The Bodega is a rather charming spot for real-ale buffs to spend many a happy hour.

The Venue
If you're into real ales and you're fed up of waiting to get served at The Newcastle Arms, you could do a lot worse than come round the corner to The Bodega. Originally an old music hall, it still has a couple of stunning 19th century features like the two big stained-glass domed ceilings in the front and back rooms.

It has a black exterior with gold writing on and is a Sir John Fitzgerald pub (recalling the Crown Posada with its Spanish referencing name). Indeed, his initials are present in the floor tiling on the way in. Bigger inside than you'd think, the walls are adorned with music memorabilia and the decor is typical of a traditional pub — even down to the smell of stale beer.

Behind the studded leather chairs is golden and grey wallpaper depicting stringed instruments and a blackboard by the bar displays forthcoming ales. There are screened-off booths to sit in and forget the outside world even exists (after a few pints of Big Lamp's Prince Bishop that's not hard to do).

The People
Like The Newcastle Arms, The Bodega seems continually busy, irrespective of the time of day. There’s a guy with white hair and a black cap who looks like he's one cough short of a hospice and another sweaty faced big-trousered chap with a beer-belly, who seems to continually be ambling to the bar, glass in hand for “the same again”.

The Food and Drink
With Carling, Magners, Leffe, Stella, Staropramen, Guinness, Old Rosie, John Smith's, Strongbow and Fosters on draught, guest beers include the likes of Strikes Back (The Empire Brewery), Cascade Pale Ale (Saltaire) White Dwarf (Oakham) and the lovely rich and nutty Salem Porter (Batemen's). In bottles you've got Tiger, Beck's, Peroni, Corona, Erdinger, Kopparberg, Zywiec and Duvel.

They do hot and cold sandwiches (a club sandwich is £4.50) and baked potatoes (a bacon and chicken for £4). Heartier fare includes fish and chips, sausage and mash and burgers (for around £6.95).

The Last Word
Leave your worries behind, settle back and sip the afternoon away in this Victorian palace of frothy brews. Go on, you deserve it.

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