Brandling Villa, South Gosforthback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I thought this was the best of the 3 South Gosforth pubs I tried. It certainly had the best ale range. But there's a strange way of dispensing things. When I ordered a half of one ale, the barmaid muttered something about third or two third pints. I politely declined that offer and asked for a half. When it came to £2.45, I thought I was back in London. But it soon became apparent that I'd been dispensed two thirds of a pint - very strange. The guy next to me seemed to indicate that this happens to most people who walk in for the first time. It's a shame that the barmaid couldn't have been more communicative. I also later found out that CAMRA discounts are offered. But none were advertised and I wasn't offered one. Ales were Ilkley Crossroads, Black Isle Goldeneye, Tickety Brew Cherry Berlinerweisse, Oakham Black Hole Porter, Bristol Beer Factory Southville Hop, Allendale Wolf, Tyne Bank Frank and Bird & Pacifica, Mordue Radgie Gadgie & Roosters Fort Smith. Ciders were Thatchers Heritage & Westons Old Rosie. Nice pub and decent beer. It was just the service issues and prices that mark it down.
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Seems to divide opinion, but you can't argue with the great range of cask ales and brilliant food. Have to agree with the comments regarding poorly trained staff, but the only downside, imo. Great quiz on a sunday.
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What ever may have gone before, this is now a great pub full of delights for the lover of real ale....and they do food as well, evenings included. They were til recently a brew pub but the floods last year saw the end of that for the moment. Not to worry there were 10 ales on with a full spectrum from light to dark . We had Mordue workie ticket, Frank and Bird moteuka blonde, Hop Studio porter and Harviestoun b&t. About 5-10 minutes walk of the metro station, downhill to the main junction.
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One of the most impressive turnarounds you could see in a local pub. Unpretentious and inventive, with a traditional core. One of the best pubs in Newcastle.
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Background: For a long time this was the best of the three pubs in South Gosforth; Millstone and Victory make up the trilogy.
The Brandling Villa - heaven knows why it's referred to as Villa Bistro on BITE - has had it's ups and downs mostly due to bizarre choices in front of house staff, but a relatively recent change of management seemed to be getting on top of that problem.
So what is it like now? Shabby is the starting point. The whole pub looks tatty and tired and the toilets are not just rank; they are gross (at time of writing this - the less rank of the two Gents Toilets was closed for repair). You need a ferryman to get you from the door to the urinal.
The beers are well kept and there is a respectable variety. Food is ok - but spoiled for me when I had the delight of listening to one of the Bar Staff (Manager?) bragging loudly about the deal he got on the burgers from a local supplier i.e., 76p each. That 76p burger, with some chips and bits added, is on the menu for well over �6. I don't mind 'mark up' but that is kicking the a*** out of profiteering.
The BV seems to be focussing on its Sausage and Ale, and, Pie and Ale special events and forgetting that it is a local pub in between. Both the two nearby pubs, as mentioned above, the Victory and the Millstone, are under new management - and both are being turned around into very pleasant pubs; if I was managing the Brandling Villa I would be worried. Very worried.
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Came up for its pie and beer festival - was very impressed. A great range of ciders and beers, and the pies were amazing. All well served with 1/3 pint glassses allowing us to taste the full range.
I've never been before so can't comment on other reviews, but it was nicely busy the whole day, fairly well priced and well run - no loud music, and that which was playing was good stuff. The live band was a little crap, to be frank, but not irritatingly so.
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The Brandling has seen no improvements since the new management took over. I visited their "sausage and beer" weekend; it was ridiculously over priced, the live music was so amateur a chimp would have given a better performance and the staff were surly, arrogant, rude and immature.
I was standing at the bar, the place had only a few customers and the burly beer bellied manager ordered me to move away from the bar as I was blocking his customers from ordering drinks! What customers? And the bar is over 20 feet long. Needless to say, I moved at his request as the look in his eyes was like a pit bull! Not a chap to engage in polite chat with, his young years made me actually feel so threatened I left and spent a pleasant evening elsewhere.
The beer price at the Brandling is no cheaper than elsewhere in the vicinity: not only that, but my pint of cider was so cloudy and yeasty it could have come from the still rancid smelling toilets!
The place has now become like a private youth club. When I have since passed by this pub, I notice the staff are engaged in late night private parties.
Thumbs down from me! I don't think I'll return there until it changes hands again!!!
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The place has changed hands twice in the past yer. The couple who had it a year ago were nuts and were the pubs only decent customers. The couple who took it next were an odd mix, he was a nice fella but she was a big surly matron type who invited herself to butt in to your conversations then told you off like a schoolchild if you swore. Beer was always crap with both couples, always felt ill after a couple of pints. New guy has taken it on recently, its becoming a decent pub again, theyve cleaned it up and are making an effort. I think the landlord is the guy with the gut falling out the jeans! Excellent pub quiz with free food on a sunday night, decent music, great selection of real ales, pint about 25p cheaper than the Victory or the Millstone. They had a great Sausage and Beer festival this weekend. They seem to be trying lots of new stuff so hopefully the place is on the up.
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As other reviewers have noted recently under new management. It is still reletively deserted every time I have been in. It seems to me it falls between two stools. It now sells real ale which I think is off high quality and well kept. However it does not look like a traditional pub and may not attract the real ale fraternity despite camra leaflets dotted about the place. Beer choice was curious. London Pride served semi flat will have a hard time up here I fear. It also has loud modern music (too loud for me!!) but I dont think theyll get many younger ones in this area. .
Finally toilets are appalling as noted previously and bar staff are poor. Last time I was in I was served by surly scruffily dressed individual whose beer gut was falling out if his jeans!.
Has life music on saturdays which is well supported.
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I pop in from time to time and the recent change of management has added a welcome improvement. It feels brighter and airier, and the quality of the food has certainly been moved up a notch (prices are good too). Staff were chatty and friendly, but toilets are (as ever) badly in need of a revamp. Not busy at all, but might get more lively if patrons return. Worth stopping by if you're after a quiet pint on comfy couches.
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Just read a comment about the brandling villa, has anyone been there recently, it's had a change of management!! go see for yourself, couldn't believe how bright the the place was. New management are very friendly and the the food and the beer is spot on, couldn't find fault. They have have brought back live music on Saturday nights, and the atmosphere is brilliant, go and check it out!1, you'll be surpirsed.
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Ignorant woman serving behind the bar who listened to our whole conversation then followed us into the car park and complained about my friend smoking outside near to dead leaves. "You could set them alight putting out a fag there" she screetched
Errrm hang on pet, get a brush and a broom and put the leaves in the bin. Miserable witch
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Arogant bar staff, or should i say nosey, toilets are rank and i mean rank i would not let a dog do it in there, horrible carpets, drink is watered down, bar staff chat about you when you sitting down and trying to listen to your conversation, its always empty and smells really bad
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