Free Trade Inn — Restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne

I've been coming to The Free Trade for years. The beer selection is great and the prices are good too (although be careful, some of the specialist beers are far from cheap), the location and views are excellent and the beer gardens are superb and very dog-friendly. However, the major drawback is the service which, over the past year or so, has become progressively worse. The order in which people are served is frankly baffling. When it's busy, and this is very much the case at the moment with the sunny weather, the staff are serving in areas regardless of who has been waiting the longest. During a quieter time yesterday evening, the staff still tried to serve somebody who had just walked in rather than me when there were no other people to serve and are completely disinterested when I voiced my displeasure. This has happened on so many occasions now that I refuse to go again. It's such a shame that such a brilliant venue can be ruined by such poor service but, being on fringes of Ouseburn, there are a plethora of alternatives (The Tyne Bar, for example, is 50m away and they operate a queueing system at the bar) so it's not as if they have a...

Looks can be deceiving. Went to meet up with some friends and what a treat. I would suggest a traditional style pub with little in the ways of airs and graces, just a welcoming atmosphere with a great feeling. Difficult to put your finger in it but the staff were efficient and happy to see me, I think!

The juke box was an interesting feature as was the curving bar that displayed a wide offering of cask beers, cider and fruit things! Each to their own. Dog friendly with a constant number of humans at the bar I would suggest waiting for the pub quiz on the Wednesday.

Venturing outside 2 very pleasant seating areas with the one across the road offering one of the best views down the quayside in to the city. Top photo opportunity when the sun was setting over the town.

To top off the night there was a mobile pizza van from Scream for Pizza and whilst I did not partake this evening they my fav with the associated restaurant up there. Appears that they offer a beer and pizza combo, match made in heaven.

A definite revisit soon with some...

A few weeks ago I got a message from Mack 4273 suggesting I try this riverside pub, So here I am. Paulicarus spotted a new brewery for me to tick off, Scottish brewery Newbarns from Leith. A 5.2% smokey brown, only a half as too strong for a pre midday drink. 8 real ales on handpump. Followed with a pint of Cullercoats Jack The Devil 4.5% bitter. An L shaped bar with a good size beer garden to the side and a river view terrace to the front. Thankfully the wind off the Tyne is not as arctic today as it was in South Shields yesterday. A CAMRA 2025 Good Beer Guide entry. Also wins awards for the cider. A fridge full of foreign beers as well. Only a 15 minute walk from the Tyne Bridge along the river. Retains the character of a working mans pub. We found it...