Newcastle upon Tyne. Built in 1880 by architect W.L. Newcombe for local brewer John Sanderson. Sir John Fitzgerald took over the pub in 1901. It was originally named the Crown and was renamed the Crown Posada, legend having it that the pub was bought by a Spanish sea captain for his mistress. The three story pub has a blue painted stone with a carved crown and the word "Posada" on it, and the glazed brick lobby has a wrought iron "Crown" gate. The mirrors running down the right side used to be windows overlooking an alley. In the early days the pub was a gin parlor, and sailors would buy pints served through the windows. The upper floors had rooms used by the sailors for visits with women of ill repute.

The first room to the left is a small snug featuring two Pre-Raphaelite stained glass windows perhaps done by Birmingham Artist Edward Burnes-Jones, who worked for William Morris in his decorative arts business. There used to be service to the snug through a small hinged stain glass window attached to the bar back. In the back behind the bar area (which features stained and leaded glass panels and a four bay mahogany bar back) is a larger seating area. The ceilings feature ornate moulded ceilings with deeply recessed panels, and the walls are covered with relevant photographs and cartoons of long gone customers and staff.

I enjoyed a Wave Length Pale Ale from Turning point Brewing Co. in Knaresborough (near Leeds) while I had a great chat with John the bartender who gave me all sorts of history about the pub and Newcastle.