Cumberland Arms, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Occupying a slightly isolated position at the end of a short cul de sac off a steepish hill in the Ouseburn district of Newcastle is The Cumberland Arms. It’s close to The Free Trade Inn and blue sign posts strategically placed on street corners helpfully point the way to the pub and other local places of interest. Approaching the pub, we see the trademark black round Guinness sign and, reassuringly, another one advertising the presence of real ale. It’s branded as a Free House. There’s 2 basic, but characterful rooms, either side of a central door with half height stained glass windows denoting the two rooms as “Bar” and, notably, “Sitting Room”. The main bar, on the left hand side, has a bare floor, original boarded wood panelling and bar counter, padded fixed seats around one edge and that characterful, well worn, lived in, proper ale house pub feel. A plethora of posters advertise forthcoming music attractions and it is clear that the pub caters for a wide range of diverse and eclectic music tastes ( eg – Funky Butt Club – Caribbean Music ). Games such as Monopoly and dominoes are also available. A number of framed certificates bear testimony to the pub’s prowess in staging Northumbrian Rapper Sword Dancing displays. The Sitting Room on the right is a similarly styled basic room and contains a piano. Service in this room is via a small hatch to the bar in the other room. Upstairs is a further room which I gather is used for live comedy shows and poetry readings. There’s an outside seating area at the front of the pub on the cobbled street and also at one side. A plaque outside tells us that the current building dates back to 1898 and was built to commemorate a local sportsman – John Wood. The pub is listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Heritage Pubs. Unusually for a pub of this ilk, bed and breakfast accommodation is offered in 4 double or twin en suite rooms. The advertising flyer tells us that “because we like good old fashioned conversation at The Cumberland Arms, please e mail your request to ……or phone ……and someone wil get back to you. Like the nearby Free Trade Inn, the pub is a keen supporter of local microbreweries and is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular. On my visit, beers available included Cumberland Corby Ale, Hadrian and Border Auld Cumberland, Out There Brewing Co Laika and Wylam Gold Tankard, the latter being on good form at £ 2.95p. Well worth seeking out – I’d be more than happy to call in again if the opportunity arises.

This is a lovely old pub situated high above the Ouseburn valley, a good walk from the city centre. Retaining a two room format, the Bar and Sitting Room as they are called being depicted in the leaded window glass. The interior is a time warp, old wood panelling, some exposed brick, probably the original bar, white boarded ceiling, flooring is bare boarded and the seating firmly traditional. This is a pub for the beer drinker, music and comedy fan, many events being advertised almost nightly in the sitting room. Beers are served from both handpumps and direct from the cask, my visit found Gundog Golden Corker, Blue Monkey Ape Ale, Consett Men of Steel, Hadrian and Border Old Cumberland, Cullercoats Watch House Winter Warmer, Jarrow Isis and Tyne Bank Hop Sock. Additionally there were ciders from Butford, Newtons, Broadoak, Pure North and Gwatkins. The handpumps are all situated in the bar where you can also view the beers on stillage through a glass screen. Service from the sitting room is via a hatch but the beers and ciders are listed on a board by ABV and type. Stacks of pump clips over the windows are testimony to the changing range here, mainly from micros and local breweries. Decor included a few gold discs, flyers for forthcoming gigs and events, shelves of books and board games. Food is served and I spotted a basic bar snacks menu on a chalkboard. There is also accommodation available with four B&B rooms. Outdoor seating to the front gives good views when the weather permits. This to me is a must visit pub, good also to combine with The Free Trade, Cluny and The Tyne Bar all being nearby in the Ouseburn Valley.