St Lawrence Road
Byker
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE6 1AP
0191 265 5764
The Free Trade Inn has great views along the Tyne to the Tyne Bridge and beyond and you need to be quick to get one of the seats with a view. The top area window seats have stools and window sills for your drinks, but have the best view (photos 3 & 4). The lower area window seat has proper chairs and a table and is the most popular. If it’s a nice day the beer garden across the road has even better views. And if you’re fed up of the views the upper room at the side has local photos, information blackboards and a blue star table from when the pub was owned by Newcastle Breweries (photo 5).
There are usually seven cask ales on tap with Almasty Echelon and Fyne Jarl as regulars and a good choice of changing beers from across the country. There are craft ales on keg and in can and a great selection of bottled beers from Germany, Belgium and beyond. Cider drinkers too are well catered for, with a choice of five. Food comes from local providers on selected days and includes pizza on Wednesdays and sandwiches on Saturdays.
The pub has friendly welcoming staff who know their stuff, especially the beers, and it’s well worth a visit. Although some people travel far to get here there is a strong local following and it has the feel of community pub. It’s not that easy to get to but the Q3 Quayside bus from Grey Street runs about every 15 minutes to a stop 5 minutes walk away. If you’re up for it the nicest way (if the weather is OK) is to walk along the quayside just past the Ouseburn then up the short hill to the pub.
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