Cheers North East magazine #64 - October 2016

cheers WWW.CHEERSNORTHEAST.CO.UK // OCTOBER 2016 // ISSUE 64

I T ’ S

A B O U T

P U B S ,

P E O P L E ,

B E E R

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A N D

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WELCOME Regardless of what time of day you live your life, it isn’t half getting darker.

However, autumn is a season for looking forward and there’s an awful lot to be confident about – and that can be found in our pubs.

Confidence and enterprise topped with a heady layer of positivity and customer satisfaction are whatchanging seasons are about.

We’re fortunate in this part of the world to have a region full of great pubs that range from coastal idylls like the Ship Inn at Low Newton-by-the-Sea and the King’s Arms in Seaton Sluice in Northumberland plus Poetic License in Sunderland, to the country comforts of The Rat Inn, Anick, Northumberland, and the Black Bull at Frosterley in County Durham.

And what a set of towncentre pubs to be proud of – Hop & Cleaver in Newcastle, the Dun Cow in Sunderland, and the Victoria in Durham to name three that come immediately to mind. Oh, we are spoiled.

Cheers North East celebrates the pub and all it stands for; its fine home-grown beer, its burgeoning menus and its social interaction, so let’s support what we’ve got in spades – and not retreat to our living rooms away from this season’s shortening days.

And as usual, we have a cracking issue for you this month. See you in the pub!

Alastair Gilmour Editor, Cheers North East

CONTENTS 20

A social enterprise that helps to improve the lives of people in local communities by sourcing a range of waste and surplus timber from individuals, businesses and other organisations to turn them into functional, saleable products could be the ideal solution for pubs looking for something different – inside and out.

What GWK Woodshed can do with discarded pallets and dredged-up logs is simply amazing.

Picnic tables, oak barrel seating, benches, pews, bird boxes, planters, raised beds and dining room sets bring style and substance to a pub – plus they’re equally at home at home.

COVER: NATHAN PIETWALSKI, BARMAN AT THE NEW PLOUGH, DIPTON, TYNE & WEAR. PHOTO: PETER SKELTON

FOLK MUSIC IS NOT ABOUT MILKMAIDS A’COURTIN’.

NOBODY IS SINGING ABOUT GREGGS OR JOB SEEKER’S ALLOWANCE JONATHAN ROBSON (ARID FOOL)

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Publishers: Jane Pikett & Gary Ramsay Unit One, Bearl Farm Stocksfield Northumberland NE43 7AJ

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NEWS

Coastal Path walkers Rory Straker and Robert Turner with their free halves from Curfew owner Gemma Cook.

Photo: Iain Robson

LAST ROUND, SO FINGERS CROSSED The Steamboat in South Shields has been selected for the last 16 of the Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) national pub of the year competition for the second year running. Representing the whole North East is quite a feat but the pub is renowned for its friendliness, sparkling character and atmosphere, so it’s a worthy contender to take forward to the final round of judging to show the nation what the region can offer. The Steamboat, managed for the past 16 years by Cath Brain, offers beers from independent breweries and microbreweries on eight handpulls, plus a real cider, and it’s handily close to the Shields Ferry landing and virtually next door to the Customs House theatre and arts centre.

Representing Yorkshire is the George and Dragon in Hudswell, near Richmond in North Yorkshire, a pub rrescued in 2010 following a £200,000 community buy-out – which included local resident William Hague – and now offers a library, shop, allotments and various other community facilities.

Pubs in the competition are judged on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix, and most importantly, quality of beer. Ultimate winner will be know in February.

4 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

SHOW YOUR PASSPORT FOR FREE BEER

Hardy hikers reaching the end of the Northumberland Coast Path in Berwick can celebrate their legwork with a wellearned free drink. The Curfew micropub is offering walkers who complete the trail a free half-pint of any of its draught real ales – but only for those who can prove they have walked the route by showing their completed Northumberland Coast Path passport.

Northumberland offers some of the finest coastal walking in Europe and the Northumberland Coast Path follows this stunningly beautiful 62-mile constantlychanging landscape from Cresswell to Berwick alongside sandy beaches, over rocky headlands, past dramatic castles, and

through attractive coastal villages.

Iain Robson, who looks after the trail, said: “The new passport is stamped by the businesses the walkers have visited along the way. By the time they reach Berwick they will have collected lots of them and claim their free beer.

“The aim of the passport scheme is to encourage walkers to spend more in local businesses, bringing greater benefit to the local economy.”

Gemma and David Cook opened Curfew, on Berwick’s Bridge Street, in 2014. Gemma said: “We already get a few walkers into the pub; hopefully this initiative will bring a few more of them in at the end of their walk.” www.northumberlandcoastpath.org

NEWS

ALE LOVERS SCOUT OUT NEW GUIDE The 2017 edition of the Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) Good Beer Guide has been launched in the North East.

Now in its 44th year, it features more than 4,500 of the best real ale pubs across the UK and a directory of around 1,700 UK breweries and their beers.

And it’s the only guide that guarantees all pub entries have been visited and surveyed in person – by thousands of Camra members

across the country. It’s completely independent with listings based entirely on nomination.

“Entries in the Good Beer Guide are chosen by every branch throughout the country,” says Camra North East regional chairman David Brazier.

“Volunteers from a 186,000-strong membership are continually talking to publicans and customers throughout the year and drinking the beer.

“There are so many pubs and so many breweries it’s a difficult task deciding how many pubs actually go in – but it’s better than the alternative of not having enough.”

The guide includes information on 1,073 pubs and 205 breweries not listed in the 2016 edition which points to the resurgence of the sector.

“The guide is so big now it’s getting difficult to carry around,” says David Brazier.

NEW BREW IS FIRST QUENCHER

The crew from Great North Eastern Brewing Company have celebrated the first beer produced, Swinging Gibbet, on the newly-commissioned plant.

Its beers had been produced for several months under license

by Hadrian Border Brewery but now the team is ready to fly – much like the family of swallows that had nested in the eves of the building at Dunston, Gateshead.

It is one of 250 breweries across the country to sign up to the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) initiative that allows consumers to be able to recognise when beers are genuinely from smaller, independent breweries by the use of a logo on their pumpclips.

David Brazier, right, hands over the Camra Good Beer Guide to Mark Hall, whose pub, the Split Chimp, is a first-time entrant

The Black Bull BLAYDON

Carl and Jackie and their staff welcome you to the Black Bull, a traditional pub situated on the banks of the Tyne at the edge of Blaydon town Regular weekly events: Mondays: Yoga class Tuesdays: Buskers’ Night Wednesdays: Quiz Night Thursdays: Tynefolk Saturdays: Regular live rock and blues bands Sundays: Jazz Club once a month Alternate Sundays: Blind Club OPENING TIMES: Mondays to Thursdays: 2pm to 11.30pm Friday & Saturday - midday to midnight Sundays - 12 to 11.30pm

Bridge St, Blaydon, Blaydon-on-Tyne NE21 4JJ 0191 414 2846 www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 5

NEWS

WIZZO BEER COULD BE OVERNIGHT SENSATION

BEER COMPETITIONS GET OTTER AND HOTTER

Camerons Brewery has teamed up with the rock band of rock bands to create an exciting new collaboration beer. The Hartlepool-based brewer has been working alongside Global Merchandising Services to develop a beer for none other than… Motörhead.

The beer, to be launched later this year, is to be called Road Crew – chosen from the Motörhead fan favourite (We Are) The Road Crew which appears on the 1980s Ace of Spades album and written as a tribute to the band’s dedicated team of roadies.

Road Crew, which will be available in keg, cask and bottle, is based on an American style session pale ale and will have an abv of 4.5% (5% abv in bottle).

Band members Mikkey Dee and Phil “Wizzo” Campbell have played a key part in the development of the beer.

Maris Otter barley malt has helped secure the top place yet again at the Great British Beer Festival.

This summer’s event was the eleventh time in 16 years that the low-yield but expressive variety has been the barley of choice for the Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) Champion Beer of Britain.

Berkshire-based Binghams’ Vanilla Stout (5% abv) is based on Maris Otter malt, with vanilla, dark malts and British hops added.

Chris Bingham of Binghams Brewery said: “Maris Otter has a balanced, pleasantly biscuity flavour and is a real class act.”

Motorhead. Photo: Mat Hayward / Shutterstock.com “The trials we have tasted have been great,” says Mikkey Dee. “We wanted this to be an exciting and refreshing brew which is for you, our Road Crew. It has been great fun working with the guys from Camerons. This is going to be an excellent beer for all Motörhead and rock fans around the world to enjoy.”

Festive Menu Revealed...

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Chris Soley, chief executive at Camerons, said: “It’s a fantastic partnership.

“Road Crew is still in its tria phases but we’ve spent a lot of time working together to create something innovative, sampling a wide range of styles to ensure we did justice to the Motörhead name.”

NEWS

NUMBER EIGHT’S GONNA BE GREAT Take a picturesque traditional coaching inn, a beautiful seaside village, live entertainment and a large selection of real ales, add a drop of barbecued food spiced with heaps of money donated to charity and you have the ingredients for a fantastic beer festival.

That’s the plan for Mac and Jane McHugh, owners of The Red Lion in Alnmouth, Northumberland, as they make final arrangements for their eighth Alnmouth Beer Festival (October 7-9).

“We’ll have 26 beers and six ciders available,” said Jane, who predicts this will be their best beer festival to date. “As ever, all

profits will be going to Hospice Care Northumberland – and we couldn’t have done it without the involvement of our sponsors who include Jobling Purser, Blue Tongue Design and Highlights PR.” Before taking on the Red Lion 13 years ago, the McHughs worked around the UK and Europe with Mac’s career as an RAF engineer. The couple moved to the North East when he served on Search & Rescue duties at RAF Boulmer before he retired four years ago after 36 years service.

Jane originally trained as a nurse in Newcastle, later qualifying as a midwife before changing her career and becoming a landlady.

Mac and Jane McHugh at the Red Lion in Alnmouth

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FOLK NIGHTS

Wednesday 19th October All singers and musicians welcome FREE Function room !! Catering available on request

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Station Road, Wylam, NE41 8HR Tel: 01661 853431 Follow us @Boathouse Wylam & Like us on

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NEWS

BEER AND THE RUNS GO HAND IN HAND Newcastle Hash House Harriers (“the drinking club with a running problem”) were out in force for the Great North Run last month. Although some of them might have been trying to emulate Mo Farah by running from Newcastle to South Shields in an hour and four seconds, a group set up their usual beer stop on the 13.1 mile course where they offered beer to thirsty runners at a point some 10.5 miles into the run in South Shields.

“It was an excellent day,” says Hash House member Keith “Counterfit” Hudson who, like all members in the worldwide organisation, adopts a pseudonym. “We supplied 200 pints of beer to 2,000 people in 100 minutes – some going.

The beer was kindly donated as usual by Hadrian Border and Tyne Bank breweries and this year, Camerons.”

Joseph Harrop at the re-branded Gosforth Civic Theatre

REFRESHING APPROACH TO REVIVED FESTIVAL For several years, a highly-successful annual beer festival took place at Gosforth Civic Hall, a venue owned by Newcastle City Council. The location, close to Regent Centre Metro Station and on a clutch of bus routes, couldn’t have been handier for sampling ale.

