Bridge Hotel

Sarah_W

Location, location, location 2nd March 2009

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More than anything else, this pub scores highly on location. It’s in the city centre but a little off the most beaten pathways – away from the shops (so a little quieter during the day) and from the focus spots for night-time activity such as the Bigg Market and Quayside. But it isn’t just this slightly off-path location that makes it a winner; it’s also its lofty perch above the River Tyne. And the pub makes the most of the views, with an outdoor terrace and a raised area inside which looks out over the river to Gateshead beyond. OK, maybe a view of Gateshead isn’t going to grab you, but with three of the Tyne’s famous bridges in the foreground there’s plenty to look at, and at night the light of the city (I’m told) make the view even better.

But you could get a view from many places, I know. This is a pub and you want a drink! Well, if real ale is your thing you’re in luck, with a decent selection of regulars and a varied rotation of guest ales. In fact, the pub has been listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide every year since 1998. We sampled a wonderful hazelnut coffee porter from the Solitaire Brewery on our latest visit and were impressed enough to buy a second round of the same. Once you’ve chosen your drink there’s plenty of room in which to relax and enjoy it, and you can also admire the stained glass windows which depict various scenes linked to the surrounding area – the bridges, the houses stacked up on the steep river banks, boats on the Tyne etc.

There is Sky TV so you can watch the Toon on a match day and I imagine the atmosphere is as good as any other pub in the city though we’ve not been there to watch a game. Or for something a little different, I understand that there is a Folk Club here on a Monday evening.

shell998

I kind of love it.. 3rd September 2008

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I don't know what it is about the Bridge Hotel but I just love the place. It has a great view out in the beer garden (although watch the door - we got locked out there once!) and the drinks are reasonably priced. They sell pickled eggs behind the bar - I'm yet to try one though! The staff are friendly and polite and I've had some really funny lovely nights in there with friends. They sometimes have live music on in the bar upstairs. The toilets are down the stairs and miles away and it's a little creepy and reminds me of The Shining! The toilets also seem to flush of their own accord (or perhaps I was hallucinating with the vodka!). When I think of The Bridge I have a warm glow - always a good sign!

coldclimate

Best view? 22nd June 2008

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There's a long walk down to the loos, and there are a couple of rooms, the beer is good, but the best thing about it... the view.

Wander down to the terrace, turn on the outside heater, and you look out across the Tyne for one of the best kept secret views in the Toon.

Layclerk

6th March 2007

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In my brief sojourn with the choir of St John the Baptist, Newcastle upon Tyne, this is where they drank. Can't remember much about it other than it's a rambling place with several rooms. And it must sell Real Ale if a choir drank there!

A while back I discovered that it was designed by a famous architect, and for the life of me I can't remember his name! Oh well.