Newcastle upon Tyne. Located next to the Newcastle Castle and the High Level Bridge (there is said to be a section of Roman pavement in the cellar), the pub dates back to the 1820s and it was initially known as the King's Head. It became the Bridge Inn after the opening of the Stanhope and Tyne Bridge in 1834. John Fitzgerald (a major figure in Newcastle who owned many pubs) bought the pub in 1892, rebuilt it in 1899 (designed by Cack, Burns, and Dick), and renamed it The Bridge in 1955. It has also been tied to Newcastle Breweries. It has been listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide every year for the last 40 years. There is a rumor that Bob Dylan visited the pub in the early 1960s and wrote lyrics inspired by the sound of trains on the bridge.

As befitting a hotel bar, the interior is huge with many different rooms which surround a long dark wood bar. Lots of etched glass and beautiful stained leaded glass can be seen throughout and in many areas (including the snug area where I sat) there are beautiful brass tables with ornate legs. Outside is a beer garden overlooking the river. Of the many beers to choose from I selected a Jarl Citra Session Ale from Fyne Ales Farm Brewery in Scotland. A great start to my Newcastle crawl.