For whatever reason, however, the festival stopped – but this month folks, it’s back! Gosforth Civic Hall has been taken over by a charity called Liberdade (pronounced Lib-er-dar-jie) and rebranded Gosforth Civic Theatre.

Former Cumberland Arms (Byker), dAt bAr and Bierrex, Newcastle, bar manager Joseph Harrop has recently joined Liberdade, helping to create work experience opportunities through its events for people with learning disabilities in the North East.

“We are bringing back the popular Gosforth Beer Festival with our first beer and food weekend on October 7, 8 and 9,” says Joseph. “We like to think we have bought some new approaches to beer festival organising and expect to be running at least two

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festivals a year. Our company members are involved in key roles, social media promotion, festival set-up and obviously pulling some pints. One hundred per cent of the profits from the festival go back into the charity.

“We’re celebrating the best of what’s on our doorstep with 25 cask, 10 keg and 10 real ciders on offer from 6pm on the Friday. Having had 10 years working in real ale and craft beer at some fantastic pubs and bars I thought it would be only sensible to celebrate what I believe to be the strongest regional brewing scene in the UK. “On Friday night we have burgers from The Grind and music from Backyard Rhythm Orchestra. Saturday daytime we have some family events with puppetmaking workshops, street performers and the awesome Giff Giff booth to capture the day, and in the evening we have music from The Collective while Sghetti Monster will be serving throughout the day.”

North East beer lovers, let’s make it an extra-special event.

Details: 0191 284 3700.

NEWS

READY, STEADY, PORK AND PEARS

THIS IS ONE LONG GROUSE SEASON One of Britain’s oldest living people credited whisky as the secret behind her long life when she celebrated her 110th birthday. Grace Jones – Amazing Grace to her friends – said it’s thanks to a nightcap of Famous Grouse every night for the past 60 years.

“I never miss my nightcap,” said Grace at a celebratory reception organised by her 78-year-old daughter.

“Whisky is very good for you.

I started having a nightly tot of it when I turned 50 and I certainly have no intention of stopping now. My doctor said, ‘Keep up with the whisky Grace, it’s good for your heart’.”

Grace Jones was born in Liverpool on September 16 1906, five years after the death of Queen Victoria.

Eight of the region’s most talented young chefs – some of them from pub environments – have been selected to compete for a prestigious title.

At the competition to find North East Culinary & Trade Association (NECTA) Young Chef of the Year, sponsored by Bidvest, each chef will have to demonstrate their ability to the highest standard through a variety of knife skills then produce two dishes for two persons – main course and dessert – to include pork and pears (dessert).

The entries submitted by the eight finalists were said by organisers to be outstanding so the title is guaranteed to be a well-earned one while the inclusion of pub chefs proves how far the sector has developed in recent years.

The selected eight finalists are: Alex Walker, 21 Hospitality, Newcastle; Daniel Donnelly, Hotel Indigo, Newcastle; Justice Sibanda, Peace And Loaf, Newcastle; Katelyn Wilson, Ladhar Leisure, Newcastle; Amy Chipchase, Langley College, Durham; Callum Bell, Newcastle College; Nathan Kelly, Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire, and Shaun Allan from The Coach House at Middleton Hall in Belford, Northumberland.

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BEER NEWS

Goal-getters: Alan Shearer with Wylam Brewery brewer Lee Howourth

High House Farm Brewery is an exciting and unique venue situated just a stone’s throw away from Hadrian’s Wall.

A micro brewery standing within a 200 acre working farm.

We brew over 18 different beers At High House Farm Brewery, you are always welcome – whether it’s visiting the restaurant and tearoom, sitting and relaxing with a pint or two while the children play outside in the playground or attending a wedding to dance the night away.

There is full disabled access, including a platform lift & plenty of parking.

Whatever the reason, a warm welcome always awaits at High House Farm Brewery.

HIGH HOUSE FARM BREWERY, MATFEN, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE20 0RG www.highhousefarmbrewery.co.uk / info@highhousefarmbrewery.co.uk

10 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

NUMBER NINE INSPIRES STRIKING BEER

It’s a measure of the standing that Wylam Brewery has achieved in Newcastle after a mere five months in residence at Exhibition Park that, following the unveiling of the bronze statue to Alan Shearer at St James’ Park, the official reception was held at the former Palace of Arts venue.

Named Local Hero, the £250,000 statue funded by former United chairman Freddy Shepherd was revealed by the reigning Premier League record goalscorer himself (with 260 goals to his name).

Shearer said: “It has been an incredible journey from 1996.

Never did I think I would be stood here with a statue behind me. I have fulfilled every dream playing for this football club, our football club, my football club.”

Shearer was joined at the unveiling by his wife and three children as well as former England and Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan and a host of past and

present footballers. Keegan, who signed Shearer for a world record fee of £15m in 1996, described the talismanic striker as a “man of the people”.

After the unveiling, Shearer was introduced to the gathering at Wylam Brewery by Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes.

He said: “Alan Shearer has come to represent more than just a football club. He demonstrates both Newcastle’s homegrown talent and, in his loyalty to his city, the sort of Geordie pride which makes him one of our biggest ambassadors.”

Dave Stone, communications and sales director of Wylam Brewery, said: “It was nice to be part of such a legend, so we brewed him a bespoke beer, The Striking Pale. He was canny crack, a really nice fella and really humble.

He asked, ‘Am I dead, because usually when people unveil a statue you are’. It was a great couple of hours and it was great to see them all really enjoying themselves.”

BEER NEWS

PURPLE REIGNS IN MICROBREWERY The in-house brewery at Number Twenty2, the award-winning Darlington pub, has been smelling a little differently lately. A batch of heather ale has filled the tiny brewhouse with a heady aroma.

Brewer Graham Vasey took note of the acres of stunning flowering heather on the high Pennine moors on Langley Common in Teesdale and decided to turn it into craft beer.

“We just had to incorporate them,” says Graham. “Heather has always been a traditional ingredient in brewing, used to add aroma to beers – particularly in Scotland where its use goes back centuries. We have created our own interpretation of Leann Fraoch (Gaelic for heather ale) using the finest Marris Otter, Crystal and Rye Malts to brew an amber-coloured bitter with a malty aromatic finish.”

Once dried and sorted, the heather was added to the copper at the end of the boil to keep their beautiful aroma.

“The beer went down really well, better than I hoped in fact,” says Graham. “I was very pleased with its malt character which nicely balance the complex floral flavours of the heather flowers. It was only an 11-gallon test brew but next year I’ll definitely make a full size brew.”

TIME TO GIVE SOMETHING BAA-CK

Black Sheep Brewery is paying tribute to the North’s pub trade with the creation of an exclusive, new cask ale. The Masham, North Yorkdhire-based brewery has launched Baa Baa (4.0% abv), an easydrinking and refreshing session pale ale brewed with Cascade hops.

Available exclusively to pubs throughout Yorkshire and the North East, it has been launched in the run-up to Black Sheep’s 25th anniversary next year.

Jo Theakston, sales and marketing director at Black Sheep Brewery (pictured above) said: “Baa Baa has a fresh, zesty twang which we think will appeal to ale and lager drinkers equally. Turning 25 next year will be a landmark anniversary for us and we’re launching Baa Baa with pubs in our heartland area as a way to thank them for their continued support.”

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FOR ONE WEEKEND ONLY… AN ASSEMBLY OF SOME OF THE WORLDS LEADING CRAFT BREWERIES UNDER ONE ROOF… PLUS A GIN PALACE… A WINE CELLAR… GREAT MUSIC… A SUMPTUOUS STREET FOOD MARKET & AN ARTISAN CIDER CELLAR

6° North | Beavertown | Black Lodge | Burning Sky | Cloudwater | Firestone Walker | Five Points | Founders Four Pure | Hawkshead | Jopen | Kirkstall | Left Handed Giant | Mad Hatter | Magic Rock | Mikkeller Northern Monk | Oskar Blues | Renaissance | Sierra Nevada | Siren Craft | Thornbridge | Three Boys Tiny Rebel | Tuatara Warpigs | Wild Beer Co | Wylam Brewery | Yeastie Boys plus more to be announced...

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LIVE MUSIC

PUB PERFORMER HAS IT RAPPED UP A young man with an acoustic guitar is well worth listening to as Alastair Gilmour discovers

Live music in pubs is as varied as the venues themselves. At any one time, there will be someone on a stool singing Texan-style ballads about lonely cattle or a tribute band seriously believing they’re U2 or David Bowie. Singer/songwriters stand out for their creativity and sheer chutzpa – it can’t be easy writing and performing in public directly from the heart and soul.

Singer/songwriter and pub performer Jonathan Robson (aka Arid Fool) met his father for the first time when he was 15 years old – in a pub. His parents had split up before he was born but, curiously, one thing that left him with was a deep sense of family values, a lot of which influences his creative output.

“It was quite by accident,” says Jonathan. “I had gone along to one of the busker nights at

the Cumberland Arms in Byker and we just looked at each other. I discovered we had very similar minds.”

His dad Aidan McGarvey has been running open-mic night Dharma Banana at the Cumberland Arms – and elsewhere – with fellow enthusiast Frank Kay for getting on for 20 years, but the chance encounter was a turning point in a young man’s life who was keen to make his way in the music world.

“I called myself Arid Fool because in the beginning I was doing a bit of stand-up with my playing,” he says. “It was a reference to ‘dry wit’ or joker. Obviously a joker but I’ve dropped the humour a bit these days.”

Jonathan first performed at school when he was about 13 or 14 and now he and his acoustic guitar appear at pub busker nights

The Black Horse Low Fell, Gateshead

Picturesque location & only a couple of miles from Hexham Reservations 01434 602814 www.theratinn.com Twitter:@ratales The Rat Inn, Anick, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 4LN 12 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

For futher information please follow us on facebook and twitter Black Horse, Low Fell •

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LIVE MUSIC

Jonathan Robson – aka Arid Fool – hard at work in the Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle

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virtually every night of the week, plus at festivals when the opportunity arises.

Arid Fool’s background and upbringing straddles the length and breath of music and he has soaked it all up to his great credit. “Geordie rapper” might fit.

He says: “How many 15-year-olds listen to traditional folk music? I’d go along to gigs where older guys were playing and eventually they’d ask me to join in. I want to bring a lot more younger people to traditional folk, so I developed a style of rap music that’s relevant to the North East. It’s not all about milkmaids a’courtin’. Nobody’s singing about Greggs or Job Seeker’s Allowance.”

He is quite obviously influenced musically and lyrically by what is going on around him – with dad Aidan’s crowd, while eavesdropping into conversations puts flesh onto bones.

“I’m a people-watcher and sit at the Monument in Newcastle just to listen to people,” he says. “You hear some great stuff that you can use in songs – plus I love what my two children say and do.

“I like people like Cat Stevens, Arlo Guthrie and little bits of Jim Morrison – his music’s not too brilliant but there’s some dark poetry in his words.

I’d love to regenerate folk music in the way Rob Heron has done with jazz.

