Dog and Parrot

Directly opposite the Centre for Life, and at the beginning of Newcastle's gay quarter, this small bar can be found on the corner of Clayton Street. A few years ago it changed its name to the Tut 'n' Shive but reverted back recently.

The Venue
As a corner pub the bar is the central feature, with the tables all around it by the windows. To the right of the bar there are tall tables with stools and access to the toilets. To the left there's a raised seating area with a pool table. It's far from huge, but still manages to deal with decent crowds almost every night of the week. A large, drop down screen opposite the bar shows live sports and a separate part of the pub is an upstairs music venue, accessed from the outside only. It’s quite cosy up there too, but a recent partial refurbishment has improved the quality of the bar.

The People
The Dog and Parrot's standing as a sports bar and music venue, along with its position between Newcastle College and Central Station, make for an interesting mix of people. From students and music fans, to lovers of real ales and those embarking on a night out in Newcastle's 'pink triangle', there's always an eclectic bunch beside you at the bar. Further attractions, such as Sunday night's pool knockout tournament, help keep the pub lively. The staff seem friendly enough and are certainly knowledgeable about the drinks, which is the key to any bar's success.

The Drink
The main bar features all the usual lagers and has a decent showing of cask beers, such as Mordue, Black Sheep, Scrumpy Jack cider and regular guest ales. It's also one of the few bars in the area serving Castlemaine XXXX on tap. There's a wide range of wines and a good selection of spirits all reasonably priced.

Upstairs, there's limited choice on tap, despite the bar's tidy new appearance. There's a good selection of bottles, but for certain spirits and even wine you have to travel downstairs to the main bar. If you've paid a door fee to watch a band perform this is really one niggle you shouldn’t have to deal with.

The Last Word
The Dog and Parrot is a real mixed bag, but all the better for it. As a lunchtime watering hole or a stop off during a bar crawl through the central station area, the main bar is definitely worth more than just a swift half. Relax and gossip in its unique atmosphere and savour the quality of the ales, but don't expect the same amount of enjoyment upstairs.

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