The Free Trade Inn

http://www.theburglarsdog.co.uk/freetrade

This is my old haunt. Reading about the place has brought on pangs of longing for a sit and a pint with my mates looking at the view.

The bastards at Wimpey are trying to block the view by building luxury apartments so some posh ****s can enjoy the view.

I hope the collective of the bar current and former drinkers can save it.

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Looks a bit run down but great view--shame about the condos.

It looks a bit old and tatty, probably best to knock it down and build something nice there Mrs Q, a few nice condo units would probably look quite good there :)

it looks dead tatty, bowl it over and put a McDonalds up I say, look much better with some nice golden arches and Ronald sitting out front.

Q Byker is an absolute shithole and will always be. They are trying to renovate and improve the area (council house stock and build high-rise flats with river views that are a couple of hunderd grand a piece.

As for the locals clubbing together to save it, Forget it! born and bred people from this area don't have a pot to piss in.

I know the area well, its as rough as a badgers.:)

Free Trade Inn

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URL:
Address:
Tel No: www.theburglarsdog.co.uk/freetrade
St Lawrence Road, Byker, NE6 1AP (Click here for map)
0191 265 5764
Reviewed by: The Burglar's Dog Editors https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2007/08/103.jpg
www.theburglarsdog.co.uk "Sleek contemporary design classic"

Two things that will strike you when you go to the Free Trade Inn: 1) It's an absolute dump, and 2) it's fantastic. Struggling along the nettle strewn path up from Quayside, you find that what looks from a distance to have been derelict for thirty years is actually one of the best, scruffiest bars in the town. From the dirty brown walls with huge holes in the plaster to the boarded up fireplaces, there's been no attempt made whatsoever to smarten the place up or to impose any sort of grisly theme. In the age of the sleek contemporary design classic and polished stone furniture, it's good to still be able to spot a few formica tables with S&N Breweries blue star in them, an' all. There's not really much in the way of decor to speak of: just art-for-sale and gig adverts on the walls. And I like that approach. Even the punters seem like a friendly bunch, with barely a trace of Bigg Market scum or loungebar style-victims, though what we will have to point out is that the Free Trade attracts a lot of students; the prick who wrote "you're my wife now" on the otherwise magnificently vandalised bog walls should be barred for life if there's any justice. Get your own personality, you sad twat. The standard of the pint's good, and there's a choice of two beer gardens - one overlooking the Tyne (both the river and the pub of that name) - to park your arse in and watch stray dogs chomping on wine corks and gravel. Fuck it, man: what's not to like about the place? Especially since its very existence is one in the eye for all the greedy developers who want to stick another unoccupied office block right in front of the bar and ruin the view. There's always some battle or other with skyscraper-obsessed fools, and it'll be a sorry day if those wankers finally give the council a big enough backhander to get the go-ahead. Whoever coined the phrase "the banality of evil" clearly had the soulless gentrification of the east quayside in mind. Clearly.

For: We've been on to UNESCO and they're quite happy for the Free Trade Inn to go on their list of protected World Heritage Sites. Well, maybe not.

Against: It's always woefully understaffed when we go.

Guinness drinkers: what is their fucking problem? How come I always seem to get stuck at the bar behind the sort of dickhead who orders his mate's Foster's in an Australian accent (it's brewed in Manchester, you tool) and then waits until the very end of his massive round order to say, after a lengthy dramatic pause, "...and a pint of Guinness."? It takes about a month to pour, and you KNOW that, you obnoxious shites. Stop making such a fucking spectacle of your tastes, stop making me wait forever for my pint and start ordering the damned gloop at the beginning in future. Jesus, man.

You could, of course, see it from the point of view of Dog reader Dave Ramsey. This is what he has to say about the Free Trade. And us:

"So I went to this Free Trade Inn that youse have insisted upon rating as one of the top 3 bars in Newcastle. Now don't get me wrong, after reading your review I didn't expect it to be the cleanest bar but Jesus Christ I didn't expect it to be THIS much of an utter shit hole. So this is the best Newcastle has to offer? Now by no means am I a snob, but a clean glass wouldn't go a miss like. It was like a fucking saloon with the big twat behind the bar cleaning a glass with his own spit. The wallpaper as well- did someone wipe their arse all over it before it went up? One of the worst bars I've ever been to, and I've seen my fair share of shite. And you misty eyed numpties dare suggest this is one of the best bars? Pfff fuckin berks..."

Cheers, Dave!

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Originally Posted by hooter

Q Byker is an absolute shithole and will always be. They are trying to renovate and improve the area (council house stock and build high-rise flats with river views that are a couple of hunderd grand a piece. As for the locals clubbing together to save it, Forget it! born and bred people from this area don't have a pot to piss in. I know the area well, its as rough as a badgers

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Nah that bit's ok.

