phone charging and laptop powering (of which I gratefully partook!). Watch out for the cast iron pillars. Seven ales on and my Mordue 20 was in good shape. Lots of bottles in the fridge too. Another solid ale bar in NE1 that's worth checking out - and very close to the Bodega. Just needs a bit more charm.
On 6th July 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5589 recommendations about 5570 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
david hammill left this review about Tilleys Bar
call in this pub when in Newcastle good little place nice beers the only bad thing is they serve the beer flat ie London style only putting a sparkler on if you insist if I wanted flat beer I`d go down south
On 5th January 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 96 recommendations about 86 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Tilleys Bar
Never feel quite sure how to take this one, is it a pub or is it a bar. Very friendly place with good ales so deserves to be in the 2010 Good Beer Guide. Always seem to find fruity beers there, and these are not my favourite type of beers, but there is nothing wrong with them. Had Coach House Pink Grapefruit and Summer Wine Houblon IPA.
The above was in August 2010 and we called in again yesterday. It is not in the 2012 Good Beer Guide but we found nothing wrong with the quality of the beers we tried. Hop Back Northern Pacer was only 2.8% but had flavour, and Mordue The Hoptrix was good too. Worth popping in if doing a crawl of Good Beer Guide pubs as it is close to Bodega.
On 29th August 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Tilleys Bar
This L shaped bar with cast iron pillars and wooden floor is part of the Head of Steam group. Serves well kept ales and there was a choice of five on our visit, which were Downtown Dark Delight, Wells Eagle IPA, Rudgate IPA, Youngs and Cumberland Corby Blond. I went for the Rudgate IPA, which was spot on. Will call again
On 19th August 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3684 recommendations about 3684 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about Tilleys Bar
Almost next door to a long time favourite, Bodega, this pub is well worth a visit . It certainly has more of a cafe bar feel than a traditional pub but the range of ales available which have been in good condition on both of our vists. Think it's part of the Head of Steam pubs with the various posters displaying their logo in the gents.
On 30th August 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Frost left this review about Tilleys Bar
Really sorting itself out. Lighting is more relaxed. Staff seem more relaxed. the food is great as long as you're not in a real hurry and reasonably priced. They show films in the back room too, although it was sleepless in seatle last night!?! Local beers were Wylam Hedonist, High House Farm Nels Best and Allendale Black Grouse. plus Corby Blonde and Summerwine Zenith. Got very busy because of show on next door at the Tyne Theatre.
On 3rd February 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Tilleys Bar
I like this pub, but I'm not really sure why. Has a good range of ales, usually with one or two interesting ones, usually well kept, but occasionally not. Always looks a bit scruffy and they are very prompt to throw you out at 11 in midweek. You're often made to feel really uncomfortable even if they've only just served you a pint at last orders when 3 minutes later some loudmouth is constantly shouting "drink up please". I only go in early doors these days due to this, but I still like it. Strange. It was very quiet when I last called in though.
On 21st June 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3296 recommendations about 3206 pubs]