The Toon A trip to Newcastle! What a smashing way to start the year and ease our way in to an abstemious and thoughtfully restrained 2017.Exterior The first stop in culinary terms what at The Toon, a takeaway near the main site of nightclub chaos, Bigg Market. Once I’d come to terms with the curious …

Free Trade Inn I had heard tales of the Free Trade Inn, the legendary Craig David, and the excellent beer, so it was entirely joyous to find myself there as the first item of business on a weekend away to Newcastle.Craig David I was joined on the enterprise by Our Beer Man, Bob, Chris and …

Newcastle Beer Weekend Our Beer Man’s Verdict A January jaunt to Newcastle has been a regular fixture for a while now and this annual pick-me-up seemed particularly necessary after 2016 rained down a shit storm of global and personal bad news. The usual team was joined on this occasion by Blythe – although that didn’t …

ExteriorOur Beer Man’s Verdict What combination of elements – that peculiar alchemy – makes the perfect pub? On paper, everything can seem perfect – with every single ingredient present and correct – but it just doesn’t work. It’s usually an instant gut reaction, although it can sometimes be a slower burn. So what are we …

ExteriorI seem to be doing a fair amount of zipping around the country at the moment with the most recent stop on my adventures having been in Newcastle. It was just a flying visit, but I did have time for breakfast and coffee so having consulted the internet for cafes near the train station I …