Newcastle’s The Bodega is named Tyneside pub of the year

A BAR boss is celebrating after seeing The Bodega in Newcastle named Camra’s Tyneside pub of the year for the first time in almost a decade.

The annual contest saw members of the Campaign for Real Ale’s Tyneside and Northumberland branch pick the Westgate Road boozer ahead of previous winners including Byker’s Free Trade Inn and Bacchus on the city’s High Bridge.

“We’re very pleased to have won this award, it’s amazing for The Bodega, especially with the high level of competition from real ale pubs across Tyneside,” said manager Ben Rea, whose Sir John Fitzgerald group owned pub boasts a traditional long bar, Victorian stained glass domes and elaborately tiled floors.

“There’s been an explosion of new pubs opening in the city, many of which are serving good quality real ales and craft beers.”

The Bodega first won the award in 1995 and last picked it up nine years ago in 2005, when Ben was also manager.

“Hopefully it won’t be as long until the next one,” said Ben, who will see his pub now go forward to the regional round of the competition, where it will face the winners from Camra’s other North East branches.