Lee Trotter's Pub Marathon
Lee Trotter say this
In 2011 I was getting increasingly frustrated with the sheer monotony of visiting the same pubs in Newcastle city centre - week in, week out. This made me want to try new pubs in the city so I set about finding out the name and location of every pub/bar within the city centre’s parameter. After completing the majority of the list (as of 16th July 2017 there are currently 208 establishments you can frequent for swift half, 11 currently closed and 4 new ones due to open), I then started on all pubs on the outskirts of Newcastle city centre; Heaton, Byker, Jesmond, Gosforth, North Shields, Tynemouth, Whitley Bay etc.
Fast forward 3 years to mid-2014 and I had pretty much been in every bar in all of Newcastle (centre, east and west) and all of North Tyneside - I had also visited a lot of the pubs in Northumberland; although difficult at times due to the distance in which I had to travel. As there were very limited places now to visit without traveling too far – my adventure came to a hiatus.
I resumed my adventure last summer (2016) and did the remaining ones and any new openings. I really enjoyed it again, as I have to admit – after constantly visiting anything from 1-10 random bars every single week for 3 years, I was starting to enjoy it less and less. I enjoyed my resumed-adventure that much in fact, that I wanted to carry on my adventure - but how could I do this? I know…Gateshead!
Not being from Gateshead (I’m from Heaton, Newcastle) and having limited knowledge on the place - it was always going to be a struggle locating every pub/bar. I started doing research on the Internet; Google Maps is always a great starting point - it should in theory bring up every pub on the map when you type in the search bar ‘pubs in Gateshead’. Unfortunately though, it is not that simple! For some unknown reason Google Maps always misses some off so then you have to dig a bit deeper on the Internet, ask people who are from or live Gateshead and just have a little scout about the place in your car.
I thought I had every bar on the list but coming across your website made me realise I was 4 short (I didn’t have 5 on the list really but one of them is no longer trading as I checked a couple of nights ago).
Please anyone correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty certain there are currently 126 pubs/bars in the Borough of Gateshead which are open and there are 6 pubs/bars that have closed not too long ago and are in a re-openable state; The Grove (Gateshead Central), Ye Olde Cross Inn (Ryton), the Commercial (Winlaton), Quarrymans Arms (Wrekenton), Cross House Hotel (Deckham) and the Duke of Cumberland (Felling).
Of the current 126 trading pubs/bars - I have so far visited 97 of them:
(GATESHEAD CENTRAL)
The Central – Station East – Prohibition - The Black Bull – The Gloucester – The Tilley Stone – Grey Nags Head – The Metropole – Curleys – Ye Olde Fleece – William IV – Spencers – The Blue Bell
(BENSHAM)
The Crown – Azure Blue – The Bensham Jockey – Whickham House – Stirling House
(SALTWELL)
Park View Inn
(DUNSTON)
The Dun Cow – The Tudor Rose – Royal Hotel
(SWALWELL)
The Sun – The Highlander – Wetherspoons (Metro Centre) – Derwent Crossing – The Skiff Inn – The Angel
(BLAYDON)
The Bisley – The Huntsman – The Black Bull
(RYTON)
The Runhead – The Half Moon Inn
(CRAWCROOK)
Fox & Hounds
(WINLATON)
The Vulcan – The Turf – The Red Kite
(WHICKHAM)
Poachers Pocket – The Highwayman – The Harry Clasper – The Bridle Path – Woodmans Arms
(SUNNISDE)
Marquis of Granby – The Potter’s Wheel
(LOBLEY HILL)
Ravensdene Lodge Hotel – The Norwood
(TEAM VALLEY)
The Waggon Team – Valley Farm – The Gold Medal
(LAMESLEY)
The Ravensworth Arms
(KIBBLEWORTH)
The Plough
(SPRINGWELL)
Springwell Inn – The Guide Post
(EIGHTON BANKS)
The Waggon Inn – Engine Room Inn – The Ship – Bowes Incline Hotel – The Angel View Inn
(WREKENTON)
Seven Stars – The Coach & Horses – The Royal Oak Inn – The Clock
(SHERIFF HILL)
Travellers Rest – The Three Tuns
(LOW FELL)
The Beaconsfield – The Cannon – The Tap @ Carters Well – The Bank – The Back Horse – The Belle Vue – The Gateshead Arms – The Victoria – The Aletaster – The Stone Trough
(DECKHAM)
The Plough – The Shakespeare – The Globe Hotel
(WINDY NOOK)
Bay Horse – Sutherlands
(FELLING)
Fiddlers Three – The Brandling Inn – Victoria Jubilee – The Greyhound – The Mallard – The Old Fox – The Wheat Sheaf – The Maltings House – The Schooner
(LEAM LANE)
Deuchars Arms – The Eagle – Durham Ranger
(WARDLEY)
The Green
(HEWORTH)
The Swan – Maiden Over
(PELAW)
The Pelaw Inn
(BILL QUAY)
The Wardley – The Cricketers
This means there are 29 left to visit:
(CRAWCROOK)
Lambs Arms – Rising Sun
(WINLATON)
The Queens Head – The Highlander Inn – Crown and Cannon – Rose & Crown – Black Horse Inn
(COALBURNS)
The Fox & Hounds
(GREENSIDE)
The Pack Horse – The White Swan
(HIGH SPEN)
Bute Arms
(CHOPWELL)
The Phoenix
(WHICKHAM)
Bay Horse – The One Eyed Stag – The Crown – The Fellsider – The Coachman
(SUNNISIDE)
The Travellers Rest
(BIRTLEY)
The Mill House (lots of dispute over the location but it is 100% Birtley) {it's not Lee..it and the Guide Post, Wrekenon Village are technically in Sunderland..but I've included them, too..JB} – The Coach & Horses – The Three Tuns – The Red Lion – The Hanlon – Railway Arms – The Moulder Arms – The Barley Mow
(FELLING)
Bay Horse Inn – The Portland Arms – The Blue Bell
Notable mentions: I found the Tudor Rose in Dunston to be a nice rural-feel pub. The Ravensworth Arms in Lamesley is a very nice pub also. On a whole, I’ve found that the Gateshead pubs are a lot rougher than those of Newcastle with the Bisley in Blaydon being the roughest so far; although the Blue Bell in Felling will no doubt be a contender when I eventually visit there.
I have made a file and kept a record of every single bar I have been in which shows the name of the bar, name of location and a photo of the bar at the time - in the book I have 1,438 pubs from 35 different countries .
I sure have met some characters along the way - many of them right here in the Newcastle and Gateshead.
Happy to answer any questions or give more info if needed.
Thanks.
Lee.