“It’s great that when I was growing up in Wallsend the singers I used to look up to are now good friends – people like George Welsh, Johnny Boyle and Rob Heron. I got a really good

K EG

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background in music at Burnside High School in Wallsend. Bill Elliot was a teacher there and he saw something in me that no-one else did.

“And my mam can be a bit eccentric – a bit hippy might sum her up – and she’d always be listening to Neil Young, Donovan, Nick Cave or Bob Dylan.”

A new Arid Fool album Love Songs For A Lonely Generation is about to be released which has been seven years in the making. The boy is patient.

“I’ll hopefully sell 100 copies in the first 24 hours after it’s released,” he says.

Jonathan reckons he’s better known in the US than he is in the North East – his first album made the top 16 in the American underground charts and it’s pretty much in his mind to give it a go on the other side of the Atlantic.

“They love the English accent,” he says. “I’d love to open out in the States. We’re pretty much winging it at the moment and my fan base is actually bigger in the US than it is here, so if I could get a standard wage out of it, it would be fine.

“It’s really strange; you can be doing a buskers night in a pub here and at the same time in America they’re grabbing your music off the shelves.” *Dharma Banana, first Sunday in every month at the Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle (8pm). www.facebook.com/aridfool Listen to Arid Fool at https://www.youtube. com/channel/UCtEIobiERSN4vERVl-hF-jQ

B O TTL ES

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BREWERY NEWS

GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR NEW BREW COMPANY Calling a beer Renaissance is entirely appropriate as it is one of a handful that has risen from the demise of one of the North East’s most popular breweries.

South Tyneside businessman Mark Robinson bought the assets of the former Jarrow Brewing Company from the business’s administrators earlier this year and has also taken on its former head brewer to ensure continuity.

“We bought the assets of the former Jarrow Brewery – plant, recipes and casks – from their administrators in April 2016 and called the new company Arbier – German for ‘our beer’,” says Mark Robinson. “With the amount of people asking when Jarrow beers were coming back, it was too good an opportunity to miss. I’ve always been a fan of Jarrow Brewery and its beers and it’s sad that South Tyneside and the town in particular

didn’t have a brewery of its own.”

Mark Robinson had been in senior management positions with energy company EDF, working on multi-million pound contracts, and was a regional manager for kitchen, bathroom and bedroom retailer MFI, looking after a £100m turnover before embarking on his own first-time business venture with a £50,000 investment.

“I decided I was sick of making millions for other people,” he says.

Mark has taken on former Jarrow head brewer Mikaela Finnigan to brew Arbier beers, initially under contract at Castle Eden Brewery at Seaham in County Durham, but the intention is to set up a brewery in or around Jarrow.

He also plans to get further into the brewing process himself by taking a brewing course.

“We’re looking to brew ourselves either by the back end of this year or in January or February 2017

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BREWERY NEWS

Pulling pints: Mark Robinson, Arbier using the old Maltings kit which is in storage until we find a site. (Jarrow Brewery brewed at its Maltings pub in South Shields as well as at an industrial unit in Jarrow.)

“We’ve got three beers out in the marketplace at the moment – being well received in the likes of Fitzgeralds, the Trent House and The Centurion in Newcastle, The Marine and Holborn Rose & Crown in South Shields, Beggars Bridge in Boldon, and several pubs in Sunderland. It amounts to between 60 and 70 outlets which we’ll grow to 100 as soon as possible.

“The Houses of Parliament will be taking Legacy early next year after Jarrow MP Stephen Hepburn approached them to stock it in their bars..”

Mikeala Finnigan is pleased to be back into brewing while operating somebody else’s brewery holds no fears.

“It’s all automated at Castle Eden,” she says. “It’s a great piece of kit.”

Arbier has confirmed its support for South Tyneside with the likes of Legacy – if the Jarrow Brewery legacy can be capitalised upon, all concerned will do very nicely indeed.

ARBIER ALES Legacy (4.0% abv), a full-bodied golden ale with a high hop regime that displays orange and grapefruit characteristics Renaissance (4.4% abv) also a golden ale with distinct hoppiness and a bitter, fruity edge Decadence (4.3% abv) is a wellbalanced amber ale with just a hint of chocolate on the palate Reformation Dark IPA (5.0% abv) is softly malty with a complex character and hoppy notes. *To assist in the preparation of this article, Cheers North East has been given access to paperwork relating to the purchase of recipes and equipment from Jarrow Brewing Company which includes asset sale documents and deeds of assignment.

The Box Social Micro Pub & Charcuter ie Coming Soon Newcastle-upon-Tyne www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 15

VIEW FROM ABROAD: PERU

PERU-SING CRAFT BEER IN SOUTH AMERICA Travelling the world in search of beer is a mission for Ian Brown

Fat Alec (Mr Wilson when in earshot) was my first geography teacher at Blyth Grammar School. The only thing we knew for certain about Fat Alec was that he wasn’t particularly fat.

This was actually a prediction, based on the fact that he would become fat as he had married the home economics teacher.

He’d storm into the classroom with robes flowing, carrying a long wooden pointer, a rolled up map of the world and a stick of chalk. He’d then point to some obscure place and enthuse in great detail about it. We were all convinced that he’d been there, such was his knowledge, and no-one would dare challenge that

Ian Brown, right, with son Alex and daughter Lara

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VIEW FROM ABROAD: PERU fact. There were no lesson plans, notes, visual aids, power points, hand-outs, aims, objectives, feedback sheets, Ofsted inspections, formative assessments, summative assessments… just sound factual educational entertainment.

But I remember the day he told us about Lake Titicaca in Peru, the highest lake in the world.

This bamboozled the boys and girls from the backstreets of Blyth for no other reason than Blyth was below sea level. The concept was unfathomable.

I always wanted to go to Peru – never thought I would – but did last month. Some things in life just take a little longer to materialise.

Popular Peruvian beer brands Despite some fierce brand loyalties, there isn’t exactly a major battle of the beers going on in Peru.

That’s because the same company, Backus, owns all the major brands. Backus is the country’s largest brewery and a subsidiary of the giant SABMiller group. It produces the most popular beers in Peru, including Pilsen Callao, Cusqueña, Cristal, Pilsen Trujillo, Backus Ice, Arequipena and San Juan – the first three being the most popular. Cusqueña also produces a red lager, a wheat beer, and acerveza negra (black beer).

Craft breweries in Peru Since about 2012, craft breweries have been

popping up across Peru and there are now more than 20 in the country, including Nuevo Mundo and Barbarian in Lima, Sierra Andina in Huaraz, plus Cerveza Zenith and the Sacred Valley Brewing Company in Cuzco which are normally found in bottles or on tap in the bars of Peru’s more tourist-orientated cities and towns, particularly around the main square in Cuzco and Lima which holds regular craft beer festivals. I had plenty of time in Cuzco to allow me a sensory analysis of a few beers at the Norton Rats Tavern overlong the square.

Similarly, the bars and restaurants in Arequipa present tasting notes on the tables.

Nortons Pale Ale A pint of unfiltered beer in Peru – orangebrown and cloudy with a pleasant crispy flavour. An ever-so-slight bitterness lingers at the end, while the smell was fresh, fruity and sweet, unlike any pale ale I’ve had before.

Snortin Norton Porter My favourite Norton beer. There was a definite coffee aroma to this dark brown beer which, for a porter, seemed different in colour.

Light on the lips, it was a bit watery upfront but quickly delivered on coffee and toffee flavours with a fairly long-lasting dry finish.

Dragon’s Tears (at Dragon’s Palate in Cuzco) This beer poured a mildly opaque yellowyorange colour with a decent head and a fair

amount of bitterness. It smelled crisp, with a lemon citrus freshness; easy to drink with a nice, long finish that left a pleasing bitter hop flavour on the palate.

However, with Cusco being 3400 metres above seal level, these sensory perceptions may be in some way inaccurate! www.nortonratspub.com

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LISTEN TO THE BOOM Wylam Brewery’s flagship event is set to attract some of the world’s best craft beer brewers to its Palace of Arts venue. Heading for Newcastle’s Exhibition Park this month to take their place at Craft Beer Calling are the likes of Yeastie Boys, Magic Rock, Beavertown, Burning Sky, Wild Beers, Hawkshead, Tuatara and 8 Wired.

But North East brewers aren’t being squeezed out – quite the opposite, in fact. A cask ale “wall” will represent the best the region offers.

“Lots of people like drinking cask ales and a lot of brewers at Craft Beer Calling are not making cask any more – it’s all keg,” says Wylam Brewery communications and sales director Dave Stone. “It’s a common thing to do within the beer world, but we’ve got some great cask beers here.

“All the breweries at Craft Beer Calling are there by invitation, all of the beers will be available at all times,

and they’ll bring own staff, so they can inform customers better because they know their own beer best.

“It’s a celebration of our craft beer industry. Brewing is an art, a craft – we should all remember that.

“Basically, it’s more beer and fewer brewers than in previous years. The format worked at the Leeds Festival and at Indy Man Beer Con in Manchester, plus offering beer in an attractive building adds an extra dimension.

“It’s simply an assembly of some of the world’s leading craft brewers under one roof – plus we’ll have a gin palace, wine cellar, artisan cider cellar, and a sumptuous street food market.

“And there will be plenty for the ‘nonbeliever’ because we want to attract people who don’t already drink beer – but hopefully this will start them on their journey.”

Craft Beer Calling runs over the weekend of October 27-29. www.craftbeercalling.com

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PUB FURNITURE

OUTSIDE INN An innovative employment scheme not only helps the disadvantaged in society but produces incredible furniture from discarded wood that looks terrific in a pub setting, as Alastair Gilmour discovers We all know pubs that approach their business from a different angle have an advantage over those offering same-old, same-old. It’s in our nature to be impressed and when we’re impressed we feel good.

Then, awash with a feel-good glow, we tend to spend more.

Enjoying a pint and a pub special lunch in the company of wellcrafted, bespoke furniture is a reassuring experience and when we realise we’re contributing to a scheme high on social responsibility, benevolence gets a warm boost.

A textbook example of this is GWK Woodshed, a social enterprise that helps to improve the lives of people in local communities by sourcing a range of waste and surplus timber from individuals, businesses and other organisations to turn them into functional, saleable products. For instance, cable drum tables are a good example of this; huge circular wooden spools that with a touch of imagination, 20 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

Timber tops: Nathan Hopkins at GWK Woodshed Below: Nathan Pietwalski, New Plough, raises a glass

sweat and tears, can be transformed into a practical thing of beauty and simply perfect for a beer garden.

Working with partners by offering training opportunities, progression into further education, employment or volunteering, the charity supports long-term unemployed, young people, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

And, what those people can do with discarded pallets and dredged-up logs is simply amazing. Picnic tables, oak barrel seating, benches, pews, bird boxes, planters, raised beds and dining room sets bring style and substance to the inside or outside of a pub – plus they’re equally at home at home.

Some of the wood has been dragged out of the Tyne, which serves the dual purpose of keeping the river free of debris and presenting a challenge to the creative minds who want to work with huge, impossibly heavy materials.

GWK Woodshed, part of the environmental and regeneration charity Groundwork

NE & Cumbria, has mentored around 300 people through its Lobley Hill, Gateshead, site – a former Gateshead Council depot and horticultural nursery that was closed as a result of Government austerity measures.