It's not really Byker. More Ouseburn. Perfectly safe. Half a mile away from the Toon in Walker isn't nice nor is the bottom end of Shields road.

Free-trade, The Tyne, The Ship, The Clooney and The Tanners are all good places to drink in that area.

Just drove past the Free Trade Inn today and those pictures don't do it justice. It looks in a worse condition almost derelict.I bet the land is worth a small fortune if they bulldoze it and build more of these ultra-trendy river view flats.:(

Go get some photos.

What the hell are you doing in Newcastle?

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Guinness drinkers: what is their fucking problem? How come I always seem to get stuck at the bar behind the sort of dickhead who orders his mate's Foster's in an Australian accent (it's brewed in Manchester, you tool) and then waits until the very end of his massive round order to say, after a lengthy dramatic pause, "...and a pint of Guinness."? It takes about a month to pour, and you KNOW that, you obnoxious shites. Stop making such a fucking spectacle of your tastes, stop making me wait forever for my pint and start ordering the damned gloop at the beginning in future. Jesus, man.

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aint that the truth!

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Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

Go get some photos.

What the hell are you doing in Newcastle?

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Will get hold of a digi camera tomorrow and take some piccies Tues/Wed next week. I may even pop in for a swift one.:)

I'm still in the toon waiting for the house to sell (divorce) then it's decision time. In Patong November for a few weeks though.

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Originally Posted by hooter

Will get hold of a digi camera tomorrow and take some piccies Tues/Wed next week. I may even pop in for a swift one.

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Do. Best pint of Becks in North East. A pint of workyticket is nice as well.

Take a few snaps of the inside and some of the graffiti in the bogs. My favorite bit is

I smell onions for a living.

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Drove past today, but to early to enjoy a quick pint, took some pictures. The pub is in bad shape structurely, but clean enough inside to enjoy a few pints. The view over the Tyne and Quayside is to die for.

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Originally Posted by hooter

The view over the Tyne and Quayside is to die for.

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Thats why they should knock down that crappy old pub and build some nice council house type tower blocks, lovely :)

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Originally Posted by dirtydog

Thats why they should knock down that crappy old pub and build some nice council house type tower blocks, lovely

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Dog Newcastle council ain't building them nor are Q's allegations at Wimpy, its a sweaty sock company called McKever Hotels.


McKever::Hotels Scotland's Leading Family Hotel Group

I can't link the page but check the website and click for hotels, then city apartments in Newcastle. The pub is in the middle of this legoland shit.

Q you heathens have alot to answer for.:(

Makes me thirsty just looking at it: my kind of pub. The kind of place where you can drink in silence, if you want, and stare out the window.

Can't believe you missed the graffiti in the bogs.

It is looking rather run down but I know that the Becks pump produces some lovely chilled Becks.

Did you sign the petition in the bar?

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What is that? Is that blocking the view of the old Ouseburn building (the red brick one)? If you are looking at the pub it's on the left. That wasn't there two years back.

^ They are the Mckever built city apartments see my post no16 for their website these apartments almost encircle the pub and seem to be operated on a hotel like basis.

It looks like Mckever not Wimpey that are turning the screw on The Free Trade Inn.

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View row building plans rejected

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2007/11/315.jpg The Free Trade boasts sweeping views over the River Tyne

Controversial plans to build a 13-storey apartment block near one of Newcastle's most celebrated river views have been rejected. George Wimpey wanted to develop land close to the Free Trade Inn, which overlooks the River Tyne's quayside.
A petition, signed by 1,300 people, claimed the scheme would ruin the pub's view and diminish the area's character.
The plans were rejected by Newcastle City Council, despite being recommended for approval by planning officials.
The building firm had called the application "a positive step towards regeneration of a derelict site".
But the proposals, which also included an office complex, would have robbed the area of its identity, according to opponents.
The Free Trade Inn, on the Ouseburn Valley, overlooks the Tyne's regenerated riverside and famous bridges.
In August, Auf Wiedersehen Pet actor Tim Healey championed the pub in the ITV programme "Britain's Favourite View".

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BBC NEWS | England | Tyne | View row building plans rejected

Fuck you evil developers.

That reminds me of virtually every pub in Welsh Wales.

They are gems to drink in and normally gauranteed for a decent pint of ale.

Whars with the stupid no smoking sign, thats a bit modern ain't it.

Sign above the bar says - Smoke tabs and drink beer here.

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Originally Posted by CharleyFarley

That reminds me of virtually every pub in Welsh Wales.

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I was just thinking that myself Charley.