Melton Constable, Beresford Road, Seaton Sluice. Whitley Bay, NE26 4DR. Tel:0191 2377741.

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The Melton Constable is set just off the main road through Seaton Sluice by the sea inlet.
With a conservatory at the rear giving a pleasant outlook, the old pub has a good atmosphere to it.

A really good selection of five real ales, two from Caledonian Brewery, the Red and the Mellow Yellow. The others were Ruddles Best, Wells Bomberdier and Deuchars IPA. I thoroughly enjoyed my pint of Caledonian Red and a pleasant chat with both of the barmaids.

A good pub, serving food too.

Astley Arms, Marine Drive, Seaton Sluice, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE26 4JX. Tel:0191 2370057.

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The Astley Arms once, a long time ago, must have been a good pub. Before and during the 2nd World War, it must have had a loyal following.
There was a major naval base just up the coast at Blyth for a dozen submarines. All but 4 of them were lost or destroyed.
A bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label Whisky was left behind the bar by one of the submarine 'Seahorse' crew, to be collected on his return. This submariner, 'Tug' Wilson, was lost at sea along with the rest of the crew of 'Seahorse' in 1940, and the unopened bottle remains in a glass case in the Astley Arms in his, and all the other lost submariner's memory.
The two real ale pumps, Green King IPA and Black Sheep, are all that remain, in a what is virtually now a family canteen, rather than a pub.

BeeHive Inn, Hartley Lane, Earsdon, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE25 0SZ. Tel:0191 2529352.

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The BeeHive Inn is on a quiet country lane between Earsdon and Old Hartley.

I must admit I've passed this Grade II listed pub and never given it a try, until this late, rain soaked, thursday afternoon. It had a reasonable selection of drinkers and mainly diners, even on this awful day, and it got busier as the afternoon continued. Obviously, the pub was doing something right!
Two real ales on in this little place and both in good health. Timothy Taylors Landlord and the Northumberland Brewery BeeHive Bitter.
Reluctantly, having to leave without sampling the food there, off I trundled, promising to return at some point for a meal.
The sooner the better.

Delavel Arms, Old Hartley, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE26 4RL. Tel:0191 2370489.

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The Delavel Arms is a lovely old boozer on the northern outskirts of Whitley Bay.

The lads from Cavendish Kitchens used to have their Christmas do's here, in the side room, on the right as you go in. Good nights they were too. Unfortunately, for gronks like, me there are two stairs down to the bar. Don't let that put you off as it's a good atmosphere in there.

4 real ale pumps are in working order and one of my favourites, Mordues Workie Ticket, is generally one of them.

A good real ale pub.

Tilleys, 105 Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4AW. Tel:0191 2320692.

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Tilleys, sandwiching the Tyne Theatre (formerly the Stoll picture house, where I used to 'play the wag' from school to see so called 'dirty' movies in 1960, in what seems like the middle ages now) between it and The Bodega pub, feels a bit more downmarket than its sister pub. Its not really, its just that the Bodega has a more interesting interior.

Still interesting with its 'cinema' inside!! Tilleys is a bit more down to earth, shall we say, but does have a substantial range if changing real ales. JW Lees Strawberry Fruity Ale, Blackberry Cascade(2 bananas and a half pound of apples please?), JW Lees Bitter(thats better), High House Nels Best, Wylams Summer Magic and some of yer actual real? lager. I tried a pint of this, just to say that I had.

A good pub though and worth a visit.

The Bodega, 125 Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4AG. Tel:0191 2211552.

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The Bodega is a beautiful old pub, both inside and out, with its magnificent domed ceiling and traditional look exterior. Another city drinking establishment Sir John Fitzgerald can be proud of. I can't help feeling though, that the new road, sort of cutting Westgate Road in two, doesn't enhance this part of the city, but on to the Bodega's further good points.

The superb real ale range is as good as ever. Changing constantly. When we called, Prince Bishop Ale, Sharp's Honey Spiced Gold, Milestone Black Pearl (one of my favourites), Nethergate Brewery Painted Lady, Milestones Dark Knight and Durham Brewery's The Durham Magus were all sitting there, ready to be supped.

Get in and get some swallied.