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The Mile Castle (Lloyds No 1), Newcastle Upon Tyne

Pub added by elizabeth mcgraw
Westgate Road & Grainger Street
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 5XU
Phone: 01912111160

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Pub Type

Lloyds No. 1 (J D Wetherspoon)

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The Mile Castle (Lloyds No 1)

Revisited Oct 2022
It seems to have got rather darker and gloomier inside, and the number of stereotypical early doors drinkers seems to have increased. It still manage to have 10 ales on though (if including the usual dross) and the Ouseburn Porter was exceedingly good.

Original review June 2010
Spendid historic building, but first impressions on entering were that it was some kind of basement bar. A bit of exploring reveals actually on three levels, with the upper floors getting quite comfortable and civilised. Wouldn't have minded spending the evening! Usual range of JDW beers and food.

On 31st October 2022 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Aqualung . left this review about The Mile Castle (Lloyds No 1)

I came here on a Thursday evening and spotted a clip for a beer called Toon Broon which I thought I would try. I was told by the barmaid that it wasn't actually on so asked her why the clip was displayed and she said something I couldn't discern. As this is another JDW that insists on displaying beers that aren't available I've reduced the score from 7 to 3. I wonder if this is a trading standards issue. I walked out in disgust.

Visit Jun 2016
I turned up here at around 22:00 on a Wednesday and was relieved to find no loud music or flashing lights which I assume happens on Friday & Saturday nights. It's been well described below and I stuck to the ground floor but did notice the lighting rig at the end of the rectangular room.
Beers available from the ten hand pumps on this level were the JDW Trio Of Doom, Cameron's Strongarm, Mordue Workie Ticket, Sonnet 43 Raven Porter, Firebrick Coalface & Pagan Queen, Big Lamp Prince Bishop and the JDW footbore one. I went for the Raven (£2.35) which was in good nick.
This is very good for a Lloyds and reasonably good for a city centre JDW but I would hate to come here late on a Friday or Saturday.

On 18th August 2018 - rating: 3
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Mile Castle (Lloyds No 1)

This grand building, close to the Central train station, was formerly the head office for the TSB Bank. After a short, ill-advised period operating as a sports bar, during which time the building partially collapsed after the owners removed a load-bearing wall, the venue was taken over by Wetherspoons, who opened the place as a Lloyds No 1 bar in 2009. The venue is now split over three levels and was very busy when I popped in for breakfast on a Sunday morning. You enter past some very limited pavement seating into a predominantly empty space with a couple of sofas and a wall that screens this space from the rest of the pub. Passing the wall, you emerge into a typically vast 'Spoons style main bar area with the servery running along the left hand wall. Seating options seem fairly restricted here, with several high tables and stools through the middle of the room and tub chairs elsewhere. A staircase leads up to a first floor bar with the servery in a similar location. Up here there are lots of standard tables and chairs with a few colourful paintings on the walls and a large mural on the end wall. The usual 'Spoons info boards can be found dotted around the place and there are some pleasing light fittings which look good in such a large, open space. Another staircase leads up to a second floor area with its own bar and comfier seating options including several more sofas. Essentially you have a drinking barn on the ground floor, a dining room on the first floor and a lounge on the second floor, which seems like a sensible approach for a city centre 'Spoons hoping to appeal to all-comers.
There are countless handpulls across the three different bars, but as far as I could tell, most had beers doubled up from other floors. On the ground floor bar I noted three guest ales and two 'Spoons regulars. It being early in the morning after a long crawl the night before, I opted for a mug of tea with my breakfast, so I can't comment on the quality of the ales.
I was impressed with the scope of this huge conversion and thought it was a bit disappointing that this seemingly hadn't translated into a wider selection of ales. The place is set up well to cater for a broad range of customers, giving the public access to a fine old building that might otherwise have been lost to us, but beyond the scale of the pub, there's not much here that you won't have seen before.

On 13th May 2016 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about The Mile Castle (Lloyds No 1)

A three-tiered mega Spoons, with a bar on each floor. Little of the original interior remains but the general décor is good - carpeted, wood panelling and various bits of local history and old portraits. The top tier is the best room, with stained glass windows, lovely ceiling moulds and good views from the windows. There's also an impressive hireable room. Ale selection pretty much the same on all floors, though the greatest choice is on the ground floor; however it’s a Lloyds so don’t expect huge quantities of guest ales. My Mordue Radgie Gadgie was in good shape. Staff were noticeably chipper, a bit unusual for the chain. Although not as stunning as its near neighbour the Union Rooms, this place is still worth checking out.

On 6th July 2015 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5050 recommendations about 5033 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Mile Castle (Lloyds No 1)

Grand old building, but rather dingy inside. Elongated main bar (with 10 hp) plus more seating in the upstairs bar (5 more hp). However, despite the numbers, the real ale choice was fairly poor, with just five available in total (including Ilkley Fireside Porter, £2.15, but 20p less with food deals). Usual 'spoons furniture and decor, with the only Lloyds No. 1 clue being the DJ booth at the far end. All-in-all, rather disappointing - you get the impression that it could be rather better.

On 9th March 2014 - rating: 5
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about The Mile Castle (Lloyds No 1)

A 3 floor 3 bar wetherspoons (Lloyds no1). Located close to Newcastle central station.

On 23rd February 2013 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


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Malden man left this review about The Mile Castle (Lloyds No 1)

This is a relatively recent JDW/Lloyds conversion from a former bank premises, situated fairly close to Central Station. Arranged over three floors (the upper floor is an added mezzanine), the beer range from each bar varies according to where you choose to sit, however there is a helpful board listing what is on where as you walk into the entrance lobby. The ground floor has a lighting rig and sound decks but the middle floor seems to be the quietest area and has a separated section at one end. A lot of wood panelling looks to have been retained and unlike many of the brand the huge arched windows let in plenty of light.
There were a decent range of guest ales across the three bars with a locAle policy in evidence. Beers from Mordue and Allendale were tried and in good shape. The staff were very friendly, helpful and efficient, and our breakfast plates were cleared away as soon as we had finished and the table wiped down, in a JDW! A decent spot, and an impressive building, although I imagine it will be a bit noisier in the evening.

On 3rd September 2012 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


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Real Ale Ray left this review about The Mile Castle (Lloyds No 1)

Well worth a visit as they serve some top class guest ales. I imagine it gets very busy here in the evening, especially when the main bar features a high tech lighting and DJ section. I liked the open plan staircase, which led you between the three floors. I went for the Maxim Brewery Maximus, Allendale and Farne Island.

On 13th August 2012 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Gill Smith left this review about The Mile Castle (Lloyds No 1)

First time visit to this Lloyds No 1 which is in the 2012 Good Beer Guide. As it was our last call of a brilliant day in Newcastle we decided to eat here, and the Rib Eye Steaks were very good value and very tasty. Had a couple of pints of their guest ales included too, which is brilliant as Ruddles is sometimes the only ale offered in these deals. We had Brains Clock Tower and Holt Two Hoots. No problems at all with the food or beer.

On 21st March 2012 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


ROB Camra left this review about The Mile Castle (Lloyds No 1)

Nicely decorated, if a little bland internally, Lloyds No 1 just 200 yards from the huge Union Rooms JDW. Nice enough leather look chairs throughout and during the recent beer festival they had more guests on than the Union Rooms. Very unusual for a Lloyds. We were in at a lunchtime so the atmosphere will change later at night as they have a DJ stand and dancefloor as usual. It's OK though and the pint I had Springhead Spring Chicken was in decent nick.

On 16th April 2010 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3216 recommendations about 3127 pubs]