Site manager Geoff Dawson started off as a landscape architect and had been involved in music before becoming self-employed then joined GWK Woodshed ten years ago.

He says: “We’re all about working with people and getting them back into work. What we do here helps people build their skills and confidence. I love to see people fulfilling their potential, I’ve got a passion for it – I’m not interested in pleasing board members and shareholders.”

Much of the workforce has been on employment programmes; some from Gateshead College and others from various mental health charities; people on parole and anyone with social and economic issues. The experience they get here will benefit them in the future and, while they don’t get paid, it benefits them in other ways, such as boosting their self-esteem.

“There’s not as much funding now for charities and for employing people from Job Centres,”

says Geoff. “We’re now almost wholly dependent on the returns from the furniture – we also make high-quality furniture for commercial markets.”

Mark Hird, managing director of Tavistock Hospitality, came across GWK Woodshed while planning pubs the Sunderland-based company had earmarked for refurbishment.

“We were impressed by the sheer quality of some of the furniture and the uses that salvaged timber could be put to,” says Mark. “Just seeing what could be done immediately gave us some terrific ideas, particularly for what we were planning at the New Plough at Dipton.

“The recycling aspect and the fact that we could be helping disadvantaged people fits the vision and business ethos we have at Tavistock Hospitality.”

Former tree surgeon Nathan Hopkins manages GWK Woodshed alongside Geoff Dawson.

He had previously worked with what he calls “naughty boys” in referral units; with the socially deprived and disadvantaged groups and was keen to start up a business in that sector.

He says: “We get a lot of people referred to us from Job Centres and you can see right at the start some of them are not really enjoying it. But

within a few days, most of them are really loving the work.

“As for designing furniture, we usually make up stuff as we go along and although some customers ask for particular things, a lot of it comes out of our crazy ideas. It’s all about wood waste; we make use of what gets thrown away and often the end result comes out of what you’re presented with. I love it; it’s exhausting, and sometimes you wonder why you put so much time and effort into it. But you only have to look around to see the benefits of what we do.

“We have guys who have had strokes and brain tumours and one young lad in particular came to us on an ‘alternative curriculum’ scheme.

Basically, he doesn’t get on with traditional schoolwork, but has responded really well to practical work. We really value what they get out of it.”

So, by starting with waste wood, the end result could be an independent, committed, confident workforce, ready to take its place in society.

Additionally there’s another pub with a highly stylised face to present to the world.

What could be more rewarding? www.gwkwoodshed.org.uk www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 21

PUB NEWS

POSITIVE OUTLOOK THE ORDER OF THE DAY

Our pubs are working hard to attract custom, while several breweries have spotted opportunity in developing their own outlets.

It all adds up to huge optimism in the region’s pub sector THE NEW PLOUGH, DIPTON, TYNE & WEAR The New Plough at Mountsett (Dipton), Tyne & Wear opened its stylish doors in late September after a massive refurbishment and already it has attracted a regular following.

There’s no need to ask why – the pub is extraordinary in design terms employing a clever use of space. It’s a

showpiece of collaboration between design team and supplier created with more than a touch of wit and wisdom.

Craft beer from Sonnet 43 Brewhouse and small batch spirits

by Poetic License Distillery are the main draw for ale and gin lovers, while a menu that covers lunches and evening meals is modern and stylish

The New Plough, Dipton with twists on tradition that manage to complement the décor perfectly.

The pub, which Sunderlandbased Tavistock Hospitality originally bought in 2010 and leased out, has been brought back in-house and completely overhauled in a £700,00 investment programme. The interior is high on reclaimed timber and exposed brickwork complemented by soft furnishings and clever lighting.

Innovative tipi huts for outdoor events and weddings and a separate, upstairs dining area – The Loft – host private functions. A Potting Shed bar does what it says; a half-glazed lounge area with corrugated iron

roofing benefits from every ray of sunshine, as does an outdoor terrace.

But it’s the main restaurant and bar area that causes a gasp or two of delight with form and function blended with originality and resourcefulness then finished off with views across to Northumberland and beyond.

Jonathan Graham, Tavistock Hospitality operations director, says: “With such an enviable location, we hope that the New Plough will appeal not only to visitors from County Durham but the bordering areas of Tyne and Wear too.”

Tavistock Hospitality currently

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PUB NEWS operates more than a dozen bars, restaurants and hotels across the North East, as well as the Sonnet 43 Brew House at Coxhoe, Durham, and Sunderland’s Poetic License Distillery. The leisure firm plans to inject a similar style to its recent refurbishments of the Toronto Lodge, Bishop Auckland and the Three Horseshoes Hotel, Sunderland.

THE TANNERY, HEXHAM The Tannery, in Hexham’s Gilesgate, has been given a make-over to present a fresh face to the world.

Regulars who have grown to love the pub over the past couple of years since entrepreneur Dave Carr took it over needn’t fret, though. The basics are still there but have been given a reason to exist – like the large fireplace festooned with colourful pumpclips and the highly-polished timber flooring.

Before Dave Carr’s Frank & Bird team added The Tannery to its portfolio (Dave Carr also runs the highly-rated Brandling Villa in South Gosforth, Newcastle), the 1897-vintage street-corner pub had all-but given up by its owners Punch

The Tannery, Hexham Taverns and was struggling to even get onto its “disposal” list.

Formerly The Skinners Arms – named in deference to Hexham’s 19th Century leather and tanning trade (282,048 pairs of gloves were made in the town in 1823) – it had all the hallmarks of a sleeping beauty to an entrepreneurial eye. Even with half an eye it wouldn’t have taken much to spot potential in its three distinct rooms, its mixed residential location and a desire among locals to be presented with the opportunity of

having a “local” they could be proud of.

In came a dedicated cider room and fascinating island-style back bar while a range of well-proven national and local beers plus cutting-edge styles with a hint of rebellion about them animates the main bar (which also features a food counter) and, crucially, customers are loving the whole thing.

The Tannery is even brighter following its refurbishment – two huge corner windows see to that –

and its worn-around-the-edges look has benefitted from its facelift like a dose of botox.

Dave Carr calls it “our new improved boozing hole” and while that brings in an element of fun, there’s a seriousness to the business by installing new toilets and upgrading the beer garden. The Tannery is as dog-friendly as ever and its six beers, 12 real ciders and a “Northumberlicious” new menu should keep more than canines happy for a long time to come.

www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 23

PUB NEWS and the opening of a stretch of riverside route to Wylam also entices passers-by. A well-appointed beergarden overlooks the Tyne.

The Newcastle to Carlisle rail service has been upgraded and there are now 10 stopping trains a day in each direction at nearby Blaydon Station which means The Black Bull features on the Whistle Stop tour of real ale pubs along the Tyne Valley.

The Black Bull, Blaydon THE BLACK BULL, BLAYDON, TYNE & WEAR The grand old Black Bull has been accepted by Gateshead Council as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) which grants the pub a whole list of safeguards. Under planning laws introduced in April 2015, pubs listed as an ACV now require planning permission before they can be turned into residences or convenience stores like so many have been done – almost overnight with no consultation whatsoever.

Equally, if a pub with an ACV is put up for sale, local community groups have six months to raise the funds to buy the property – and we know the

power of community groups.

The Black Bull is a genuinely dogfriendly pub, as a gallery of regular canine visitors testifies. Two real ales and live music are big draws – indeed, three music clubs are based in this thriving community-minded pub. Beside Tynefolk and Buskers’ Night, live bands play around once a month, from youngsters setting out to grizzled old rockers; solo artists to five-piece sets.

Cyclists and walkers exploring Blaydon Burn Nature Reserve and the Keelman’s Way continually discover The Black Bull’s traditional charms. The surrounding area has been vastly improved in recent years,

FLYNN’S, NEWCASTLE Flynn’s, a long-closed pub and cocktail bar on Newcastle’s Quayside, is set to be fully refurbished by its new owners, Live Theatre – the team behind the adjacent £11m Live Works development and Broad Chare gastropub. Newcastle City Council has approved Live Theatre’s plans, subject to some soundproofing conditions.

Jim Beirne, Live Theatre’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted.

Eventually it will create additional resources, alongside Live Theatre’s social enterprises, to invest back into creating more new plays and developing creativity with young people.”

The developers will create a new glass-fronted entrance with a new kitchen situated on the second floor.

THE BOX SOCIAL, NEWCASTLE Newburn, Newcastle-based Box Social Brewing has been successful in its application for a license at the former Split Chimp site on Forth Street in Newcastle. The Box Social is expected to be open for trading in November to catch the festive “rush”.

“It’s really great news, we’re well pleased,” says Ross Holland, who runs the brewery with his father Steve. “Come January and February we hope to have found our feet and really go on from there.”

The intention is to feature 10 keg beer lines with four handpulls – some of them Box Social beers, but a swathe of “guests” to excite customers and an extensive range of cans and bottles. Snacks based on meat and cheese will be available daily.

“That sort if thing works really well elsewhere,” says Ross. “It’s a good little angle for as there aren’t many places in the city centre doing that.”

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PUB NEWS

Flynn’s, Newcastle (dark building, centre right) STATION HOTEL, GATESHEAD The Station Hotel, owned by Hadrian Border Brewery, has been under refit for almost two years, suffering unforeseen delays due to the unusual nature of the building. It backs on to railway arches which have posed their own problems with water seeping from the tracks above now remedied, while a new roof

had to be constructed well before any interior fitting was carried out.

Meanwhile, some exciting layout opportunities have presented themselves.

Hadrian Border managing director Andy Burrows informs us that the opening will be late October or early November. Meanwhile, anticipation builds.

DRINK THE NEW BEERS, GET THE T-SHIRT Hawkshead Kai Moana Gose (6.0% abv), the Cumbrian brewery’s 2016 Rainbow Project beer is out and drinking.

The project is a competition between British and New Zeland brewers who draw coloured lots which their beer should reflect (Hawkshead drew green which inspired thoughts of the sea). It’s a refreshingly tart, salty and fruity beer made with Kai Moana (Maori for seafood) New Zealand hops and green gooseberries.

Hawkshead sourced the finest oysters from Loch Fyne, native green lipped mussels from New Zealand, and Himalayan rock salt.

Lightly hopped with Nelson Sauvin and Motueka it’s all brought together by a big late addition of green gooseberries.

Durham Brewery Elder Blow (4.2% abv) features masses of elderflowers, late boiled to retain their aroma and freshness.

The effect of this big charge is one of intensity underpinned by a delicate use of US Amarillo hops. The aroma of this rich, golden cask ale is reminiscent of an English country lane in full bloom.

Edinburgh’s Caledonian Brewery has embraced the new season with Autumn Red (4.4% abv), a gently spiced beer designed as the perfect cooler-weather match for comforting hot dishes such as game pies and sausage and mash. www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 25

BREWERY NEWS

BREWERS ADOPT WINNING WAYS

The region’s breweries have performed well in a recent SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) competition to eventually find the organisation’s top national beer. This is despite SIBA’s definition of the North East as including South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire with the inclusion of the likes of Sheffield and Leeds in its geographic spread.

