I purchased a £7.50 Day Saver ticket from the machine in the Metro station and set out to make the most of it.
Fist stop: Wallsend.
Four miles from Newcastle, situated - as the name suggests - at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall, and home to over 40,000 folk, Wallsend grew as mining and then shipbuilding became the big local employers.
It's also the birthplace of Sting, director Paul W. S. Anderson, and Michael Carrick, who may or may not be manager of Man United by the time I finish writing this post.
Four miles from Newcastle, situated - as the name suggests - at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall, and home to over 40,000 folk, Wallsend grew as mining and then shipbuilding became the big local employers.
It's also the birthplace of Sting, director Paul W. S. Anderson, and Michael Carrick, who may or may not be manager of Man United by the time I finish writing this post.
Wallsend doesn't really stand out as a Pub Stop on the Metro, but I'm a sucker for a cinema conversion and The Ritz looked the business.
A double-JDW start to the day!
A double-JDW start to the day!
The Ritz opened as an ABC cinema in 1939 with seating for 1,636 movie-goers. It closed in September 1962, the last film shown being A Kind of Loving starring Alan Bates. That gets 7.3 on IMDB so I don't think we can blame Alan Bates for the closure
The building then spent 49 years as a bingo hall before Wetherspoon's refurbished the site and opened the pub in 2011.
Beyond that grand Art Deco frontage is a wind-tunnel patio area with the main entrance set back from the street. Once inside, it doesn't feel much like an old cinema.
One big room, with a couple of separate sections to the back. Plenty of customers pre-11am.
I visited whilst the October Beer Fest was in full swing, picking the oatmeal stout brewed by some folk from Oregon whilst they were on holiday in Southwold. Not bad, but not the best of the festival ales that I got around to trying.
The visible ground floor 'cellar' is an interesting feature on the walk to the toilets...
I visited whilst the October Beer Fest was in full swing, picking the oatmeal stout brewed by some folk from Oregon whilst they were on holiday in Southwold. Not bad, but not the best of the festival ales that I got around to trying.
The visible ground floor 'cellar' is an interesting feature on the walk to the toilets...
But I hadn't come all this way to peer through windows at beer barrels or sit in one place ticking the beer festival booklet.
So it wasn't too long before I was back on the Metro, travelling a few stops eastward to Tynemouth. The glass-roofed station is lovely; the tree-lined streets appealing; the local social club frontage stands out - not necessarily in a good way.
So it wasn't too long before I was back on the Metro, travelling a few stops eastward to Tynemouth. The glass-roofed station is lovely; the tree-lined streets appealing; the local social club frontage stands out - not necessarily in a good way.
This club began life in a cottage in 1918, then purchased the old Co-Op shop building on the village High Street one year later for the sum of £2,500, where they've remained to this day. It originally contained a piano, reading room, library and space for lectures. In recent years the club has obtained a full pub licence, allowing me to wander in without having to mumble about possessing a CAMRA membership card or having to sign a visitor book.
As I expected before midday, the Club was quiet - just a couple of snooker players on one of the two tables at the back, confirming with a quick glance that I wasn't anyone noteworthy, as I bowled through the door.
£3.80 for a pint on top form.
I grabbed a seat out of the way of the snooker players, sat under the TV showing pub-fave channel Now 70s. Abba's video for 'Chiquita' was showing as part of 'Essential Number 2's of the 70s'.
I grabbed a seat out of the way of the snooker players, sat under the TV showing pub-fave channel Now 70s. Abba's video for 'Chiquita' was showing as part of 'Essential Number 2's of the 70s'.
A few other folks arrived whilst I was settled there.
One regular staked his claim to the table next to me, came back from the bar with a Chardonnay and Bacon Fries, got the staff to put the second TV on with some Racing TV action, then did a little jig in his seat to 'In the Navy'. Denied the top spot by Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive', pop chart trivia fans.
The Tynemouth Social Club is great and well worth a visit.
As is Tynemouth in general, the castle and abbey on the headland and windswept beaches looking magnificent in the sunshine.
One regular staked his claim to the table next to me, came back from the bar with a Chardonnay and Bacon Fries, got the staff to put the second TV on with some Racing TV action, then did a little jig in his seat to 'In the Navy'. Denied the top spot by Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive', pop chart trivia fans.
The Tynemouth Social Club is great and well worth a visit.
As is Tynemouth in general, the castle and abbey on the headland and windswept beaches looking magnificent in the sunshine.
I followed the footpath around the northern end of the estuary with views across to South Shields, making the pleasant 15-minute walk to Fish Quay Sands. Then a few strides up Tanner's Hill took me to my next pub, the Tyne Lodge.
This historic inn has been trading continuously since 1799. The Tynemouth house of correction used to stand next door, with the Lodge providing accommodation to the Judges and the kitchens providing meals to the prisoners.
