Ouseburn Bars and Pubs: A Walking Guide to the Valley
A downhill walking route through the Ouseburn Valley, from the Cumberland Arms to the Tyne Bar and the Free Trade, with which nights have free music.
The best Ouseburn bars run in a loop through the valley: start high at The Cumberland Arms or The Tanners Arms, drop down to The Cluny and Brinkburn Street Brewery on the valley floor, and finish by the river at The Tyne Bar and the Free Trade Inn. Live music is the thread: free gigs at the Tyne Bar, traditional sessions at the Cumberland, ticketed bands at The Cluny. Everything below was checked on the venue's own site, CAMRA or the Michelin Guide in October 2026, and we have left out anywhere that could not be confirmed as trading. It is a ten to fifteen minute walk east of the Quayside; wear shoes for hills.
The Cumberland Arms, James Place Street
The traditional start. The Cumberland sits on James Place Street above the valley and is known for traditional music sessions, live music, comedy and poetry, both indoors and out. It opens noon to 11pm every day. Check the events page for the week's sessions, then head down into the valley.
The Tanners Arms, Byker Bridge
If you are coming from the city centre, the Tanners at 1 Byker Bridge is the first pub you hit. It has a roof terrace, a pool table, reggae and dub on the stereo and regular DJs on Friday and Saturday nights, and it is closely tied to the local underground music scene. The Sunday roast is a serious one too.
The Cluny, Lime Street
At 36 Lime Street, The Cluny is the valley's main gig venue, with two rooms, The Cluny and Cluny 2, and something on most nights. The autumn 2026 listings include Death Valley Girls on 26 October, Pink Moon Rising (a Nick Drake tribute) on 1 November and Dr Feelgood on 17 December. Even without a ticket, the bar is a good stop on the walk. Seven Stories, the children's book centre, is a few doors along at number 30.
Brinkburn Street Brewery, Ford Street
Across the burn at Unit 1A Ford Street, Brinkburn brews everything on its bar in its own microbrewery, from session ales to IPAs and stouts. The taproom opens from noon and runs until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays (from 11am), with a kitchen until 10pm at weekends. Tours and tastings can be booked through the brewery's site.
Cook House and Wren, Foundry Lane
For food, Anna Hedworth's Michelin-listed Cook House in Foundry Lane Studios has two terraces and a straightforward modern British menu. Next door, Wren pours seasonal cocktails, wine, beer and house-made soft drinks, with snacks from the Cook House kitchen and a garden out back. Cook House opens Wednesday evening through Sunday, and until midnight Thursday to Saturday.
The Tyne Bar, Maling Street
Where the Ouseburn meets the Tyne, The Tyne Bar at 1 Maling Street is devoted to free live music, with local bands on a purpose-built stage in the beer garden under the bridge. Sunday sessions start at 4pm; October 2026 has the Teresa Watson Band on the 11th, Creakin' Bones and the Sunday Dinners on the 18th and DC Blues on the 25th. Food runs daily from noon to 9pm. See the gig list for the latest.
Free Trade Inn, up the bank
From the Tyne Bar, walk up the bank to the Free Trade, where the beer garden looks back over the river to the city centre and the bridges. It is a plain local with a cask line-up and some keg, and on a clear evening it is the best view in Newcastle. Finish here at sunset.
Full Circle Brew Co, Hoults Yard
Further east in Hoults Yard, Byker, Full Circle's taproom pours around 20 cask and keg beers brewed in the warehouse. There is a run club every Thursday at 6pm, brewery tours, and in September 2026 it hosted Full Circle Fest. It is a detour from the valley loop, so save it for a separate trip or a Thursday.
Good to know
Go downhill: start at the Cumberland or the Tanners and finish by the river. The Victoria Tunnel tours also start from Lime Street if you want to make an afternoon of it. Check gig nights before you go, as The Cluny's ticketed shows change the feel of Lime Street. See our nightlife and What's On pages for more.
FAQs
What are the best pubs in Ouseburn?
The Cumberland Arms for traditional music sessions and the view over the valley, The Tyne Bar for free live music by the river, the Free Trade Inn for its beer garden view of the bridges, and The Tanners Arms for a roof terrace and weekend DJs.
Is there free live music in Ouseburn?
Yes. The Tyne Bar on Maling Street says it is devoted to free live music, with bands on its beer garden stage and Sunday sessions at 4pm. The Cumberland Arms runs traditional music sessions too; The Cluny's gigs are ticketed.
How do you get to the Ouseburn Valley?
Walk east from the Quayside along the river and you reach the Tyne Bar at the mouth of the Ouseburn in about 15 minutes. From the city centre, Lime Street is a short walk down from Byker Bridge, where The Tanners Arms sits.
Are Ouseburn pubs open on Sundays?
Most are. The Cumberland Arms opens noon to 11pm every day, Brinkburn Street Brewery's taproom runs noon to 8pm on Sunday, and The Tyne Bar's free Sunday sessions start at 4pm. Cook House closes at 5pm on Sundays.