The overall champion – decided by a tasting panel of industry experts at York Beer & Cider Festival from a total of 177 beers and 98 cans and bottles – was Rudgate Ruby Mild (4.4% abv), a nutty, rich ale brewed in Tockwith, York. Second was Daleside Monkey Wrench (5.3% abv), the Harrogate, North Yorkshire, brewery’s flagship beer with a distinctive chestnut colour and spicy palate. Taking bronze was York Brewery Blonde (3.9% abv), a refreshing golden ale.

Notable successes for what we would

traditionally regard as the North East included Maxim Brewery, Houghton-leSpring, for Maximus (6.0% abv) which was awarded a gold medal in the small pack category and Cullercoats Shuggy Boat Blonde (3.8% abv) for small pack standard bitters and pale ales.

Cullercoats even topped that with an impressive gold in the premium bitters and pale ales category with Pilot (4.8% abv).

County Durham-based Sonnet 43 Brewhouse Abolition Amber Ale (3.8% abv) was awarded bronze in the standard bitters and pale ales section. Black Sheep and Roosters breweries are close enough to our interpretation of the North East for us to claim them – Black Sheep Special Ale (4.4% abv) was awarded gold in the pale ales category and bronze for Big Horn (4.5% abv) – premium bitters and pale ales, while Knaresborough-based Roosters came away from the York event with a handful of awards

that included silver for Yankee (4.3% abv), and bronze for both Fort Smith (5.0% abv) and Baby-Faced Assassin (6.1% abv).

Roosters’ head brewer Oliver Fozard said: “Our aim is to brew the best beers possible, with the emphasis on consistency and quality, so it’s always pleasing to have our efforts recognised.”

THE GREAT NORTH EASTERN BREWING COMPANY

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TELEPHONE NUMBER Office: 0191 447 4462 On The Go Number: 07514787483

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BREWERY NEWS Podium finish: Anna Sacantlebury shows off Cullercoats Brewery’s certificates

Bill Scantlebury, owner and brewer at Cullercoats, said: “SIBA awards are the ones brewers value above all others – it’s a huge boost to get this type of recognition for a small company like ours.”

SIBA North East competition details: siba.co.uk/events/regional-competitions/ north-east/2016-2

CASK SECTOR UP AND DOWNS MORE PINTS

Mighty proud: The Roosters crew

This year’s Cask Report, the annual publication that monitors the cask ale sector in the UK, reveals how the category has grown over the past decade and is now worth £1.7bn a year. The report shows that the number of pubs selling cask ale has risen from 23,000 (42% of our total pubs) in 2007 when the first edition of the report was published, to 36,000 (72% of pubs) today. Its authors conclude that people are more interested in what they’re drinking and are keen to widen their knowledge about what their pubs can offer.

www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 27

BREWERY NEWS

BRIDGE TO BREWING SUCCESS The brewing business is moving so fast that no sooner will we have reported on the region’s newest brewery opening, but another is sure to pop up. Nevertheless, Arcane Bridge officially opened its doors in late September in an archway under the King Edward Bridge in Newcastle, a couple of units along from the year-old Errant Brewery.

Arcane Bridge has grown out of Houghton-leSpring brewery Temptation, run by partners Kay Masson and Tony Kileen. The couple also operate the brewhouse at Hop & Cleaver on Newcastle’s Quayside – and while Kay is also employed by Wetherspoons at The Five Swans in Newcastle, and Tony is a postman by day, they can surely lay claim to being the busiest brewers in the country.

The word “arcane” means something like

28 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

Divine intervention: Kay Masson and Tony Kileen at Arcane Bridge Brewery “requiring secret knowledge to be understood”, but we don’t need secret knowledge to appreciate the quality of ales such as Bosch (5.2% abv), a classic rich porter with Islay peated malt enhanced with the addition of vanilla pods. Similarly enterprising are Turncoat (4.5% abv), a US-style amber ale hopped with Cascade and Centennial varieties, and the strangely addictive Gurke (4.0% abv), a classic pale ale made with cucumbers (Gurke is German for the vegetable).

Arcane Bridge’s 5.5-barrel brewery sits along one side of the archway and it’s intended to make full use of the space for visitors and

functions. It’s all nicely presented in timber with a feature being a pulpit salvaged from a church for its Temptation connotations. The ideas are a combination of what Tony and Kay have noted in visits to brewpubs in Brooklyn and San Diego.

Tony says: “We’re not brewing anything too extreme, though – all our beers have some synergy with food.”

All the time, East Coast Main Line trains rumble overhead – but ten minutes in and you’ve got used to it. After all, cucumber and vanilla pods aren’t your everyday flavour sources, so the occasional Virgin locomotive passing by simply adds a touch of “secret knowledge”.

Tasting Notes...

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TYNESIDE TOMMY

TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS

A specially-designed beer with innovative packaging first produced last year as a reminder of the horrors of history has made a reappearance. Tyneside Tommy has been brewed by Three Kings Brewery in North Shields as part of a Northumbria First World War Commemoration Project intended to raise awareness of the serviceman and women from the North East who served in the 1914-18 conflict – many of them never to come home.

Instead of labels, bottles of Tyneside Tommy (4.3% abv) have dog-tags attached to their necks which open up to reveal individual – often heart-rending – stories from the six-month long Battle of the Somme in 1916 and the “Dominion Geordies” who originated in the North East but

enrolled and fought in the armies of Canada, Australia, Newfoundland and New Zealand where they had settled.

The Somme Edition of Tyneside Tommy aims to commemorate the sacrifice of a generation and to provide a lasting record of the war and its impact on the communities of North Tyneside. The work of the project and that of more than 100 volunteer researchers was officially recognised in June this year with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Information collected for the Dominion Geordies project, led by Dr James McConnel of Northumbria University/, helps with the understanding of why people emigrated and how these journeys relate to their wartime service and post-war settlement locations.

“We have nine tags to

Alan Fidler toasts the Dominion Geordies

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30 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

TYNESIDE TOMMY commemorate the Dominion Geordies and nine for the Somme,” says Alan Fidler, project coordinator, who hopes people will seek out the full sets.

Some 80 volunteers continue to work on the full project with a network of 40 engaged in research, identifying 7,200 from military records who had originally come from the North East of England to the dominions.

Alan Fidler says: “Some of the individuals commemorated on the tags are well known with songs, plays and films celebrating their exploits, such as John Simpson Kirkpatrick. He was born in South Shields in 1892 and eventually joined the Australian Field Ambulance Medical Service, serving at Gallipoli where he became renowned for ferrying wounded comrades to safety on a donkey. He was killed in action in 1915.

“Israel Ivan Finn was also from South Shields.

While serving in the Canadian Army in France in 1915 he was severely wounded and surgeons discovered his smoking pipe had been blasted into his body. After the war he settled in California where he died in 1959.”

One of Alan Fidler’s favourites, however, is John Collinson from Shiremoor who was badly

wounded on the Western Front in France in 1915.

Under surgeons’ anaesthetic, he was heard singing in his sleep so impressively that, on recovery, he was introduced to Sir Henry Wood, founder of The Proms series of concerts, then went on to have a successful career as an opera singer. He is best remembered as the first artist to record Waltzing Matilda in 1926. He died in 1973.

The 2014 Tynemouth World War One Commemorative Project – boosted by the sales of the original Tyneside Tommy ale – helped place blue plaques on hundreds of former homes of servicemen and women from the old boroughs of North Shields, Whitley Bay and Tynemouth who fell in the conflict and also to complete a memorial garden at the projects base at the Linkskill Community Centre in North Shields.

So, let’s raise a glass of Tyneside Tommy in remembrance of the Dominion Geordies and the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.

Tyneside Tommy. *Dominion Geordies In World War One is a year-long project led by Dr James McConnel, reader in history at Northumbria University.

An exhibition runs until November 13 2016 at Newcastle’s Discovery Museum.

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Gigs ’N’ Festivals

GIGS & FESTIVALS

OCTOBER 6-8 SUNDERLAND OCTOBERFEST

The Bonded Warehouse, Low Street, Sunderland More than 30 real ales, plus real ciders and perries.

Admission £1.50, free to Camra members and students. http://sst.camra.org.uk

OCTOBER 7-8 REAL ALE FESTIVAL

Platinum Suite, St James’ Park, Newcastle Real ale will outshine Real Madrid connections and pulled pork will replace pulled muscles at a football stadium beer festival. St James’ Park, home of Newcastle United (whose manager Rafa Benitez is a former Real Madrid coach) is hosting some of the North East’s artisan breweries for two days of beer, music and food. Along with ciders, a Bombay gin bar, plus 54 beers from the likes of Wylam, Cullercoats, Black Hill and Firebrick, festival-goers will be able to tuck into a menu of dishes designed especially for the occasion courtesy of chefs from the stadium’s catering partner, Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events.

The Real Ale Festival – with live music – costs £10 for a one-day and £15 for a weekend ticket and entry includes a programme and a commemorative glass.

OCTOBER 13-17 REAL ALE & CIDER FESTIVAL Newcastle Cricket Club, Osborne Avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 1JS Camra Tyneside Club of the Year presents 36 real ales and ciders at this historic cricket ground on the new terrace by candlelight or indoors in the pavilion. www.newcastlecc.co.uk

OCTOBER 20-22 TYNE BANK BREWERY

Tyne Bank Brewery, 375 Walker Road, Newcastle NE6 2AB Tyne Bank’s new home (note the address) is open to the public for a weekend of beer, food and live music.

Brewing has recently started up at the new premises – Monument Bitter (4.1% abv) being the first one out of the traps) – so it’s an occasion for a real celebration.

Further open days/evenings will follow, including Wednesday October 26.

Full details: www.tynebankbrewery.co.uk

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GIGS & FESTIVALS

The Cumberland Arms’ fourth beer festival of 2016 beer festival features a Northern Alchemy keg bar with a selection other local brews to total more than 30 cask beers – all on tap at the same time – plus a comprehensive range of bottles, cans and cider. It’s food and music all weekend in a programme that includes Gypsy Dave Smith and The Little Fishy (Friday), Fat Hippo Burger and The Moonlight Stragglers on Saturday, while Sunday brings all things Halloween and Day Of The Dead to inspire kids craft and a new storytelling tent – plus brass bands and food from Sweet Beet and Chuchos Tacos. www.thecumberlandarms.co.uk

DECEMBER 14 CHRISTMAS CRAFT BEER EVENT

The Venue, Newcastle University Students Union NE1 7RU Stu Brew, the enterprising brewing arm of Newcastle University, has been looking into ways to lessen the impact of brewing on the environment thanks to a grant from the www.ncl.ac.uk/ sustainability/news/item/ stubrewgetsgreenlightforprojectonsustainablebrewing. html”Institute for Sustainability. This event will showcase what they’ve been doing at Stu Brew with the North East brewing community. Following a short closed-door event with local brewers and key stakeholders the doors will open to the public with a bit of a beer festival featuring Almasty, Three Kings, Northern Alchemy and Errant breweries – as well as Stu Brew, of course. https://thestudentbrewery.wordpress.com

DETECTIVE DEMANDS PUB NAME CHANGE A Northumberland pub has had its name changed for the benefit of six-and-a-half million television viewers.

The Gun Inn at Ridsdale on the A68 was briefly renamed The Lion for the filming of an episode of ITV’s hugely popular series Vera, which will be aired in 2017.

