The Ship Inn, Stepney Bank, Newcastle

The Ship Inn, Stepney Bank. Another of the 'Ouseburn Trail' of ancient 'proper' boozers.

I'm now convinced that the sun does shine on the righteous. Or is it the Ouseburn? Every time I come down here for a pint the sun is shining!

Although I couldn't quite get used to the 'circular' feel of the room which disappears behind the bar, the Hadrian Gladiator which I enjoyed in this pub was heartwarming. I had two just to make sure I could get round the full circle .

I did wonder, however, if the owner had done a deal with, or was the previous owner of, Swan Hunters. More than a modicum of Battleship Grey paint was in evidence in the gentlemens (and the ladies??) toilets. It took me so long to get in and out of the sticking doors for the umpteen coats of grey paint, I had to have another pint ! Another one of Baldrick's cunning plans no doubt.

Nevertheless, a most pleasurable visit and one I look forward to repeating.
A decent set of real ales to enjoy too.

The Cumberland Arms

The Cumberland Arms, James Place Street
(near top of Byker Bank) Ouseburn, Newcastle. Tel:0191 2656151.

It turned out to be a beautiful, but bloody cold, evening at 5pm when I called at the Cumberland Arms at the end of my day at the Free Trade's beer festival.


The Cumberland did not disappoint in atmosphere, mishap and incident.

Atmosphere.I limped in to a near full bar, a blazing fire, a lovely pint of Wylam's Rapper and my spare pair of shoes still in my coat pocket.(there on the sound advice of 'the Burglars Dog'). Someone, however, was not so lucky.(see incident).

Mishap. Having had my fair share of drink (beer festival), I decided to pay a visit to the gents. Now the Cumberland Arms bar is not the biggest in the north east by any means, so I decided to leave my visible means of support(aluminium crutch) and venture forth without it. No sod told me there was a downward step immediately on opening the loo door. The clever designer must have had a mate with similar disabilities as myself and built a green 6 foot fence at just the right distance to catch the staggerer just as the door closed behind. Otherwise the gents were perfectly satisfactory.

Incident. The view from the generously tabled and seated sun patio out front, is terrific. Right across the valley of the Tyne to Gateshead at the other side. The only thing to disturb the chat and the quoff of the throng out there was the sound of car window glass gently breaking. Yes, the local constabulary had to pay a visit to speak to the young lady whose transport home would unfortunately be considerably chillier. Whether anything had been taken , my nose was too far down the inside of my delicious Rapper to tell.

Cask Task can only say that if the entertainment upstairs(music, theatre, comedy, poetry etc) is as good as it promises to be then a further visit is a must.




To visit their website, click the link The Cumberland Arms Pub, Ouseburn

The Tanners

The Tanners , 1 Byker Bridge(top of Stepney Bank), Newcastle.

Tel:0191 2221817 Part of the Ouseburn Trail

The Cluny, Lime Street, Ouseburn

The Cluny Lime Street Ouseburn Newcastle
The Cluny, 36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2PQTel. (public / office) 0191 2304474Te. / Fax. (office) 0191 2304475E mail cluny@theheadofsteam.co.uk
Manager Julian Ive

An ancient building the Cluny and the most unlikely of pubs to look at. I could have walked straight past it!
In a past life it was apparently a whisky distillery which fell into disuse and stood empty for umpteen years, before being discovered by the younger element as a super place to have 'raves'!!
It was refurbished some years ago and reopened as a pub, joining the 'Ouseburn pub trail'.

A simple but tasty meal can be be purchased and a fine selection of beers and lagers are on sale.

Four real ales are served, one of which I sampled (how unusual of I). A pint of Jarrow's Geordie Pride, however, quickly turned into another which was just as delicious as the first!
On my way to the loo, I passed a little door which turned out to be a dim but sizeable entertainment cavern. Music and live bands can be seen and heard on some nights I was told.

So! What turned out to be an unlikely pub had a few pleasant surprises.

The Tyne Bar, Newcastle uopn Tyne

The Tyne Bar (or Tyne.Com) used to be called the Ship Tavern, but was changed by its present owner, about 15 years ago. He came from the Egypt Cottage whose sign is on the wall in the Tyne Bar!

It is, naturally enough as the Ouseburn is at its front door, on the 'Ouseburn Trail' and I was introduced to it about a year ago by an attractive woman.

Although small, (the bar not the woman) it houses many a decent bit of entertainment whilst still retaining its ancient cosy character.

Four real ales are on tap so I thought I might as well try one. What a little tinker, eh! Wylam Brewery's Gold Tankard turned out to be an excellent choice.

To visit their website click this link The Tyne, Bar, Ouseburn

The Free Trade Inn, St Lawrence Road, Newcastle

The Free Trade Inn, St Lawrence Rd., Byker,(Tel:0191 2655764) is one of what is known as the 'Ouseburn Pub Trail'. It consists of 6 old watering holes within easy walking (or in my case hobbling) distance of each other. What a good idea!

With a magnificent view up the Tyne of its Millenium, Tyne, Swing, and High Level bridges. Particularly from the pub's little summer garden.

The Free Trade Inn is over 100 years old and looks it! As does it's furniture and decor, although I've got to admit the beer was OK. The Jarrow Old Cornelius, a fine dark porter I tasted, was spot on.

The old pub is having, or has just had, (depending of course on when, if ever, you read this), its Ist ever beer festival (of 20 or more proper swallies) on the 6th-8th March 2009. Featuring High House Farm, Jarrow Brewery, Wentworth, Mordue, Leeds, Titanic, Wylam etc. etc. etc. Mien got und himmel! I'm salivating at the gob just thinking about it!!

You must do your best and I mine, to attend this auspicious occasion.
See you there!

To visit the website click the link The Free Trade Inn, St Lawrence Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 1AP Tel. 0191 265 5764