Publican Local Focus: Newcastle - Toon army

Think of Newcastle and maybe you picture the Angel of the North, football fans desperate for Kevin Keegan to return once more and hardy souls wearing next to nothing enjoying a night out.

But Newcastle has more to offer than being the country's capital for drunken hen and stag parties.

Amid the bars and clubs of the Gate, the Bigg Market and the Quayside there are a host of more traditional pubs.

And while many continue to enjoy the benefits of being in a city centre that attracts tourists from across the country, others are starting to feel the pinch.

Locals say that the opening of entertainment centre the Gate in 2002 and its subsequent growth has hit other areas hard and has led to pubs off the main drag struggling.

And while the football club and tourism bring plenty of people to the city centre, surrounding areas do not reap the same benefits.

We visited the Denton and Elswick areas and saw rows and rows of condemned houses along with boarded-up pubs.

These are the working class communities that have been hit hardest by the smoking ban, the credit crunch and the rising costs in the industry.

Future

Do pubs have a future in these areas?

Colin Sidney runs the Chesterfield, which is one of the last pubs standing in Elswick. He has seen dozens of pubs close over the past few years and predicts an even bleaker future.

"I don't think there will be any pubs left in the community apart from the big managed houses in 10 years' time," he said. "We are still muddling on but I don't know if we will be here in five years ourselves."

But others have a more positive view. Ian Taylor, operations and marketing manager for the Head of Steam chain, which runs three Newcastle pubs, said: "It is tough but all our venues are doing really well at the moment, so good venues can continue to thrive."

• Next stop... Bath. If you would like us to visit your pub email us at news@thepublican.com​

Views from the pub

Ian Taylor Ian runs three Head of Steam venues in Newcastle city centre, including Tilleys Bar

How much will a drink cost me?​ Fosters £2.63, Okells £1.99. We do a big range of Continental bottled lagers for between £2.50 and £3. Half a Coke is £1.20.

Do you do food? ​We do sandwiches and soups and we are starting a £1.99 credit crunch lunch. Our homemade pies are a local favourite.

Who are your customers?​ We have a massive mix and we go for all markets. There are a lot of students and also a lot of people who work near here.

What attracts people? ​We believe in a quality offer. We have a big range of drinks and we tend not to go down the discount route.

What are the big issues affecting trade in Newcastle?​ We feel the same things as the rest of the country, such as the smoking ban, licensing legislation and supermarkets discounting below cost. We are trying to combat that with the quality of what we offer, and improving our take-home offer. There are going to be a lot of pubs getting into difficulty because we have reached saturation point. It used to be that opening a pub in Newcastle was a gold mine but since about 2001 that hasn't been the case. There are so many different types of venue in Newcastle and you can have so many different types of night out but there is a lot of pressure on licensees and it is going to be a very difficult but interesting few months.

Ian Kinsey Ian is assistant manager at Trust Inns pub the Newcastle Arms. The pub, which is a stone's throw from St James' Park football stadium, was the area's CAMRA Pub of the Year from 2006-2008

How much will a drink cost me?​ Real ale is between £2.60 to £2.70. The stronger stuff, such as a nine per cent ale, is £3, we sell lager such as Foster's at £2.80. We do 250ml wine at £3.80. Half a Coke is £1.50.

Do you do food? ​Apart from crisps and pork scratchings we are 100 per cent wet.

Who are your customers? ​Generally they are real ale drinkers. We get people before and after the football as well.

What attracts people? ​We are a local in the city centre. We also have four or five beer festivals a year with 40 to 50 different beers. We always try to give the customers something different. Last year we had 754 different beers.

What are the big issues affecting trade in Newcastle? ​It's not so much everyone is feeling the pinch because people have not all lost their jobs and things are cheaper, but reading the news everyone is told they have no money and are being more careful. In Newcastle a lot of pubs have been turned into things such as restaurants. In 10 years' time there will be bigger pubs but fewer of them. It's survival of the fittest.

Derek Raisback Derek is the licensee of free-of-tie Fitzgerald's pub the Crown Posada, which has been trading near the Quayside since 1760

How much will a drink cost me? ​A pint of ale is between £2.50 and £2.60, standard lager £2.80. Wine is £3 for 175ml or £4 for 250ml. If you want a soft drink it will cost £1.40 for a bottle of Coke.

Do you do food? ​Just cold sandwiches. A bap and a packet of crisps will cost £1.50.

Who are your customers? ​We have a lot of regulars who come here. We also get office workers and barristers from the nearby courts.

What attracts people? ​It's more about what we don't have. We don't have a jukebox, just an old record player, we don't serve alcopops, and we don't serve riff-raff.

What are the big issues affecting trade in Newcastle? ​The Gate opened a few years ago and lots of trade has been taken away from the Quayside. It has everything under one roof, lots of different venues and taxis waiting outside, so why would people go anywhere else? We haven't noticed any drop-off because our clientele is very established but it is an issue for pubs around here.

Colin Sidney Colin is licensee of freehouse the Chesterfield in the Elswick area of Newcastle, which is about two miles outside the city

How much will a drink cost me?​Fosters is £1.80 in the day and £2.15 at night, John Smith's £1.75 or £2.10, wine is £2.30 for a 250ml glass. A bottle of Coke is £1.30.

Do you do food?​ No, we are 100 per cent wet. We used to do toasties but now we just do crisps.

Who are your customers?​ Local people, we have very little passing trade. It is a pub for people living in the area.

What attracts people? ​People come here for a drink and a chat. There are not many pubs left around here since the smoking ban, but we are still here.

What are the big issues affecting trade in Newcastle? ​ One thing that has affected our trade in this area is that rows and rows of houses have been condemned. People who lived here for years were turfed out but nothing has been built in their place. Houses have been empty for five or six years and it has had a massive impact on trade.

[BOX] The Publican also visited…++ Villa Victoria ++ The Denton ++ the Fox and Hounds ++

the Star Inn ++ North Bar ++ Head of Steam ++ the Lane ++ the Quilted Camel