North East followers of the series that stars Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope working for the fictional Northumberland & City Police generally keep an eye out for locations they recognise and when cast and crew gather to record a scene it invariably causes great excitement in the area.

Liz Askew, Gun Inn landlady, told the Hexham Courant: “We were over the moon as we know how much Vera has brought to Northumberland.

“We closed during the day to allow them to film and when we opened in the evening it was a real talking point and everyone wanted to know what had happened.

“Local children were especially intrigued and were taking pictures with the Land Rover that Brenda Blethyn drives in the series. The whole cast and people who worked behind the scenes were lovely and very courteous, taking the time to speak to the locals and making sure they were OK to park on the main street. It’s exciting for the whole area and the pub.”

The Vera team then set off to film in Blanchland and are expected to return to The Gun Inn for further filming, possibly this month.

www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 33

FESTIVAL ROUND-UP

FEASTING ON A FESTIVAL OF BEER

The Boathouse, Wylam, Northumberland’s legendary August Bank Holiday Beer Festival took a bit of a twist this year.

It featured 19 different beers matured in a served from wooden casks. The beers were sourced in the main from Hadrian Border, Newburn, Newcastle; Three Kings, North Shields, and the Tarn Hows brewery in the Lake District.

Over the same weekend, the Shotley Bridge Cricket Club Beer Festival attracted a huge gathering at the picturesque County Durham ground to sample 50 beers and 80, 20-litre bag-in-box ciders from all over the country specially chosen by Martin Hammill, brewery manager at Hadrian Border brewery.

John Taylor, head brewer at The Stables Brewery at Beamish

Hall, County Durham, tells us that the Hall’s September Festival was extremely busy over the whole weekend. It featured as usual a group of Beer Doctors (real medics) who painstakingly sample all of the beers – complete with white coats – to settle on a Beer of the Festival.

“This year I had to swear in three new young doctors, Brad, Chris and Elly,” says John. “Because of the range of strengths and styles, we decided on three ‘bests’ of the festival. Best beer at over 4.5% abv was Oakham Ales Phantom IPA; best beer under 4.5% abv was Roosters Highway 51, and best in the stout and dark beer category went to Allendale Black Grouse.”

The 36th running of the Durham Beer Festival – organised and run by the local Campaign For Real

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Beamish Hall Beer Festival ‘Beer Doctors’ Elly, Brad and Chris

Ale (Camra) branch – was held at Durham University Students’ Union last month. As has become the custom, a challenge to brew a new beer specifically for the festival was issued to breweries in the branch area – this time the Battle of the Beers brief was a London-style Porter. A judging panel sipped and slurped its way through a blind tasting of nine entrants before declaring Spennymoor-based George Samuel Brewing Company’s Harvey Porter (5.2% abv) the winner.

Thumbs up: Boathouse, Wylam, barman Kevin Cavanagh

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A-Z PUB GUIDE Cheers is all about pubs in the North East and this should be a good place to start...

COUNTY DURHAM BUTCHER’S ARMS

Middle Chare, Chester le Street, DH3 3QB t: 0191 388 3605

DUN COW

37 Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HN. t: 0191 386 9219

HALF MOON INN

130 North Gate, Darlington, DL1 1QS t: 01325 465765

HAT AND FEATHERS

Church Street, Seaham, SR7 7HF. t: 01915 133040

HEAD OF STEAM

3 Reform Place, Durham, DH1 4RZ. t: 0191 3832173

HOLE IN THE WALL

14 Horsemarket, Darlington, County Durham DL1 5PT t: 01325 466720

ITALIAN FARMHOUSE

Mickleton, Barnard Castle, DL12 0JZ t: 01833 640 381

Durham Road, East Rainton, DH5 9QT t: 0191 5840944

THE BLACKSMITHS

THE OLD WELL INN

Station Road, Low Pittington Durham, DH6 1BJ 0191 3720287

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON Darlington Road, Durham DH1 3QN t: 0191 375 7651

THE DUN COW

Front Street, Sedgefield, TS21 3AT t: 01740 385 6695

THE FLOATER’S MILL

Woodstone Village, Fence Houses, DH4 6BQ t: 0191 385 6695

THE GARDEN HOUSE INN North Road, Durham, DH1 4NQ t: 0191 3863395

THE GEORGE & DRAGON

South Street, West Rainton Houghton - le - Spring DH4 6PA. t: 0191 5841022

4 East Green, Heighington Village, DL5 6PP t: 01325 313152

NUMBER TWENTY-2

THE GREY HORSE

22 Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, DL3 7RG t: 01325 354590 e: rew@villagebrewer.co.uk www.twenty2.villagebrewer.co.uk

STATION HOUSE

North Road Durham DH1 4SE

SURTEES ARMS

Chilton Lane, Ferryhill, DL17 0DH t: 01740 655724

THREE HORSESHOES

Maiden Law, Durham, DH7 0QT t. 01207 520900

YE OLDE ELM TREE

12 Crossgate, Durham City, DH1 4PS t: 0191 386 4621

THE AVENUE INN

Avenue Street, High Shincliffe, DH1 2PT t: 0191 386 5954

THE BAY HORSE

28 West Green, Heighington, DL5 6PE t: 01325 312312

THE BEAMISH MARY INN No Place, Nr Beamish, DH9 0QH t: 0191 370 0237

THE BLACK HORSE

115 Sherburn Terrace, Consett, DH8 6NE t: 01207 502585

THE HALF MOON INN

86 New Elvet, Durham, DH1 3AQ t: 0191 3741918

THE HONEST LAWYER

The Green, West Auckland, DL14 9HW t: 01388 834834

THE MANOR HOUSE INN

Carterway Heads, Shotley Bridge, DH8 9LX t: 01207 255268

THE MARKET TAVERN 27 Market Place, Durham, DH1 3NJ t: 0191 3862069

THE MILL

Mountsett, Burnopfield, NE16 6BA t: 01207 570346

THE PUNCH BOWL INN

Edmundbyers, DH8 9NL t: 01207 255545

THE QUAKERHOUSE

2 Mechanics Yard, Darlington, DL3 7QF t: 07783 960105

THE QUAYS

5 Tubwell Row, Darlington, DL1 1NU t: 01325 461448

THE ROYAL OAK

7 Manor Rd, Medomsley Village, DH8 6QN t: 01207 560336

THE SCOTCH ARMS

Blackhill, Consett, DH8 8LZ t: 01207 593709

THE SHIP

Low Road, Middlestone Village, Middlestone, DL14 8AB t: 01388 810904

THE SMITHS ARMS

Brecon Hill, Castle Dene, Chester le Street, DH3 4HE t: 0191 3857559

THE CROSS KEYS

Front Street, Esh, DH7 9QR t: 0191 3731279

THE CROWN

THE OAK TREE

Front Street, Tantobie, Stanley, DH9 9RF t: 01207 235 445

THE OLDE SHIPS INN

36 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

High Stanners, Morpeth NE61 Prudhoe Station, Low Prudhoe, 1QL. t: 01670 512771 NE42 6NP t: 01661 832323

ROBIN HOOD INN

Barrasford Hexham, NE48 4AA t: 01434 681237

BARRELS

59-61 Bridge Street, Berwick, TD15 1ES t:01289 308013

Hathery Lane, Horton, Cramlington, NE24 4HF t: 01670 822410

THREE WHEATHEADS

Thropton nr Rothbury, NE65 7LR t: 01669 620262

BATTLESTEADS HOTEL

TWICE BREWED INN

BEADNELL TOWERS HOTEL

THE ALLENDALE INN

Wark, Hexham, NE48 3LS t: 01434 230209 www.battlesteads.com

Beadnell, NE67 5AY t: 01665 721211

CROSS KEYS

Military Road, Bardon Mill, NE47 7AN t: 01434 344534 Market Place, Allendale, Hexham, NE47 9BJ, t: 01434 683246

Thropton, Rothbury, NE65 7HX t: 01669 620362

THE ANCHOR HOTEL

Dipton Mill Road, Hexham, NE46 1YA t: 01434 606577 e: ghb@hexhamshire.co.uk www.diptonmill.co.uk

THE ANCHOR INN

DIPTON MILL INN

DOCTOR SYNTAX

New Ridley Road, Stocksfield, NE43 7RG, t: 01661 842383

Haydon Bridge, NE47 6AB t: 01434 688121 Whittonstall, Nr Consett, DH8 9JN. t: 01207 561110

THE ANGEL INN

Main Street, Corbridge, NE45 5LA. t: 01434 632119

THE BADGER

THE FEATHERS INN

Hedley on the Hill, Stocksfield, NE43 7SW t: 01661 843 607

THE GOLDEN LION

Hill Street, Corbridge, NE45 5AA t: 01434 632216

THE GOLDEN LION

Market Place, Allendale, NE47 9BD t: 01434 683 225

THE GRANBY INN & RESTAURANT Front Street, Long Framlignton, Morpeth, NE65 8DP t: 0191 488 0954

THE HADRIAN HOTEL

Wall, Hexham, NE44 4EE t: 01434 681232

THE HEART OF NORTHUMBERLAND

5 Market Street, Hexham, NE46 3NS t: 01434 608013

THE HORSESHOES INN

Rennington, Alnwick, NE66 3RS. t: 01665 577665

THE JOINERS ARMS

Newton-by-the-Sea, NE66 3EA t: 01665 576 112

THE MANOR HOUSE

Caterway Heads, Shotley Bridge, DH8 9LX. t: 01207 255268

THE MANOR INN

Main Street, Haltwhistle, NE49 0BS. t: 01434 322588

THE NORTHUMBERLAND ARMS

The Peth, West Thirston, Felton, Morpeth, NE65 9EE. t: 01670 787370

DYKE NEUK

THE BLACKBIRD

Ponteland, NE20 9UH t: 01661 822 684

9 Main Street, Seahouses, NE68 7RD t: 01665 720 200

ELECTRIC WIZARD

THE BLACK BULL

THE PACKHORSE INN

West Herrington, Houghton le Spring, DH4 4ND t: 0191 584 9226

FOX AND HOUNDS

THE BLUE BELL

THE PERCY ARMS

THE THREE HORSESHOES

GENERAL HAVELOCK INN

Moor End Terrace, Belmont, DH1 1BJ t: 0191 3842667 Beamish Hall Hotel, Beamish, DH9 0BY. t: 01207 288 750

THE STABLES

Pit House Lane, Leamside, Houghton le Spring, DH4 6QQ t: 0191 584 2394

THE WHITE LION

Newbottle Street, Houghton le Spring, DH4 4AN t: 0191 5120735

THE WHITEHILLS

Waldridge Road, Chester le Street, DH2 3AB t: 0191 3882786

THE WILD BOAR

Newfield, Chester le Street, DH2 2SP t: 0191 3700565

RIVERSIDE LODGE

Station Road, Corbridge, NE45 5AY. t: 01434 633 633

Street Houses, Ponteland Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 9BT t: 01661 871037

