Newcastle has so many pubs and bars all within such a relatively small area, and that is what makes it such a good place for a night out on the lash. In the centre of the city, there are several areas where your drinking can be done, but all are within easy reach of each other, so you’ll never be limiting your options.
The Haymarket area is located around the main shopping street Northumberland St. My favourite bar in this area would be the Pacific Café, in which I prefer to get a table upstairs, where you can enjoy table service (downstairs in more like an ordinary bar), but with the added benefit of the fact that you summon the waitress by pushing a button in the middle of your table, and hey presto…along comes the waitress to take your order…lovely!
The Bigg Market is situated towards the river from the Haymarket, just off Grey Street. This is where the younger crowd are most likely to be heading, and the Bigg Market has a bit of a reputation for a bit of the rough stuff every now and then. However, generally when I’ve been there it is only those that are actively looking for trouble, that manage to find it.
The Quayside is where I prefer to go out in Newcastle for a couple of reasons. Personally, I prefer the bars that are down on the Quayside, and also, especially in summer, it is quite pleasant to be drinking by the river and seeing all the bridges lit up. There are so many bars down in this area, but a few of my favourites include The Waterfront, Offshore (decked out like an old sailing ship, complete with rigging), Quilted Camel, Quayside Bar, Vodka Revolution…and many more!
Just across the river on the Gateshead side, crossing over on the Swing Bridge, is the Baja Beach Club, which is a nightclub with, unsurprisingly enough, a beach club theme. All the staff are in beach wear, which certainly encourages you to keep going back to the bar quite often!
Wherever you end up, and wherever you go, there will always be plenty of options for a good night out in Newcastle, so just get into the spirit of it, and you’ll have a great time. One last thing though…be sure not to wear too much if you don’t want to stand out like a sore thumb. You will undoubtedly notice that the locals wear as little as possible, even during the cold winter months…its always warm and crowded in the pubs you see…a coat would just be a nuisance! And once you’ve got a couple of drinks down you, you won’t be feeling the cold when wandering from one pub to the next.