The Airport is a funny one because I’m not really sure why you’d be drinking around there unless you were leaving the city, and in that case you’ll probably be drinking on the airside in departures. We’ve given it a good go for you though because there are other options if you really need one.
First off there’s a pub on landside in the arrivals hall of the airport, but again, not sure why you’d be there unless you were waiting for someone or off somewhere nice. It has open foodcourt style seating so has 0% atmosphere; you’d be quite literally be having a beer in the middle of the check in queues. There’s also a Hilton Double Tree and Premier Inn which both have bars, to the left of the airport as you come out the main doors and are pretty much what you’d expect from big chain hotel bars (and the Doubletree bar was closed when we visited at about 4pm on a Saturday afternoon).
Your best bet if you’re looking for somewhere to wet your whistle in the vicinity is to come out the main doors and across the short stay car park towards the petrol station. Running along the side of the petrol station is a little dirt track, which you follow along to the right, cross over the road/roundabout and keep walking straight ahead (sign posted for Ponteland) for about 5 minutes you’ll eventually come across The Badger.
If you’ve ever visited a Vintage Inns chain pub you’ll know what to expect but don’t let the fact that The Badger is a chain put you off. It gets the balance just right between being a family orientated gastro pub and cosy real ale country drinking pub. And because of that it’s always busy. Much like the Twin Farms in Ban Foot the decor is all tartan wall paper, roaring fires and rustic vibes but hey, it works and the fact that there’s not a plasma screen in sight and lots of little nooks and crannies to find a table, it’s a real ‘talk to each other’ pub!
As it boarders the rather affluent village of Ponteland, it’s on the pricey side of reasonable so don’t be shocked to pay about £9 for a glass of wine and pint of real ale. They have a good selection of both though and I’ve always been a fan of places who use massive wine glasses, i’m happier than a kitten under a leaky cow when I have a massive goblet of wine in front of me! Doom Bar is the resident ale on the handpull a selection of guest regional ales to sample. They have draught beer and cider including Peroni, Estrella Damm and Aspall Cyder and fridges full of craft beers and bottled ciders.
If you don’t fancy the 10 minute walk from the Airport metro then it has a massive car park and its kid and dog friendly, so, you’ve no excuse really now have you?!
Contact:
THE BADGER
Street Houses, Ponteland, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Tyne And Wear, NE20 9BT
01661 871037
Twitter: @BadgerPonteland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBadgerPonteland/
Read more about our Wine & Beer Metro adventures here!
