please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I made a swift visit to the plush Hotel Du Vin (not listed on here), before moving down to the Free Trade. I last visited here in 2010 and remember leaving in a bit of a state. That day it was my 9th pub of the day and they had a cider festival on. This time, luckily it was only my 8th and the cider selection was much more limited - Dawsons 100, Pure North Valley Gold, Worleys Beatnik Billy & Kentish Pip Firespice. Ales were Thornbridge Jaipur, Allendale Gluten Free IPA, Roosters High Tea, Almasty Centennial Simcoe, Fyne Ales Jarl & Hawkshead Windermere Pale. It feels a lot more spit and sawdust than I remember it. Although last time I was drunk and it was packed. This time, my visit was much more relaxing. Upgrading my rating to 8/10. A really good boozer.
|
Visited August 2014. Lots of great beers, friendly staff, free jukebox, & fabulous views. Very tatty but who cares when everything else is so good!So good that we went back twice in 24 hours! And within short walking distance of very cheap premier inn/travel lodge hotels if you want an overnight stay in a great city.
|
Pretty much a perfect pub for those that like the 'fancy beers' in non fancy surroundings. Nice staff, punters and it's all about the beer. 10/10
|
One of those boozers that's crap, but in a really good way. Not much to look at and hasn't had a lick of paint in a long time, but it would probably spoil the place if it had one. Great beer, knowledgable, friendly staff and a really nice atmosphere. Great pub.
|
Loved this place. As has been said before, a proper boozer. Even the non real ale beers are interesting. There were 5 ales on with local reps from VIP, Durham and Anarchy and two from out of the area. Quality was spot on. If it's raining take time to study the black and white photos of Newcatle and if it's sunny sit in the garden and study the real thing from high up on the banks of the Tyne. There is a freqent bus service (Quay 2) that will take you back to the city centre from outside the Bike hub cafe below.
|
A blast from the past,a proper drinking pub , great service great range of ales, its a must visit place.
|
The reports seem to vary but I come from Carlisle every other week for the Ouseburn crawl. Bus or Metro to Byker, first the Cumberland then Cluny, Tyne and last Free Trade. Staff are always friendly and knowledgeable. If the crawl is done in this order its almost all downhill. Dont be tempted by the Ship ( if its open, poor service and ale )
|
What a surprise!
You walk in and wonder which part of the 70's you've walked into. But the drink is good. It's clean, and worthy of a good mark.
Definately one to go to.
|
The Free Trade looks really scruffy, but it is actually brilliant with some nice beers and ciders. The toilets aren't the cleanest and are covered in graffitti, but the graffitti is interesting (honestly have a look). The beer garden in front of the pub gives some spectacular views of the river, the bridges and the city skyline.
|
Nicely located pub affording views over the Tyne. The interior was nothing special, with the toilets sub-standard. However, my attention was soon turned towards the 15 real ciders available - Yarde Dry, Gwatkin Stoke Red, Carey Organic Medium, Upper House Medium/Dry, JB's Sussex Medium, Sams Medium & Autumn Scrumpy, Moores Pyder, Perrys Vintage Reserve Medium, Gwynt y Ddraig Happy Daze, Scrumpy, Black Dragon & Old Timer, Broadoak Bristol Port and Westons Perry & Vintage Organic. Apparently the local CAMRA cider people had been on a crawl the day before. So, I doubt this range is usually available. 6 real ales were on - Dartmoor IPA, Milestone Raspberry Wheat Beer, North Yorkshire Special Bitter, Mordue IPA, Crown Black Jack Stout & Northumberland IPA. The pub was busy, both inside and out. I'll certainly give it another go at some point to see what it's like on a normal week.
|
Has an extremely tatty air and the gents' is something else as far as experiences go - I could not find a space for my review - but at least in my experience the overpowering perfume has been of disinfectant rather than urine. There is a pretty good choice of local ales, although I have found the quality variable, and the staff often appear disinterested and are not particularly friendly to the occasional visitor. But I keep returning for the evening view from the beer garden and the occasional excellent pint. A regular port of call when I'm in Toon.
|
Worth visiting, especially on a summer day, for the view out onto the River Tyne - fantastic. the pub has a small, slightly basic beer garden from where the view can be admired.
The pub itself felt a little bland inside, and the smell of disinfectant was overpowerng, however the five hand pulled beers were good and included some local brews.
