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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
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Crown Posada, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 3JE
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 Crown Posada
Famous Newcastle city centre pub that was closed for almost 2 years due to the pandemic, but re-opened in December and is now part of the Fitzgerald chain of pubs.
The interior is quite small, with a snug to the left as you enter, followed by the bar itself with a narrow passage alongside it taking you to another small seating area near to the toilets at the rear.
The ale selection on our Tuesday visit was pretty much as good as it ever was - Anarchy Sublime Chaos, Ossett Excelcius & White Rat, Rigg & Furrow Run Hop Run, Hadrian Border Farne Island & Cullercoats Shuggy Boat Blonde.
I've never yet managed to get into the snug at the front, but somehow always manage to find a table at the rear.
On 11th February 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Crown Posada
as described below, tiny and perfectly formed. no TVs or distractions, just great ale and conversation in the snug. Unmissable.
On 12th March 2020
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Crown Posada
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.
On 8th June 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Crown Posada
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.
On 13th May 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Crown Posada
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.
On 6th July 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Crown Posada
On my early afternoon visit this traditional pub was quiet and comfortable. A good selection of real ales and friendly staff.
On 13th May 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Crown Posada
Somehow contrived to walk by this place (at least twice) on my previous visit to Newcastle, I was very glad to find this time that all the good reports are true. The furniture and decor in the narrow bar, with its side snug near the door, are very appealing (in a traditional way), and the background rock & roll / blues music matched the mood perfectly on a late Sunday evening visit. Decent selection from five of the six handpumps that were operation, with my pint of Allendale Pennine Pale (£3.05) being in very good form. Like nearly all of the Sir John Fitzgerald outlets, this one is well worth seeking out.
On 9th March 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Crown Posada
Proper old school pub with an ornate but narrow interior. 6 real ales.
On 8th February 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
very wellinformed left this review about Crown Posada
Gotta love this pub, IMHO the best in the "Toon" Great beer, great service and really friendly.
Whenever i'm up there it becomes my local for a couple of days, Fantastic !
On 29th September 2012
- rating: 10
[User has posted 30 recommendations about 19 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Crown Posada
This was always one of my favourite Newcastle pubs and following this weekend's visit nothing has changed. You have to walk down the steeply sloping "Side" or totter down Dog Leap Stairs to get here but it is well worth taking the trouble. You enter into a dimly lit room, a century away from the modern bars of the Quayside, well chosen classic rock, blues and bluegrass were playing on the turntable, not too loud, people chatting and enjoying the excellent beer. The pub itself is, as said before, very narrow with the bar to the side at the front. Before the bar is a small snug with half height screens, lit with colour from the wonderful stained glass front windows. Beyond the bar the pub tapers more, seating down one side at banquettes and small tables, no room on the other side for more than an upholstered "leaning" rail. This area has dark wood panelling with a row of caricatures above plus evocative black and white photographs of ship building and river scenes. Opposite the seating row the walls have a series of elegant mirrors, presumably to give a hint of space. The ceiling is also worth a look, with superb plaster mouldings and beams.
The attractive dark hardwood bar back also has some mirrorwork plus the pub name in stained glass. This is topped by a model of a Navy warship with sails furled, and a row of hats from various of HM Ships.
There is a real dedication to decent ale here with the knowledgeable staff only too happy to discuss and advise. There is also a locAle policy with the local beers clipped accordingly.
My visit had Fyne Ales Avalanche, Rudgate Jorvik Blonde, Consett Ale Works Men of Steel, Hadrian Border Black Gate Bitter and also their Tyneside Blonde plus Jarrow Rivet Catcher. All tried were in superb condition.
Naturally there is no TV blaring out in here and I'm pretty sure they don't do meals but this is a fine pub, one of the very best. For info, it didn't used to open 'till 7 on a Sunday but is currently doing 12 to 4 as well and I'm so very glad it was!
On 3rd September 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]