Butchers Arms

You'll find yourself on Shields Road in Byker at a place that doesn't need to try too hard — it just works. The Butchers Arms is exactly what you want from a neighbourhood pub: straightforward, welcoming, and the kind of spot where regulars actually outnumber tourists (which is saying something in Newcastle). The bar's got that comfortable worn-in feel, the sort of place where you can nurse a drink without anyone bothering you or sit in the thick of conversation if you're feeling social. It's the pub equivalent of a well-fitted jacket — nothing fancy, everything necessary.