Not a bad place, could be better, but the location makes it worth a visit.
|
A very ordinary, extremely dull bar with awful (and over-priced) beer. Tatty interior (but this is not 'designer' tatty, this is genuine tattty!).
Avoid.
|
Agree with the comments made by Glendoral a few posts down. The beer is nothing special at all and the toilets are rank. It's all very well going for a deliberately run-down feel but the Free Trade is downright grubby. On a recent visit I also found the staff culture there to be substandard as well - not friendly at all and unhelpful. The nearby Tyne pub is miles better in every repect.
|
Its got a certain charm about it. Ok for a couple of pints when kicking about ouseburn way. Not a bad little boozer at all.
|
This pub has one of the finest views in Newcastle, and some of the most interesting/disgusting toilets, depending on your point of view (graffiti literally covers the walls). It is intentionally scruffy, and perhaps less self-conscious than some of the other pubs on the now-trendy Ouseburn circuit. The only drawback, as previously mentioned, is the eyesore of a tower block that has been erected next door and is completely out of kilter with its surroundings. how i hate this 'gentrification' and town planners, who are attracted to water like flies to proverbial. But this shouldn't spoil your visit.
|
Stonework repainted recently for the first time in probably 50 years - not the doors or exterior paintwork though! Inside a splash of shit coloured paint over what was once green doesn't really mean it has had a makeover. Ladies toilets unfinished and gents remain the same mess and stink. In spite of the invitation to "smoke tabs" at the Trade there is no shelter for smokers outside. Beers not as good as they used to be (including the Guinness) and when busy there's never any ice. It has gone up its own arse and gets more support thesedays than it deserves.
|
Went for a bit of a crawl around the bottom end of the Ouseburn on Saturday. Cluny was heaving but had an excellent choice of well-kept ales and the atmosphere was great; Tyne had some music event on and was packed, although they were still changing the beers - again, very good and great atmosphere; Free Trade had only two ales on and now appears to be run down rather than just having that bohemian air of a few years back. Pity about the tower block. Another bloody eyesore.
|
I went in here for the first time ever, and loved it! right up my street. It was a gorgeous day and me and two mates who are also 18 walked along the quay and ended up here.
I've developed a bit of a crush on the barman, tall blonde hair and brown eyes. Who is he???????
|
Haven't been here for about 20 years.. but judging by the picture and comments, its still a wonderful pub.
Spent many days watching the world go by, drinking the 'Brown.
Used to have an excellent juke box.
I must get back before it disappears.
|
Terrific - an absolute gem and possessing a super view over the Tyne. A great range of real ales and a mixed crowd of drinkers who are keen to uphold the UK's pub culture. A bit too blokey? Perhaps, but that would be my only quibble.
|
All the real ale was off on a Friday night. You know, run down doesn't always equate with cool; sometimes it just means run down. The place needs a kick up the arse. Still, it must have something,otherwise I wouldn't go there.
|
Excellent pub with great view of Tyne, if a touch rough and ready. Graffiti in gents is worth the visit alone. Beer is well kept and there is a good range. One of the must-visits in Newcastle, and close to the Tyne pub which is also very good. Nine of out ten.
|
What a pub. What...a...pub. Went for the first time last week on a visit to Newcastle. Looks like a dump outside, isn't much better inside. But so what? Cracking beer, amazing view down the Tyne at sunset. Great chat. And best of all, the sign above the bar, big letters: 'drink beer, smoke tabs'. Enjoy it while you can. Pubs like this were once 2-a-penny; now they are all gastro-ed up, and full of children. Brilliant boozer for doing what you should do in a pub - drinking beer; and what you soon won't be able to do - smoking tabs. Wish it was my local.
|
Very over-rated pub, with an admittedly excellent view of the Tyne. Popular amongst the chattering classes of nearby Heaton. Can't have had a penny spent on renovation in the last 20 years, so nowadays very dingy with nasty toilets. Worst pub quiz in the history of the world held every Wednesday.
|
Great view of the Tyne. Very good selection of real ales with guest ales changing regularly. Some of the most original toilet grafitti (in the Ladies!) that I have ever seen. And I've seen a lot......
|
A pub that is proudly unchanged! Unrivalled views, esp. from the beer garden, endearingly scruffy inside with guinness that keeps its head to the bottom of the glass. Who wouldn't want to go back?
|
Hope it hasn't changed - one of UK's most basic but loveable pubs - beer was good on my visit. Essential part of the Byker circuit.
|
great place, ambience, atmosphere, decor, view!!, people, and outside seating, but beer could be better kept, great start to an ouseburn valley ale crawl though
|
Beats the trendy bars down the river in city centre any day....this is a great pub with great people and great beer, if a little dear for the area and surroundings. Great views downriver.
|
Great atmosphere, but...
