Week Twenty Five: A night out in Covent Garden and Newcastle

Week Twenty Five

    
    This week sees a Newcastle University theme (my old uni).   It was a university reunion with my old housemates in Covent Garden on the Wednesday and the start of a trip away to Newcastle on a golf trip starting with a big Saturday night.

  Good way to finish of the first half of the year thats for sure.
    
Special guests include: Will Wright, Sedcole, Griggsy, Nick Millward, Lefty, Dixon, Goldy, Collo, Grimesy and my biggest fan (Chris Hazell).

Summary of Lamb and Flag

Name: Lamb and Flag

Type: Pub

Location: 33 Rose Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9EB

Website: http://lambandflagcoventgarden.co.uk

Date Visited: 25/06/14

Price: Ok

Rating: 3.6/5

Review

  So Nick Millward, one of old housemates from university, was down visiting from Leeds for one night only.  Just a quick shout out as Nick's engaged and is getting married next year....stag stag stag (hint hint hint).  Due to his visit it meant that our old house would all meet for a few beers and a good meal out, organised kindly by William Wright.

 

  Due to him travelling from Leeds it meant he was a little later to arrive than the rest of us so we met at the Lamb and Flag (interesting name) for a pint in Covent Garden.  This is a quirky little cool old fashioned pub all merged into one.  Too small to sit inside so the general idea of the place is for the customers to stand outside with your pints in the sun and just have a good old chin wag.  Really liked it as there was a lovely buzzy atmosphere about the place.  There is some history about the place that I've forgotten but I'm told its pretty interesting.  It's on a plaque above the sign for the pub so check it out.

Outside the Lamb and Flag.  Griggsy refused to take the tie of all night.  Class act.

 

  Only drama in this place was that someone left an empty pint glass on the floor which was knocked over by an unsuspecting member of the public which caused havoc with the broken glass.  Well not havoc but it did attract a few unapproving gazes in our direction and a member of staff having to operate the dustpan and brush technique unwillingly.

 This pub is the perfect 'starting point' for a night out or if you work in Covent Garden the perfect place to come for a few after work.  Marvellous.

Summary of Joe's Southern Kitchen and Bar

Name: Joe's Southern Kitchen and Bar

Type: American Restaurant and Bar

Location: 34 Kings Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8JD

Website: http://joessouthernkitchen.co.uk

Date Visited: 25/06/14

Price: Great Value

Rating: 4/5

Review

  Nick had arrived so after a few at the Punch and Judy (good pub that) it was time to go for some food which again had been arranged by Will.  The restaurant of choice was Joe's southern kitchen bar and restaurant.

  Unfortunately for some poor waitress it was her first evening and we were being a bit difficult with our requests as there were certain deals on the menu which were unclear and had time constraints.  She informed us yet again it was her first shift but that didn't stop her from being incredibly helpful and being thoroughly nice throughout.  Her manager was keeping a watchful eye to ensure everything ran smoothly...which it did.

  We ordered copies amounts of chicken.  I went for Joe's chicken under a brick....it was good.  The beers were of good quality too and the meal came to around £23 a head.  This I thought was bloody good value considering the amount of food and beers (lads!) we had.  

  The waitress kindly posed for a photo with us at the end as she had definitely improved our experience and was good fun.  She has a bright future ahead at Joe's...that's for sure.  

The old university housemates plus the Polish Waitress who nailed her first shift.  

  After this we went to another bar around the corner.....I can't remember the name (apologies) but what I do know is that it had mexican music, served coronas and was opposite the back entrance of a theatre.  Here I noticed around 15 people gathering outside...I asked a member of the public why they were there.  Alexandra Burke was the reason.  I shamelessly decided to wait with them despite not seeing the show and managed to get a photo....at her request of course.  She's a big fan of the blog.  I have been told her show The Bodyguard is very good too.

Alexandra Burke squeezing my shoulder

Summary of Bonbar

Name: Bonbar

Type: Nightclub

Location: The Assembly Rooms, Fenkle Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5XU

Website: http://www.bonbar.co.uk

Date Visited: 28/06/14

Price: Brilliant value

Rating: 4/5

Review

  Now every year a bunch of old boys from my school take part in an annual golf tournament.   The winner from the year before has to organise the trip.  Due to myself comfortably winning the tournament last year defying all odds, it was up to me to organise.

This is me winning it last year.  One for the archive.

  I went to the University of Newcastle so I decided it was time for a trip back up to Northemberland.  We rented a villa (holiday home) in a town on the coast 30 miles north of Newcastle at a place called Amble-by-the-sea.  Lovely setting and at £80 a head for the week...the accommodation was good value.

  One of the traditions of the trip is a big night out on the Saturday.  Newastle was of course the destination and when we were dropped off by the taxi man at The Gate in the city centre I cannot describe the scene around us.  Think Brits abroad who missed their flight and came here instead.  Raucous and interesting individuals around.  Scenes of chaos and depravity surrounded us.

The lads in Bonbar VIP 

  After hitting numerous bars (god you guys are heavy drinkers eh!?) and taking advantage of the £2 Jagerbombs (OBSCENE!!!) it was time to go to the club! We had guest list and VIP sorted at a newish club called Bonbar and we trotted off there.

  This place was very lush and the VIP was player! We sat down at our table, ordered a couple bottles of vodka and had a truly cracking night.  The place was good, music decent and the clientele were normal (very different to the people we encountered at the Gate!).  The service in VIP (mentioned VIP again) was fairly poor and slow.... thats why it didn't score higher!

  If you're in Newcastle for a night out and are looking for a decent destination venue then this it.  Overall we spent around £40-£50 a head (thats including all the bars before, taxis and club) and were suffering the next day, thats for sure.  Yes it was missing the usual students I was used to when at Uni but Newcastle is still one of the best nights out you can have in the UK.  I've said it and I mean it.

  We went to other bars before (Bijoux, Sinners, etc...) but I have been there many times so cannot review I am afraid.  The first two rounds of golf in the compeition were also played.  The two courses were called Slaley Hall and Newton Biggin.  Both decent but won't bore you all with a detailed review.  Newton Biggin, played earlier on the Saturday, is quite relaxed as one fellah was walking of the 18th in jeans when we arrived.  Slaley Hall, which we played the following day, was a nice parkland course in impeccable condition and was quite tricky.  Both cost £20-£25 each for around, which is very decent considering how good the courses were and how much 18 holes usually cost.

The seven competitors on golf tour

If you have never been to Newcastle for a night out.....GO!

Special Shoutout

Winner: Will Wright

The man deserves a special shoutout for this photo alone (it's Barry from Eastenders if you hadn't realised).  However he organised the night from start to finish on Wednesday in Covent Garden and it was needed.  Myself, Griggsy, Sedcole and Nick Jay are not the most organised bunch and thanks to Will we had a quality meal.  Top work son....he's one of the good guys on the circuit.

Poem Advice

Couple of beers in an alley
Sounds like the Lamb and Flag
Cracking little atmosphere
but nowhere to put your bag

Covent Garden after work,
Fancy some grilled chicken
Then go to Joe's Kitchen
The foods finger lickin

Having a night in the toon
Wondering where to go?
Bonbar's the place for you
But the service is slightly slow



  Thanks for reading again chaps and again apologies about how long its been.  Your support is much appreciated.  Next week sees the second half of the Newcastle trip and a trip to Angel.

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