Wednesday, June 11
Is the UK’s drinking culture as bad as we think it is?
15Dec By Adam SymesNo Comments
News Report

Is the UK’s drinking culture as bad as we think it is?

Alcoholic drinks expert/historian Jane Peyton, who currently runs the ‘School of Booze’, said “despite tabloid newspaper reports, overall, Britons are not anti-social consumers of alcohol”. Picture of Jane Peyton, Founder of the 'School of Booze'. Photo provided by Jane Peyton (used with permission) “A minority are at the weekends, but that should not taint the entire drinking culture of the UK”, Peyton added. A report conducted by ‘Alcohol Change UK’ on the UK’s drinking behaviours also said: “Since 2005, the overall amount of alcohol consumed in the UK, the proportion of people reporting drinking, and the amount drinkers report consuming have all fallen”. Peyton explained that “Many people in younger demographics today do not drink alcohol at all”. They added: “The lat...
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Review of The Strawberry: Newcastle’s most iconic pub
8Dec By Adam SymesNo Comments
Pub Review

Review of The Strawberry: Newcastle’s most iconic pub

Built in 1859, The Strawberry has provided booze and joy to Geordies all around for over 160 years. Located across the road from the beloved St James' Park, its safe to say that non-Newcastle fans are not welcome here. Location of The Strawberry The journey up to the pub could be considered a form of pathetic fallacy, as the rain came crashing down all the way there, which symbolised what would be a disappointing night of football. Outside of The Strawberry Upon entering, The Strawberry's walls were littered with Newcastle United memorabilia, Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer's faces could be seen on nearly every surface within the pub. Painting of Newcastle fans Wallpaper with NUFC legends Pictures of former NUFC players Even the toilets had NUFC relics plaste...
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From struggling bar to a Wetherspoons: Has the Luther’s rebrand worked?
7Dec By Adam SymesNo Comments
News Feature

From struggling bar to a Wetherspoons: Has the Luther’s rebrand worked?

Newcastle University’s student union bar, Luther’s, has recently been rebranded into a Wetherspoons pub after struggling to gain enough customers. Before the rebrand, Luther’s was left empty almost every day, with pints waiting to be drunk but never making it out the kegs. Kate Roebuck, Newcastle student union’s operations co-ordinator who has worked at the union for over 4 years, said: “Covid killed the trade that we did have”. She added: “when people came back after Covid, people didn’t know that we were still a bar, and so it got quieter and quieter after that”. As the income began to dwindle after the Coronavirus took its toll on the bar like it did to many other businesses, prospects looked bleak for Luther’s. The student union’s staff tried many different methods to keep the...
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Review: The Hancock
17Nov By Adam SymesNo Comments
Pub Review

Review: The Hancock

Onto my second pub review is The Hancock. Situated at a 5-minute walk away from Newcastle University and a 10-minute walk from St James’ Park. The Hancock can be considered to be a neutral pub for students and Newcastle United fans. This particular pub was also the place where I had my favourite matchday experience, when Newcastle beat PSG at St James park. The pub had a welcoming and sleek looking layout with benches outside/inside as well as table football and pool upstairs, which is where I was sat for the game. Outdoor seating at the Hancock The game covered on this day was Newcastle vs Manchester United in the EFL cup on Wednesday 1st November. Manchester United and their fans are universally hated by Newcastle, presumably due to their past success and also being the c...
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Review: Osbornes
1Nov By Adam SymesNo Comments
Pub Review

Review: Osbornes

First on the list of pubs is Osbornes. Located in the mainly student area of Jesmond, Osbornes (also known as Soho) is the perfect place for 2nd and 3rd year Uni students to come and have a pint. Osbornes Location on Google Maps My pint of choice was a Strongbow as it was the cheapest drink at £2.75, whilst the rest of the prices also seemed quite cheap for other drinks. Osbornes also hosts a special deal called '£2 Tuesdays', which is very popular amongst students and for when Newcastle United plays on Tuesdays, as selected pints cost just £2 all night. Unfortunately, the match took place on a Wednesday so this deal wasn't available. The pub also has the locally founded burger company ‘Brack Burger’ in the building which is great for getting good quality burgers and fries befo...
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