THE MINERS ARMS

13 The Green, Aycliffe Vilage, County Durham, DL5 6LX t: 01325 312273

Bellingham, NE48 2JT t: 01434 220254

Main Street, Ponteland, NE20 9BB. t: 01661 872898

Newton, NE43 7UL t: 01661 844446

THE CLARENCE VILLA

THE NEWFIELD INN

RIVERDALE HALL HOTEL

THREE HORSESHOES

WICKET GATE

THE COUNTY

ADAM & EVE

Stanegate Road, Newbrough, Hexham, NE47 5AR t: 01434 674226

BARRASFORD ARMS

Durham Road, Rainton Bridge, DH5 8NG t: 0191 5843211 41 Manor Road, Medomsley, DH8 6QN t: 01207 560428

NORTHUMBERLAND

RED LION INN

THE PLOUGH

Red Row,Beamish, DH9 0RW t: 01207 232569 Durham Road, Coxhoe, County Durham, DH4HX t: 0191 377 3773

Hawkshead Brewery, Mill Yard, Staveley, LA8 9LR t: 01539 825260

THE DYVELS INN

Front Street West, Bedlington, NE22 5TZ t: 01670 536160

Seahouses, NE68 7SQ t: 01665 720283

THE STABLES

THE MANOR HOUSE HOTEL

THE BEER HALL

RED LION

Military Road, East Wallhouses, Corbridge, NE18 0LL t: 01434 672549

THE JOHN DUCK

North Road, Chester le Street, DH3 4AJ t: 0191 3871162

CUMBRIA

THE DIAMOND INN

BAMBURGH CASTLE INN

THE SPORTSMANS ARMS

THE LAMBTON WORM

Vicars Lane, Manfield, DL2 2RF t: 01325 374243

60 Bridge Street, Blyth, NE24 2AP t: 01670 368346

The Bank, Barnard Castle DL12 8PH t: 01833 690 130

Croxdale Bridge, Croxdale, DH1 3HP t: 0191 3783782

91A Claypath, Durham City, DH1 1 RG

NORTH YORKSHIRE THE CROWN INN

Front Street, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3AX t: 0191 3872960 Frederick Place, Houghton le Spring, DH4 4BN t: 0191 5128050

THE VICTORIA INN

86 Hallgarth Street, Durham, DH1 3AS, t: 0191 3860465

WOODMAN INN

23 Gilesgate, Durham, DH11 1QW t: 0191 680 8317

DUKE OF WELLINGTON

Meldon, Nr Morpeth, NE61 3SL t: 01670 772662 New Market, Morpeth, NE61 1PS. t: 01670 500640 Main Road, Wylam, NE41 8DL t: 01661 598060 Haydon Bridge, NE47 6ER t: 01434 684376

JOHN THE CLERK OF CRAMLINGTON

Front Street, Cramlington, NE23 1DN t: 01670 707060

JOINERS ARMS

Wansbeck Street, Morpeth, NE61 1XZ. t: 01670 513540

JOLLY FISHERMAN

Craster, Alnwick, NE66 3TR t: 01665 576461

KITTIWAKE

Clairemont Crescent, Whitley Bay NE26 3HL. t: 0191 251 3977

MINERS ARMS

Matfen, NE20 0RP t: 01661 855395 Mount Pleasant, West Mickley, Stocksfield NE43 7LP t: 01661 843146

THE BLUE BELL

Hillstreet, Corbridge, NE45 5AA. t: 01434 431143

THE BOATHOUSE

Wylam, NE41 8HR t: 01661 853431 • 14 Real ales on tap • CAMRA 2013 • Northumberland Pub of the Year Winner

THE BOATSIDE INN

Warden, Hexham, NE46 4SQ. t: 01434 602233

THE CARTS BOG INN

Main Street, Acomb, NE46 4PW t: 01434 603909

Langley on Tyne, Hexham, NE47 5NW. t: 01434 684338

LION & LAMB

THE CRASTER ARMS

Horsley, NE15 0NS t: 01661 852952

NEWCASTLE HOTEL

Front Street, Rothbury, NE65 7UT t: 01669 620334

OLIVERS

The Wynding, Beadnell, NE675AX. t: 01665 720 272

THE CROWN INN

Humshaugh, Hexham, NE46 4AG t: 01434 681 231

THE OFFICE

The Old Toll House, Castle Sqaure, Morpeth

THE OLDE SHIP INN

Ellingham, Chathill, NE67 5HA t: 01665 589292 Main Road, Chatton, NE66 5PS. t: 01670 215244

THE PILOT INN

31 Low Greens, Berwick upon Tweed, TD15 1LZ. t: 01289 304214

THE PLOUGH

Village Square, Cramlington, NE23 1DN t: 01670 737633

THE PLOUGH INN

Front Street, Ellington, NE61 5JB. t: 01670 860340

THE RAILWAY HOTEL

Church Street, Haydon Bridge, NE47 6JG t: 01434 684254

THE RAILWAY INN

Acklington, Morpeth, NE65 9BP t: 01670 760 320

THE RAT INN

Anick, Hexham, NE46 4LN t: 01434 602 814

THE RIDLEY ARMS

Stannington, Morpeth, NE61 6EL t: 01670 789216

THE SHIP INN

Monkseaton, Whitley Bay NE25 8DP. t: 0191 251 3677

THE SUN INN

Acomb, NE46 4PW. t: 01434 602934

THE SUN INN

High Church, Morpeth, NE61 2QT, t: 01670 514153

THE SWINBURNE ARMS

31 North Side, Stamfordham, NE18 0QG t: 01661 886015

THE TANNERY

Gilesgate, Hexham, NE46 3QD t: 01434 605537 • Beer & Whisky room • Live music • Dog friendly

THE TAP & SPILE

Eastgate, Hexham, NE46 1BH, t: 01434 602039

THE TRAVELLERS REST

Slaley, Hexham, NE46 1TT t: 01434 673231 www.travellersrestslaley.com

BRIDGE HOTEL

Castle Square, Newcastle, NE1 1RQ t: 0191 232 6400 e: info@sjf.co.uk

BRIDGE TAVERN

7 Akenside Hill Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3UF t: 0191 232 1122 • Selection of real ales • Food served daily • Roof terrace

BRIDLE PATH

101 Front Street, Whickham, NE16 4JJ t: 0191 4217676

CHESTERS

Chester Road, Sunderland, SR4 7DR t: 0191 5659952

COPPERFIELDS

Haddricks Mill Road, South Gosforth, NE3 1QL t: 0191 2840490

Sunderland, SR6 0NU t: 0191 5671402

NE27 0BJ t: 0191 2680711

THE HASTINGS

THE POTTERS WHEEL

MARKET LANE

• Large selection of real ales • Regular food & drink festivals • Food served

THE HEAD OF STEAM

t: 0191 2323606 1 Camden Street, North Shields, NE30 1NH t: 0191 257 4831 72-74 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, NE1 6SG t: 0191 232 0251

MARQUIS OF GRANBY

Streetgate, Sunniside, Newcastle, Tyne & Wear NE16 5ES t: 0191 257 4831

NEWCASTLE ARMS

57 St Andrews Street, Newcastle, NE1 5SE t: 0191 260 2490

ODDFELLOWS

7 Albion Road, North Shields, NE30 2RJ. t: 0191 4358450

OSBORNES BAR

Main Road, Riding Mill, NE44 6DQ t: 01434 682531

Grand Hotel, Grand Parade Tyne And Wear, NE30 4ER t: 0191 293 6666

THE WHITE SWAN

CUMBERLAND ARMS

PUB & KITCHEN

THE WELLINGTON

Main Road, Ovingham, Prudhoe Northumberland NE42 6AG t: 01661 833188

THE WHEATSHEAF

12 Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4DZ t: 0191 2571820 www.cumberlandarms.co.uk

DELAVAL ARMS

St Helens Street, Corbridge, NE45 5HE t: 01434 632020

Old Hartley, NE26 4RL t: 0191 237 0489

THE VICTORIA HOTEL

DOG & RABBIT BREWERY

1 Front Street, Bamburgh, NE69 7BP, t: 01668 214431

THE VILLAGE INN

Longframlington, Morpeth, NE65 8AD t: 01665 570268 www.thevillageinnpub.co.uk

TEESSIDE BEST WESTERN GRAND HOTEL

Swainston Street, Hartlepool, TS24 8AA t: 01429 266345 e: grandhotel@tavistockleisure.com

BRITANNIA INN

65 High Street, Loftus, TS13 4HG t: 01287 640612

CLEVELAND BAY

Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0JE t: 01642 780275

THE CLEVELAND HOTEL

9-11 High Street West Redcar, Cleveland, TS10 1SQ t: 01642 484035

TYNE & WEAR ALUM ALE HOUSE

FIRE STATION

York Road, Whitley Bay, NE26 1AB t: 0191 293 9030

FITZGERALDS

60 Grey Street, Newcastle, NE1 6AF t: 0191 2301350

FITZGERALDS

10-12 Green Terrace, Sunderland, SR1 3PZ t: 0191 5670852

FITZGERALDS

2 South Parade, Whitley Bay, NE26 2RG t: 0191 2511255

FOX & HOUNDS

Coalburns, Greenside, NE40 4JN t: 0191 4132549

FREE TRADE INN

GOSFORTH HOTEL

BENTON ALE HOUSE

Front Street, Longbenton NE7 7XE t: 0191 2661512

BEST WESTERN ROKER HOTEL

Redcar Terrace, West Boldon, NE36 0PZ. t: 0191 536 4197

ROCKLIFFE ARMS

ROSIES BAR

ASHBROOKE SPORTS CLUB

42-48 High Bridge, Newcastle, NE1 6BX. t: 0191 2611008

RED LION

CROWN POSADA

St Lawrence Road, Byker, Newcastle, NE6 1AP t: 0191 265 5764

BACCHUS

13/14 Albion Road, North Shields NE30 2RJ t: 0191 2573199

36 Park View Whitley Bay

Ferry Street, South Shields, NE33 1JR Ashbrooke Road, Sunderland, SR2 7HH. t: 0191 528 4536

61 Osborne Road, Jesmond, Newcastle, NE2 2AN t: 0191 240 2811

Algernon Place, Whitley Bay, NE26 2DT t: 0191 2531299

31 Side, Newcastle, NE1 3JE t: 0191 2321269

2 Stowell Street, NE1 4XQ t: 0191 2328477

SHIREMOOR HOUSE FARM Middle Engine Lane, North Shields, NE29 8DZ t: 0191 2576302

SUN INN

Market Lane, Swalwell, Gateshead, NE16 3AL t: 0191 442 9393

THREE MILE INN,

TRAVELLERS REST

North Road, Wide Open NE13 6LN t: 0191 2366300

TWIN FARMS

22 Main Road, Kenton Bk Ft, NE13 8AB t: 0191 2861263

Maling Street, Newcastle, NE6 1LP Tynemouth Road, North Shields, NE30 4AA. t: 0191 257 7565

THE BEEHIVE

Hartley Lane, Earsdon, NE25 05Z. t: 0191 2529352

• Real ales • Food available • Live sports shown

THE CHILLINGHAM

Chillingham Road, Newcastle, NE1 1RQ t: 0191 265 3992

THE CLUNY

36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ t: 0191 230 4474

THE COPT HILL

Seaham Road, Houghton le Spring, DH35 8LU t: 0191 5844485

THE COTTAGE TAVERN

North Street, Cleadon, SR6 7PL t: 0191 519 0547

THE COUNTY

High Street, Gosforth, NE3 1HB. t: 0191 285 6919

James Place Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE6 1LD t: 0191 265 6151

