The Criterion — Restaurant in South Tyneside

Loved this place. Visited it with friends. The cocktail menu was fun and varied. Such good deals as well. Also on a Sunday they do a complimentary cheeseboard after 5pm. The real wood fires were wonderful and added to the cosy atmosphere of the place. It is very historical and original inside you do have to climb some stairs to enter and exit. The staff were friendly and professional. Toilets were clean and well maintained. Would be happy to go here alone.

Edit: Some friends and I visited for a bottomless brunch and it was absolutely fabulous! Would highly recommend. The food was gorgeous, so fresh and well prepared. It was completely perfect and we were able to have what we didn't eat to go home with us. Plus the bartender kept us well supplied with delicious and inventive cocktails.

Edit II. Not sure what has happened in the last few months. It has gone from I would highly recommend to it's ok. The staff have become snappy, impatient, annoyed if you ask a question. They spend most of the time huddled together talking or on the phone. The do make you feel stupid. The staff mumble and get orders wrong. They run out of ingredients for cocktails and make it feel like it's your fault for ordering it. Tried to order an Long Island Iced tea and despite the bar having the ingredients I was snapped at, "WE DON'T DO THAT!" Which left us quite shocked. Most of the focus seems to have moved to parties and brunches which are excellent. It's sad ordinary people are paying the price in...

Booked The Criterion for a party of 12 for my sister's hen party, we had the bottomless brunch. When I arrived, a little early, I was told we had been given the Snug to use. I was over the moon, it's a great space for a rowdy hen party. The bottomless brunch was a bargain, there's so much choice! Once the drinks started they never stopped flowing and, since we were late starting (the previous occupants took longer than expected to leave), staff were even asking if we wanted more drinks well after our full 2 hours were up. Great service and a lovely venue. This is the second time I've enjoyed the bottomless brunch here and I'd recommend...

Felt so sorry for the young man on sat night (19/06/21) he had a lot of drama to put up with of a group of young women, i dont really know what it was about but my god he got some grief so hats off to him for keeping his cool, but at the end of it he had to get the manager. The manger got it as well, he did try many times to get them to leave but they just wouldn't he even told them they didn't have to pay although one of the girls did pay. So the reason why i have given 5 stars is life at the moment is so hard especially for the hospitality business & the staff do not need to be abused like that if you got a problem say your...