Free Trade Inn

Address: Saint Lawrence Road, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 1A6
Telephone: 0191 265 5764

Basic riverside locals pub in Byker area of city on a small headland just above where the Ouseburn flows into the Tyne.

The pub’s bar is straight opposite as you enter and the L shaped seating area extends to the right and beyond the bar to the left. The decor is very basic – certainly no frills at all, and the basic toilets are famous for their graffiti.

The large picture Windows look out onto a fine view west towards Newcastle, Gateshead and the Tyne bridges in the distance. The Free Trade Inn is a popular destination for photographers on clear days when the sun sets behind the city centre. Over the road is a seating area for sunny days, and it’s from here that most photos are taken – including mine.

There is a good selection of cask and craft beers – all kept well and very reasonably priced. I tried the Orkney Raven which was nice and hoppy and fresh.

Don’t believe that food is available.

The Free Trade Inn was briefly used as a location for the popular ITV detective series Vera. At the end of the Series 3 episode called Young Gods (first broadcast 8th September 2013) some of the characters gather in the Free Trade Inn for an evening drink. The camera zooms past the characters to look through the window at the spectacular view over towards Newcastle City Centre – with all the bridges and riverside lit up.

The Free Trade Inn is a fine reward for a riverside walk out of the city – as is the Tyne Bar which is close by, just down the path to the lock.

Last visited: October 2012

Good Beer, Good Pubs rating:

Other Pubs in the Byker Area

• Tyne Bar

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