The Broad Chare
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
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Local restaurateur Terry Laybourne set up this popular venue in a converted warehouse in 2011, giving it the motto: ‘Proper pub, proper beer, proper food’. Yes, yes, and yes is the verdict of our readers, who especially note the 'welcoming atmosphere' and the standard of bar snacks. The pub occupies the ground floor, where dark wood panelling and furniture help create a cosy, almost Dickensian feel. Good real ale helps too, of course, and the house brew (The Writer’s Block) certainly qualifies as ‘proper beer’. The convivial vibe ascends to the first-floor restaurant where groups of friends, work colleagues and couples on shopping trips create an appealing hubbub at lunchtime, aided and abetted by capable, friendly staff. Dark wood also dominates here, with weathered floorboards, bare tables and blackboards advertising wine deals. Crispy pig’s ears fit the bill as a snack, arriving in thin slices expertly deep-fried to perfect crispness. A brief list of ‘small plates’ also serve as starters, though a slice of toasted sourdough thickly spread with haggis, topped with a precisely fried duck egg and resting in a pool of HP sauce, would easily suffice as a main course. More upmarket nosh can also be had, and Gigha halibut in a truffled mushroom butter more than qualified at inspection, with the moist, flavourful fish enhanced by the sauce and accurately cooked kale – pity about the missing celeriac purée (the chef apologised sincerely, and the side dish of mash was taken off the bill). Puddings are also up to standard: a slice of spiced custard tart was more brûlée-like in its creaminess, with lightly mulled fruit providing a wintery counterpoint – proper food with an improper allure.