The beer isn't kept well and the place reeks of smoke. Take an aqualung to the bog.
Great jukebox and decent view.
anonymous - 18 Apr 2006 20:52 |
As Newcastle's quayside heaves under the heavy tread of stags and hens, the venerable Free Trade looks down from its wondrous seat, weary of the noise. Make a mini crawl of this place, The Tyne, The Cumberland Arms and The Cluny and you'll probably never bother with the main drag again. Endearingly faded and unprepossessing, the FT is like a pair of your most comfortable old shoes. Never let it be reheeled.
|
Usually has a free jukebox on. Excellent beer, gorgeous view back up the river.
|
This bar is one of the old school never been updated in years and the way is should be we went in one friday in the summer half cut sat in beer garden had a laugh never should this pub be updated or closed
|
Boasts the best view in Newcastle, especially at sunset (The sun will set behind all the bridges, can see right down the river). Staff are lovely, helpful, know their stuff etc. Beer garden across the road and some tables outside. If I have to pick a hole in something, I would say that it's a bit spoiled by the boy racers continually going past noisily in souped-up lawnmowers.
Great ales, really well-kept, and while a bit small inside, fantastic atmosphere and a wonderful warmth, especially on a dark winter's night. Ace grafitti in the bogs, I strongly suggest you take a biro. I suspect that someone may try and build in the land between this pub and the river - this would ruin the view and hance the pub and cannot be tolerated!
Splendid.
|
great view up the river, the beer was not bad, pub was quite busy and def a place to visit if you are in town...
quite a mixture of drinkers... students, leftist trendies, old and young couples
a good option if you want to get away from all the hen night groups who've come up from the south for the weekend and are wreaking havoc in the centre of town
|
A must for the purist,the grafitti in the bogs is of the highest standard,and the beer is always good.
Denis - 10 Nov 2004 13:08 |
The best pub on St Lawrence road.
Selma - 4 Nov 2004 12:09 |
A fantastic experience,not to be missed if you are a visitor to Tyneside,great atmosphere with the local yokels,and a paradise for the sexually frustrated!
Vinnie - 24 Sep 2004 15:55 |
What a pub!,i arrived for my first visit on saturday night and was gobsmacked,the place is a boozers paradise,a proper pub with real people,from sexy to senile,the Free Trade has it all.
Richard - 13 Sep 2004 10:19 |
A superb drinking den for the more discerning customer,with a unique ambience and the most magnificent views along the river Tyne.A mishmash of customers(including CHUBS on a saturday) make this pub one of the very best in the North-East.
CHAS - 9 Sep 2004 11:22 |
Never mind all these non locals writing about the pub. There is no spit and sawdust, the place is relaxing, welcoming and the beer is not only well kept but reasonably priced. A great oasis and a far cry from the alcopops bars of the city centre. If you are a character and are friendly, come join us at the Free Trade.
Glenn - 27 Aug 2004 17:53 |
On the whole a cracking little pub. Great view of the Tyne, and a nice drop of beer. The bar is very basic, and a bit tatty, which does add to the charm, however, with this in mind, I cannot see how they can justify the price of the beer!
Paul Armstrong - 21 Jun 2004 13:27 |
This pub is the epitome of the "local" if U have a local accent and dare to enter then you will be regarded with suspicion, if U are a foreigner )anyone with a strange accent), then the locals will (once they are sure you are not an undercover police officer) welcome you with open arms. Best discribed as "rough and ready" the (rare) sober local has a vocabulary littered with "F" words and will expect to hear no word said against Newcastle, the local populace or the Noth East in general. A place designed for and best left to the locals.
Shaun - 19 Dec 2003 00:38 |
A tucked away little haven of goodies that is great guinness and a fine selection real ales from local brewerys. The free trade is known only to those who are lucky enough to stumble across it. Great ambience, gorgeous view, excellent management by Richie .However 'the trade' does push 'spit and sawdust' to the limits. Needs a lick of paint or two.
anonymous - 3 Oct 2003 23:04 |