DAT BAR

11 Market St, Newcastle, NE1 6JN t: 0191 244 2513

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON High Bridge, Newcastle NE1 1EN t: 0191 261 8852

THE DUN COW

9 High Street West, Sunderland SR1 3HA t: 0191 5672262

THE FIVE SWANS

St Marys Place, Newcastle, NE1 7PG t: 0191 2111140

THE GREEN

125 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 4AG. t: 0191 221 1552

THE GREY HORSE

BIERREX

IVY HOUSE

THE BRIAR DENE

20 Shakespeare Street, Newcastle, NE1 6AQ

Neville Street, Newcastle, NE1 5DG, t: 0191 261 6611

White Mare Pool, Wardley, Gateshead, NE10 8YB t: 0191 4950171

THE BODEGA

THE BOX SOCIAL

LADY GREY’S

THE CENTURION

THE JOB BULMAN

St Nicholas Avenue, Gosforth, NE3 1AA t: 0191 2236320

THE JOLLY STEWARD

Fulwell Ave, South Shields, NE34 7DF t: 0191 427 2951

THE KEELMAN

Grange Road, Newburn, Newcastle , NE15 8NL t: 0191 267 1689

THE KEEL ROW

The Gate, Newcastle, NE1 5RF t: 01912299430

THE KINGS ARMS

Beech Street, Deptford, SR4 6BU t: 0191 567 9804

THE KINGS ARMS

West Terrace, Seaton Sluice, NE26 4RD t: 0191 2370275

THE KING GEORGE

North Parade, Whitley Bay t: 0191 251 3877

THE LOW LIGHTS TAVERN

Brewhouse Bank, North Shields, NE30 1LL t: 0191 2576038

THE MID BOLDON CLUB

26 Silksworth Row, Sunderland, SR1 3QJ t: 0191 5147684

Bridge St, Blaydon, Blaydon-on-Tyne NE21 4JJ

Half Moon Lane, Gateshead, NE8 2AN t: 0191 4782543 e: central@theheadofsteam.co.uk

103 Percy Street, Newcastle, NE1 7RY t: 0191 2324352

THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

105 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 4AG t: 0191 232 0692

ISIS

BLACK BULL BLAYDON

THE CENTRAL

THE HOTSPUR

TILLEYS BAR

TYNEMOUTH LODGE

Worcester Terrace, Sunderland SR2 7AW

Beamish Burn Road, Marley Hill, Newcastle, NE16 5EG t: 01207 233925

3 The Arcade, Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4BS t: 0191 272 8105

THE MERCHANTS TAVERN

Roker Terrace, Sunderland, SR6 9ND t: 0191 5671786 e: info@rokerhotel.co.uk 82 Pilgrim Street, NE1 6SG

THE CAUSEY ARCH INN

THE HEAD OF STEAM

Arts Centre, Biddick Lane, Washington, NE38 8AB t: 0191 219 3463

HOTEL DU VIN & BISTRO

29 Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4DZ t: 0191 2578956

25 Broad Chare, Trinity Gardens, Quayside, Newcastle, NE1 3DQ t: 0191 211 2144

2 Neville Street, Newcastle NE1 5EN t: 0191 230 4236

THE COURTYARD

TYNE BAR

HUGOS

THE BROAD CHARE

Wheatridge Row, Seaton Delaval, NE25 0QH t: 0191 237 6868

Great North Road, Gosforth, Newcastle, NE3 2DS t: 0191 255 2100

High Street, Gosforth, NE3 1HQ t: 0191 2856617 Allan House, City Road Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 2BE

THE BRANDLING VILLA

MAGNESIA BANK

Arch 11 Forth Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE1 3NZ 71 The Links, Whitley Bay, NE26 1UE. t: 0191 2520926

THE BRANDLING ARMS

176 High Street, Gosforth, NE3 1HD t: 0191 28540

1 St Peters Wharf, Newcastle NE6 1TZ. 0191 5971212 60 Front Street. East Boldon, NE36 0SH

THE MILE CASTLE

52 Westgate Rd, NE1 5XU t: 0191 2111160

THE MILL HOUSE

Blackfell, Birtley, DH3 1RE t: 0191 415 1313

THE MILLSTONE HOTEL

Hadricks Mill Road, South Gosforth, NE3 1QL t: 0191 285 3429

THE NEW BRIDGE

2 -4 Argyle Street, Newcastle, NE1 6PF t: 0191 2321020

THE NORTHUMBRIAN PIPER Fawdon House, Red House Farm Estate, Gosforth, NE3 2AH t: 0191 2856793

THE OLD GEORGE

Front Street, East Boldon, NE36 0SJ t: 0191 519 1796

Old George Yd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1EE t: 0191 260 3035

THE GREY HORSE

THE PACKHORSE

THE HARBOUR VIEW

THE PAVILION

Old Penshaw Village, Houghton-le-Spring, DH4 7ER. t: 0191 512 6080 Benedict Street, Roker,

Crookgate, Burnopfield, NE16 6NS t: 01207 270283 Hotspur North, Backworth,

Sunniside, Newcastle, NE16 5EE. t: 0191 488 8068

THE PRIORY

Front Street, Tynemouth NE30 4DX. t. 0191 257 8302

THE QUEEN VICTORIA

206 High Street, Gosforth, NE3 1HD. t: 0191 2858060

THE RAVENSWORTH ARMS Lamesley, Gateshead, NE11 0ER. t: 0191 487 6023

THE RED KITE

Spa Well Road, Winlaton Mill, NE21 6RU. t: 0191 414 5840

THE ROSE & CROWN

North Street, Winlaton NE21 6BT. t: 0191 4145887

THE RUNHEAD

Holburn Lane, Ryton, Tyne & Wear, NE40 3HJ t: 0191 413 9517

THE SANDPIPER

Farringdon Road, Cullercoats, Tyne & Wear, NE30 3ER t: 0191 253 5050

THE SCHOONER

South Shore Road, Gateshead, NE8 3AF t: 0191 477 7404 • Cask & craft beers & ciders • Fab food to feast on • Old school, not retro

THE SPLIT CHIMP

Arch 7, Westgate Rd Newcastle upon Tyne NE11SA

THE SIR WILLIAM DE WESSYNGTON

2-3 Victoria Road, Concord, Washington, NE37 2JY t: 0191 418 0100

THE STAITH HOUSE

57 Low Lights, North Shields, NE30 1JA t: 0191 2708441

THE STEAMBOAT

27 Mill Dam, South Shields NE33 1EQ t: 0191 454 0134

THE TANNERS

1 Byker Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2NS

THE THREE TUNS

Sheriffs Highway, Gateshead, NE9 5SD. t: 0191 4870666

THE TOWN WALL

Pink Lane, Newcastle, NE1 5HX www.thetownwall.com

• Selection of real ales • Food served daily • Cinema room available

THE TURKS HEAD

41 Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4DZ. t: 0191 2576547

THE VICTORY

Killingworth Road, South Gosforth, NE3 1SY t: 0191 285 1254

THREE HORSESHOES HOTEL

Washington Road, Sunderland Tyne & Wear, SR5 3HZ 0191 519 2006

YE OLD CROSS INN

Ryton Village, NE40 3QP t: 0191 4134689

www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 37

FUN STUFF

SIGN OF THE TIMES While there might not be many Cheers readers interested in Scotland’s Press & Journal Highland League, this set of full-time results on the BBC Sport website shows there’s little appetite among staff to update the scores as they come in. Unless, of course, that day’s results uncannily all ended up as 0-0 draws. We’re reminded of the chap who said he’d met someone called Paddy Power in a betting shop – what’s the odds on that?

A DUCK WALKS INTO A BAR… …AND ASKS THE BARMAN, ‘DO YOU HAVE ANY GRAPES, PLEASE?’ THE BARTENDER SAYS ‘NO, WE ONLY SERVE BEER IN HERE’. THE DUCK COMES BACK THE NEXT DAY AND ASKS: ‘DO YOU HAVE ANY GRAPES, PLEASE?’ THE BARMAN SAYS: ‘NO. I TOLD YOU YESTERDAY WE ONLY SERVE BEER – AND IF YOU ASK ME ABOUT GRAPES AGAIN I’LL NAIL YOUR BEAK TO THE COUNTER.’ THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DUCK WALKS BACK INTO THE BAR AND ASKS: ‘DO YOU HAVE ANY NAILS?’ THE BARTENDER SAYS ’NO’. ‘IN THAT CASE,’ SAYS THE DUCK, ‘DO YOU HAVE ANY GRAPES?’

1994

EEH! NUMBERS

THE DIRTY DOZEN TWELVE HEAD-SCRATCHERS TO CATCH YOU OUT 1 How many children did Queen Victoria have?

2 In which British city did Adolf Hitler study art?

3 How many time zones are there in the world?

4 What musical icon did Louis Glass invent in 1890?

5 What is Rihanna’s surname?

6 Which Irish singer won Eurovision three times?

7 What do you get when you cross a donkey with a horse?

8 What is the Simpsons’ house number?

9 How many US presidents are carved into Mount Rushmore?

10 What is the second-largest French-speaking city?

11 How long is an Olympic swimming pool?

12 Which Japanese car brand existed between 1932 and 1983?

The last time a North East pub was voted Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) National Pub of the Year. Despite having some of the UK’s best pubs, we have never since reached the 1994 heights that The Beamish Mary Inn, No Place, Stanley, County Durham, achieved. This year’s North East contender is The Steamboat, South Shields. Come on, you can do it…

1994 was also the year that Four Weddings And A Funeral was released, Tony Blair won the Labour Party leadership election, and the first National Lottery draw took place.

QUOTE

“SWEAT, SCALDED MEAT, PUKE, BLOOD, SMOKE AND A DOZEN KINDS OF BAD ALE AND WINE: THE BOUQUET OF CIVILISED NIGHTLIFE” SCOTT LYNCH (RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES)

QUIZ ANSWERS: 1 Nine. 2 Liverpool. 3 24. 4 The Jukebox. 5 Fenty. 6 Johnny Logan. 7 A hinny. 8 742. 9 Four. 10 Montreal. 11 50 metres. 12 Datsun.

38 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

To enquire or book a place on one of our courses in Sunderland, please call 0191 549 9450 or email richard@brewlab.co.uk further information available at www.brewlab.co.uk

Your great local just got greater.

After a recent refurbishment, one of Heaton’s favourite places is now back open with a stylish new look.

Come and enjoy a great menu of locally produced homemade food using only the freshest and finest ingredients - and served between 12 noon and 7pm by our team of local chefs.

You can also savour a handsome selection of beers, handpicked ales, wines, spirits and cocktails all served in a warm, family-friendly atmosphere.

Heaton style. Hospitality the way it should be.

! n e p O w No www.sjf.co.uk

the chillingham

GREAT FOOD • GREAT ALE • GREAT LOCAL • FUNCTION ROOM • OUTDOOR TERRACE Chillingham Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 5XN • T: 0191 265 3992