Five Swans, Newcastle upon Tyneback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Just reopened, before the coronavirus lockdown.
After tasteful and expensive refurbishment.
One of about a dozen Wetherspoons in the area.
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The Five Swans is another cavernous Wetherspoons in Newcastle. It is tucked away from the busier streets, near the Civic Centre. But it was still packed on my Tuesday evening visit. It was my favourite of the city centre 'spoons. With several different rooms, you're sure to find a table even if it is packed. Service took a while. But I seemed to have walked in during a rush. Ales were Titanic Full Steam Ahead, White Horse Village Idiot, Dukeries Farmers Branch, Strathaven Winter Glow, Vog Dark Matter Blackcurrant Porter, Clock House Post Horn Pale Ale, Sharps Doom Bar, Ruddles Best & Greene King Abbot. Ciders were both from Thistly Cross - Ginger & Whisky Cask. A very good branch of this chain.
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Now the Five Swans.
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Closed to become a Weatherspoons - which will probably ruin the other bars in the area.
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Has now closed for conversion to a Wetherspoons apparently.
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Looks a little scruffy on the inside, and the top bar seemed to be closed - or if it was open then none of the bar staff bothered going up there. Toilets are totally disgusting and need a visit from Health Dept as soon as possible; the smell was unbelievable, probably from drains but I wouldn't rule out 50 dead cats being under there somewhere.
On the plus side, beer was okay and there was a real flame fire to sit next too. I won't be going back simply on account of the state of the toilets though..certainly wouldn't buy food from there either if that's their standards!
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Went here on April 7th 2009, when visiting my daughter. She suggested having lunch here as she liked it (she's a student at Northumbria Uni)and it did a buy one get one free deal on selected dishes. There are plenty of seats outside, seating inside is comfortable and clean. There is an obvious studenty feel to the place, being near both unis thats to be expected I suppose, beer range was uninspired, Fosters, John Smiths, Woopecker, etc, no cask beer. Food was ok, in the style of Wetherspoons, good sized portions and hot, at the price (as it was on the BOGOF deal) I had no complaints. Big screens advertised the current offers on a variety of cocktails and other drinks aimed at the younger, student types that are the pubs target market. All in all, not a bad experience, food was good, it was clean and comfortable and it was quiet enough to allow conversation. A cask beer or two would improve it's rating in my eyes, as would a good clean of the toilets.
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Ok bar to start with if drinking round Haymarket area of toon. Esp good in the summer when you can sit outside. Normally full of students and office workers. Plastic glasses is a pain but generally an ok bar to start a days drinking in!
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I found it strange to go into a bar in the city centre and be served my pint in a plastic glass. It's winter so there wasn't any risk of me taking the glass outside.
I remember years ago at the Mayfair when things could perhaps be a little unpredictable drinks being served in plastic glasses. I go to gigs and glasses aren't available which again is fair enough.
I really can't understand the need for a plastic glass unless the environment in Luckies is now unpredictable!!!!
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Modern place near the universities, not entirely unlike a Goose pub, particularly in the front section. Inevitably geared towards young people given the location, with discount deals on WKD and the like, but there seem to be a fair number of locals hanging on too. Usually seems to be playing cheesy pop music - it was a long while since I'd heard "2 Unlimited" - while broadcasting American sports to an audience of zero. Unremarkable beer selection but rather more memorably unpleasant toilets. Better than the Hancock if you're in the university area.
Leo - 4 Dec 2006 20:11 |
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