Exchange, North Shields

It's not easy to locate this bar. I walked pretty much the whole perimeter of the building, to eventually find the entrance on the building's western side (Howard Street). Scaffolding covering the building really doesn't help. Once through the entrance, you pass through a pleasant shaded courtyard before reaching the theatre and bar, a pleasant conservatory-like affair with doors that opened onto the courtyard. There are 3 handpulls on the bar, which were dispensing the house beer Three Kings Thomas Brown, Fyne Ales Hurrican Jack & Cross Bay Ideas of March. The friendly barman gave me a taster of each. 1 was clearly off and he happily turned the clip around. I ended up with the Cross Bays beer, which was very good.

This is a modern pleasant café bar type pace, part of the Exchange complex which includes a theatre. Four of the five cask pumps were on at the time of my visit on Tuesday around 5pm - Marstons 61 Deep, Tyne Titans IPA by Brinkburn St, Three Quatrains (Espresso Porter) by Sonnet 43, and Thomas Brown(?) bitter by Three Kings. Can't remember what the prices were like but I don't recall it being particularly expensive.