A small, atmospheric historic pub with a Spanish accent. The Crown Posada has a little something special.

The Venue
Owned by established Newcastle pub company Sir John Fitzgerald, The Crown Posada has been here for some 100 years and is perhaps the most characterful pub in the city centre. It’s in a stone building with a blue sign on a big wrought iron bracket outside.

Inside, it’s all very small and narrow. In a stroke of absolute genius and eschewing the video jukebox option, the background music is provided by an old record player perched on the end of the bar which plays ragtime jazz 78s. The crackling discs create an atmosphere like watching old black and white films.

There’s a large-ish almost totally closed-off snug area to the left as you come in and stained-glass windows which were designed by pre-Raphaelite artist Sir Edward Byrne-Jones. They depict the Spanish sea captain who at one time owned this bar (hence Posada —‘resting place’ in Spanish) and his Geordie hinny who would take care of business while he was away swashbuckling on the high seas.

The bar is on the left and the walls are wood, and gold-leaf decorated mirrors which have brass lamps sprouting out of them. Past the bar is a banquette all the way down the left hand side.

The People
It’s undoubtedly an older crowd who come to sample Crown Posada’s delights. There are no flashing lights and loud music to attract the young and foolhardy. Having said that, it’s a mixed bunch of office wallahs, real alers and fans of the gentle, softly spoken landlord.

The Food and Drink
You can pick from an excellent selection of brews from the small bar including, at any one time, Deuchars IPA, Stella, Carling, Jarrow Brewery’s Bitter, Gladiator (Hadrian and Border Brewery), Hawkshead UPA, Northumberland Best Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, John Smith’s and Staropramen, as well as brews from Cheshire’s Beartown Brewery.

In bottles you’ve got a more regular choice of Bulmers, Magners, Brown Ale, Corona, Budweiser and Beck’s. The only food they do are sandwiches, which are £1.55 each — and you get a free packet of crisps thrown in. There can’t be a better deal in the city.

The Last Word
With its all-embracing warm feel, Crown Posada is a welcome antidote to all the modern bars.

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