Crown Posada, Newcastle Upon Tyne

This was the only pub visited on my Tyneside visit that I knew I'd been to before but after 35 or so years all I could recall was that it was hopelessly crowded. On my Thursday afternoon visit there were less than a dozen in. Rather fittingly an old record player had a Lindisfarne LP playing. It's been described before so I will just point out that the narrow room is even narrower where the bar area is which leads to my only gripe about it. Despite the lack of room by the bar there are bar stools along it one of which was being occupied by someone plus standing acquaintances who were completely blocking the view of the six hand pumps. I did manage to spot that one was unused and that Hadrian Tyneside Blonde and Allendale Pennine Pale were available. The Pennine Pale (£3.00) was in great condition. I really don't know why tiny pubs like this have bar stools but other than that it's well worth a look.

This fine pub is easily missed thanks to its narrow frontage and is perhaps easiest to spot if you look out for the intricate crown-motif ironwork porch canopy or unusual blue 'Posada' stone to the side of the entrance. The pub is part of the fantastic Fitzgerald chain and has been in their hands since 1901. The interior comprises one single long narrow room with the servery along the left side and a small snug to one side. The front windows have some particularly fine stained glasswork and look down into the snug which has dark wood partitioning, dark wood beams and padded benches. A large cabinet full of sports trophies can be viewed in here and there is a small hatch for access to the bar. The main bar area appears once you've passed the snug and opposite there are some large mirrors which cover a series of windows that overlooked the adjacent alleyway. The wallpaper here apparently covers some old wall paintings, which presumably have been hidden for preservation reasons(?). The servery has a dark wood counter and the bar back has the pub's name and a crown symbol in stained glass as a centrepiece. Beyond the bar there is a long carpeted area with padded benches down one side under some etched glass mirrors and lots of local photos. The ceiling is worth a look thanks to a decorative moulded design and some appropriately grand light fittings. Music played quietly on my late Saturday evening visit and there was a good relaxed vibe within, marking a sharp contrast to some of the surrounding bars. On the bar, the hand pumps were dispensing Allendale Pennine Pale, Hadrian Border Tyneside Blonde and Black Gate Bitter and Bandwagon Orange. Swanay Dark Munro was also badged when I entered, but the barman was unable to pull a full pint before it went off. Unexpectedly, a very friendly chap then came over, introducing himself as the manager. He offered to run down to the cellars and put on a similar beer for me that he had been planning to put on the following day. I politely declined and settled for a pint of the Pennine Pale instead, but remained impressed by this dedication to customer service. This is a great old pub with bags of character and charm which seems a little out of place amongst all the modern bars in the Quayside area. I found the beer in good condition, the staff extremely helpful and the ambiance perfect for a traditional pub of this nature. This was a great way to round off an excellent day of drinking around the city and I'd say this place is an essential port of call for anyone visiting Newcastle.

Fantastic CAMRA inventory heritage pub. Snug to left as you enter with green ribbed leather banquette seating. From here you get the best view of the two huge stained glass windows which bathe the whole pub interior in a yellowish glow. Also there are fantastic ceiling mouldings and cornices if you look upward. Carry on through the narrow bar area with mahogany bar back and the pubs name picked out in leaded stained glass. To the rear is a tremendous lounge area. Even the bogs are pretty impressive. Its size and layout mean seating is at a premium and leaning against the long drinking shelf will be the fate for most visitors during peak hours. Old pre-60's music trilling out of an ancient contraption behind the bar. Filled rolls available. Six ales, my Blue Monkey BG Sips was surprisingly under-par but the Allendale was better. Nice locals and barman, gave me a map of the city centre and went through the pub list with extra recommendations for inclusion and deletion which came in handy later on. As an unspoilt gem it’s a proper little must-visit, shame the beer wasn’t in a more sock-removing condition.