By 1983 the pub had fallen into disrepair when it was brought by Hugh Price who refurbished it and turned it into a real ale destination. No music, no TVs, no games machines, no hot meals.
Replace that green upholstery with a checked pattern fabric and stick Pig on the Wall on the bar and you could mistake this for a Black Country Ales expansion into the NE.
As it was, the cask choice was Bass, Black Sheep and two from Hadrian Borders: 'Grainger Ale' or 'Tyneside Blonde'.
A shock shunning of the Bass here from me, as I stuck with the local Tyneside Blonde because I liked the pump clip.
As it was, the cask choice was Bass, Black Sheep and two from Hadrian Borders: 'Grainger Ale' or 'Tyneside Blonde'.
A shock shunning of the Bass here from me, as I stuck with the local Tyneside Blonde because I liked the pump clip.
Served with patience as it took some time to settle; in excellent condition once it was ready.
Departing the Tyne Lodge, I walked straight along Tyne Road to North Shields, the Good Beer Guide-listed Seven Stars my target.
Open from 12:00 on a Friday said the CAMRA website. Open from 14:00 said Google. Google was right - meaning I arrived 45-minutes too early to find a locked door.
With the local micro also choosing to open later in the afternoon, a quick wander around town revealed few enticing alternatives.
Oh well, the North Star has a striking sky blue frontage...
Departing the Tyne Lodge, I walked straight along Tyne Road to North Shields, the Good Beer Guide-listed Seven Stars my target.
Open from 12:00 on a Friday said the CAMRA website. Open from 14:00 said Google. Google was right - meaning I arrived 45-minutes too early to find a locked door.
With the local micro also choosing to open later in the afternoon, a quick wander around town revealed few enticing alternatives.
Oh well, the North Star has a striking sky blue frontage...
Previously known as the Pow Burn, this pub underwent a major refurbishment complete with name change in 2023.
I was absolutely certain that this would turn out to be a one-time Wetherspoon's.
Right down to the signage, the (very respectable) toilets, and the carpet...
But no. Never been a Spoons. It's just a wet-led town pub, pool table at the rear, sports on TV, quiet music in the background, and an impressive number of lunchtime punters.
The three local ales from Cullercoats on cask were unexpected.
The three local ales from Cullercoats on cask were unexpected.
Expecting them to be on top form may have been a step too far, though.
The 'Polly Donkin' stout had a sharp tang to it which suggested it had been on for a fair while and was heading past best if not already there.
I think that a large chunk of the refurbishment money went to the local Curry's superstore.
Over here, over there, TVs, they're everywhere.
I could see two different channels showing horse racing, Androni Iraola's press conference on the screen directly in front of me, an F1 replay if I swivelled to the right.
The 'Polly Donkin' stout had a sharp tang to it which suggested it had been on for a fair while and was heading past best if not already there.
I think that a large chunk of the refurbishment money went to the local Curry's superstore.
Over here, over there, TVs, they're everywhere.
I could see two different channels showing horse racing, Androni Iraola's press conference on the screen directly in front of me, an F1 replay if I swivelled to the right.
Oh well, not a great beer, but the North Star is clearly a functional pub that is serving the folks of North Shields well with Carling, Guinness and ample sports coverage.
Five-to-two - back up the road to the Seven Stars, with a plan for a speedy visit - an eye on the clock as I wanted to catch the 2:30 ferry.
Seven Stars (7 Albion Rd, Tynemouth, North Shields NE30 2RJ)
Unsurprisingly I was the first customer of the day, the staff member still pottering around completing the opening routine.
Dire Straits 'Telegraph Road' playing in the background - a track long enough that I wasn't intending to stick around long enough to hear the end of it.
Five-to-two - back up the road to the Seven Stars, with a plan for a speedy visit - an eye on the clock as I wanted to catch the 2:30 ferry.
Unsurprisingly I was the first customer of the day, the staff member still pottering around completing the opening routine.
Dire Straits 'Telegraph Road' playing in the background - a track long enough that I wasn't intending to stick around long enough to hear the end of it.
Prior to transforming into a 2020s real ale local, this pub used to be the Oddfellows Arms with the upstairs rooms operating as a late-night club with a bit of a notorious reputation in the '80s. It really doesn't look like somewhere that would ever have had a notorious reputation.
The beer board showed five cask ales, seven keg, and three ciders on offer.
A half of Three Kings 'Ring of Fire' 4.5% American pale ale for me.
Finished in the time it took me to read the first page of the Canny Bevvy local CAMRA mag, Mark Knopfler just getting going when I returned my glass to the bar.
I felt a little bit guilty for the speedy visit, but I had a boat to catch.
A half of Three Kings 'Ring of Fire' 4.5% American pale ale for me.
Finished in the time it took me to read the first page of the Canny Bevvy local CAMRA mag, Mark Knopfler just getting going when I returned my glass to the bar.
I felt a little bit guilty for the speedy visit, but I had a boat to catch.
More Tyneside explorations to follow shortly.
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