Brewhouse

We go all the way to Newcastle-Gateshead and you don't get a picture of a single bridge. What's going on?! Well the dirt on the hotel window shows up on the view photos when you view them on a PC and the shots of the Millenium Eye lit up and night don't look quite so good blown up either.

Also the pub which brews it's own beer on site was my find of the trip. I'm not knocking anything else in Newcastle or Gateshead but I grew up in the area and my folks still live nearby so it was a nostalgia trip for me but a bit of a tourist session for K.

A quick trip to the Metro Centre (as we were early for our hotel booking) where I lost K in Lakeland for a worrying length of time before he randomly decided to get his haircut. I mooched around outside but the look on his face in the mirror as he tried to understand the accents was priceless.

Into the hotel which comes highly recommended from us for the price range. A view of the Baltic, the bridges and the Sage out of the window and a cheap bus up into town. Perfect. Mooch around town with a nostalgic mid afternoon feed at the Tyneside Cinema coffee shop before meandering down Grey Street back towards the quayside. A quirky looking pub under the struts of the Tyne Bridge caught our eye. Best decision all weekend. They brew 3 cracking pints on site, have a large range of other "proper" beers, a decent wine list and a great menu. Loved the place. Only had time for a quick pint before heading back to the hotel to change for the gig (Paul Weller for K's birthday. I thought pretty good but I've never seen him before, K thought below par) but somehow found our way back there for a "few" more pints into the small hours. In a moment of Essex class K rounded off the evening with a kebab as we walked back along the Quayside, I stuck to the much classier chips. Love Newcastle.

If you're ever in Newcastle search out The Bridge Tavern but don't make it so busy that I can't get a seat next time!

Vx