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Posted: Thursday 09 June 2011
A Trio of Pub Lunches for
North East Associates
- February, March & April -
9th February. The horrible winter has momentarily eased. It's a cool, dry day when the lunchers arrive at the Skiff Inn, Swalwell. The pub is situated between the MetroCentre and the River Tyne almost below Scotswood Bridge.
This is our second visit,
hopefully repeating the initial success.
The menu was as extensive as we hoped
and most found it difficult
to choose a dish.
There was English, Chinese, Italian
and Indian cuisine of offer.
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I chose sea-food tagliatelle which was delicious and at £8 really good value.
Others had chicken or lamb curry, steak and kidney pie, mixed grill and sweet and sour pork.
Twenty-six people turned up on the day and thoroughly enjoyed themselves as usual with this friendly bunch.
10th March. We've now gone five weeks without snow - phew! It's still very cold but the sun is shining and most people think spring is just around the corner.
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We presented ourselves at the
Ravensworth Arms, Lamesley,
again on the south side of the Tyne
between Gateshead and Dunston,
heading west.
The venue is wonderfully situated on a leafy lane, even though surrounded by industrial sites in all directions.
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As we had visited the Ravensworth a few years ago everyone was expecting an excellent meal? We were not disappointed, both the quality of the food and the prices offered were excellent.
The special meal consisted of starter and main course or main and dessert and at £8.49 good value. I went for steak and ale pie followed by apple and blackberry crumble and custard, both were delicious.
Lunches are now lasting over two hours with most people taking a leisurely coffee and chatting away.
Twenty-five people attended and went away happy.
At this point I would like to share with you the process of choosing the pubs for the year.
The list is arrived at from newspaper and magazine reviews etc., but mostly from Associate recommendations.
We choose the eleven pubs without making contact, these are then printed in the yearly magazine.
The pubs are then contacted by phone on a three-monthly basis to ensure they can accommodate us.
After confirmation directions to the pubs are put in the magazine insert.
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Imagine my surprise when I called the Black Bull at Wardley, after reading the good review printed in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, that they no longer served food! Panic!!
It's easy to find another pub - but how to contact everyone with the change in venue.
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The change of venue was to be
the Keelman at Newburn.
This we announced
in the next instalment of the magazine
and used word of mouth
to contact all others who normally attend - it's a big list.
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So on the 19th April twenty-four people ate at the Keelman, Newburn, instead of the Black Bull. It was a lovely warm sunny day. Some of us ate outside it was so nice.
On offer were old fashioned dishes, toad in the hole and mince and dumplings along side modern dishes such as tuna teriyaki, cajun chicken, different pastas and our good friends fish and chips and steak pie. At £9.00 ok value. Fortunately no one has rung me to say they were at the Black Bull Wardley - where were you?
Regards, Keith Stokoe
pictures: ph
(ph 11/05/2011)
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