The Best Pubs in Newcastle: Historic Boozers and Beer Gardens

The best pubs in Newcastle are clustered in two walks: the Quayside, where the Crown Posada, The Red House, The Bridge Tavern and The Broad Chare are a few minutes apart, and the Ouseburn Valley, where the Cumberland Arms, The Tyne Bar and the Free Trade Inn sit on the banks above the river. Add a couple of city centre and Gosforth regulars and you have a list for real ale, historic interiors and beer gardens. Every pub here was checked as trading in October 2026. For the wider scene, see our Newcastle bars page.

The Quayside walk

Crown Posada, Side

Start at 31 Side, near the bottom of the hill. The Crown Posada sits in a Grade II listed building with a grand Victorian interior, original stained glass and a vinyl record player dating back to 1941. The cask range is the draw. It opens from noon most days (11am Thursday and Friday) and runs until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

The Red House, Sandhill

A short walk along the river at 32 Sandhill, The Red House occupies a 17th century Grade II listed building that also takes in the former Bob Trollops pub. According to CAMRA's WhatPub listing there are two bars, about four changing local cask beers plus Wylam Redhouse Gold as the regular, and pies, peas and mash served from 11am to 9pm. It opens 11am to 11pm, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Bridge Tavern, under the Tyne Bridge

Tucked under the Tyne Bridge, The Bridge Tavern runs its own microbrewery behind the bar and has one of the best rooftop beer gardens in the city, looking straight up at the steelwork. It opens from noon (11am on Sunday) until midnight Monday to Thursday and 1am on Friday and Saturday. The kitchen stops earlier than the bar, at 4pm on Saturday, so eat first if you are coming for the afternoon.

The Broad Chare, Broad Chare

Further east at 25 Broad Chare, this warehouse pub has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2011, and the ground floor bar carries a Good Beer Guide badge and over 50 beers. Snacks run until 9pm in the bar; book the upstairs dining room for a full meal. The bar is open noon to 11pm Monday to Saturday and until 8pm on Sunday.

The Ouseburn walk

The Cumberland Arms, James Place Street

Begin at the top. The Cumberland Arms on James Place Street looks down over the Ouseburn Valley and is known for traditional music sessions, live music, comedy and poetry, indoors and out. It opens noon to 11pm every day. Check the pub's events page before you go, since sessions change weekly.

The Tyne Bar, Maling Street

Walk down to 1 Maling Street, where the Ouseburn meets the Tyne. The Tyne Bar is devoted to free live music, with local bands playing on a purpose-built stage in the beer garden under the bridge. Sunday sessions start at 4pm; October 2026 brought the Teresa Watson Band, Creakin' Bones and DC Blues. Food runs every day from noon to 9pm.

Free Trade Inn, above the river

The Free Trade is the pub people come for the view: its garden looks back over the river to the city centre and the bridges. It is a plain, unfussy local with a cask line-up and a few keg beers, and by late morning it is already busy, coffee cups and pints alike. On a clear evening it is the best seat in Newcastle.

City centre and Gosforth

The Old George Inn, Old George Yard

In Grainger Town, the Old George is a historic pub with a courtyard and traditional interiors, a useful stop between the Bigg Market and Grey Street. It serves burgers and, according to DesignMyNight's September 2026 round-up, a two-hour bottomless brunch from £32 every day.

The Forth, Pink Lane

A short walk from Central Station on Pink Lane, The Forth has retro interiors, a colourful outdoor terrace and street-food menus. It is the easy first or last pint for anyone arriving by train.

The Gosforth Hotel, Gosforth

North of the centre, The Gosforth Hotel is a traditional boozer with real ales, football on the screens and pies or bangers and mash. Combine it with a walk up Gosforth High Street.

The Strawberry

On match days, The Strawberry is the football pub. It promises good food, local beers and pictures on the walls, including a shirt signed by Kevin Keegan from a charity event, and posts on its own channels show it opening from 9am or 10am when United are at home.

Good to know

The Quayside walk is flat and takes ten minutes end to end; Ouseburn is all hills, so do it downhill from the Cumberland Arms. On home match days the Quayside and city centre fill fast from late morning. Most of these pubs do not take bookings for drinks, but The Broad Chare's dining room and The Bridge Tavern's food are worth reserving at weekends. Our nightlife guide picks up where the pubs close.

FAQs

What is the oldest pub in Newcastle?

The Red House on Sandhill is among the oldest buildings still trading as a pub: CAMRA describes it as a 17th century Grade II listed building with ancient ceiling beams, stone walls and real half-timbering. The Crown Posada on Side is the city's best preserved Victorian interior.

Which Newcastle pubs have the best beer gardens?

The Bridge Tavern's rooftop garden sits right under the Tyne Bridge, and the Free Trade Inn's garden looks back up the river to the city. The Tyne Bar has a beer garden with a stage under the bridge at the mouth of the Ouseburn.

Where can I drink real ale in Newcastle?

The Crown Posada is known for an extensive choice of cask ales, The Red House pours changing local cask beers alongside Wylam Redhouse Gold, and The Broad Chare carries the Good Beer Guide badge. The Bridge Tavern brews its own beer on site.

Which Newcastle pubs stay open late?

The Bridge Tavern and The Red House both open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and the Crown Posada until midnight. Most Ouseburn pubs close around 11pm.