NE1’s Guide to Great Pre-Cinema Bars & Pubs in Newcastle

Cineworld

With everything from animated family films to franchise favourites on their schedule, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with a trip to Cineworld. You’ll find them inside The Gate, offering a number of different ways to watch the latest releases – from the thrilling 4DX experience, where water, wind, scent and strobe lighting place you in the heart of the action, to the immersive to the immersive ScreenX, where innovative 270° projection allows the film to surround you in your seat. Trust us, it’s definitely better than scrolling Netflix on your sofa.

Even better, our first stop on this tour of pre-cinema bars and pubs is just a stones throw away, downstairs in The Gate. MOJO has been combining the greatest guitar music with class cocktails and ice-cold pints since the ‘90s, so it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about having a good time! Plus, their drinks menu is as stacked as a Christopher Nolan call sheet, so you can enjoy everything from a frozen margarita to a raspberry beret before heading upstairs.

Stretch your imagination at the cinema, not your budget at the pub, with a trip to The Mayfair on Newgate Street. This lovely lot almost always have some stellar deals going, including their real ales and delicious cocktails. Food is also served daily here, so there’ll be no rumbling stomachs by the time the credits come.

Not in the mood to try something new? Then why not revisit an old classic with a trip to The Keel Row downstairs in The Gate. It’s a ‘Spoons, so you know what you’re getting here – cheap pints, jugs of cocktails, and reliably good grub – making it ideal if you’re tight on time to make it for those trailers. They’re the best bit, after all!

Also on standby for those pre-movie meetups is The WonderBar. Their food and drink offer is worthy of a standing ovation alone, but we can’t forget the interactive darts. Regardless of whether you fancy yourself a bullseye whisperer or know you’re an amateur at heart, you’ll certainly have a laugh making your way through their range of games – from blockbuster and killer, to Robin Hood and hexa-gone.

But if all you’re looking for is good Guinness and some class craic, then head over to The Canny Lad. There’s enough daily offers here to make the Fast & Furious franchise look small, and they show live sport daily so you’ll be up to date before switching your phone off for a couple of hours. You don’t want to be that person checking the match score on full brightness halfway through the film, do you? Nah, we didn’t think so.

Meanwhile, just around the corner on Stowell Street, Rosie’s Bar keeps things simple and well-stocked, so if you fancy a G&T or glass of vino, you’ll be in safe hands. What’s more, they offer two cocktails for just a tenner all day, every day – which means no mucking around between film timings and happy hour.

Everyman

Hidden away in the lower ground floor of the Grade II listed Earl Grey House, Everyman’s plush sofa seating and pre-film table service offers a luxurious cinema experience that you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else. And whether you’re a regular Everyman cinephile or treating yourself to tickets, there’s plenty of nearby bars and pubs to explore beforehand.

Just up the road opposite the Theatre Royal, you’ll find Harry’s Bar. This joint has all the glitz and glamour of old age Hollywood, with American-style aesthetics and an extensive drinks menu. They’ve even put their own spin on classic cocktails, transforming them into the Harry’s Bramble (Kraken Dark, fresh blackberry, lemon juice, blackberry syrup), the Cabaret Fizz (Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret, cranberry juice, lime juice topped with prosecco) and more.

Of course, if you’d prefer to celebrate movie night with a pint (or two!), then there’s always Bacchus on High Bridge. There’s an impressive range of microbrewery beers and real ales on offer here, with the kind of cosy, classic interiors that we could imagine Simon Pegg in, having “a nice cold pint, and waiting for all this to blow over” à la Shaun of the Dead.

In a similar vein, there’s also Lady Greys on Shakespeare Street, a classically British venue describing itself as purveyors of cask ales, fine wines, premium spirits and so much more. For those who love their beer as much as their movies, it’s also worth pointing out that this lot have also previously appeared in CAMRA’s (Campaign for Real Ale) Good Beer Guide – we’ll cheers to that!

Down on High Bridge, Pleased to Meet You boasts some showstopping food and drink to enjoy before kicking back on an Everyman sofa. There’s more gin and tonic combinations than movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe here, plus over ten local and international craft beers and two for £12 cocktails from Sunday to Friday. We’ll take a cherry and pomegranate sangria, if you don’t mind.

Just a stones throw from there, you’ll find YOLO Townhouse too. A relaxed eatery through the day and trendy bar into the evening, this lively hangout boasts a star-studded series of serves, from wines and spirits to cocktails and mocktails. Regardless of when you’re headed to the pictures, there’s two for £14 cocktails from Sunday to Thursday and 2-4-1 every Friday.

Once regularly visited by King Charles I, The Old George continues to offer royally good service to this day! It might be Newcastle’s oldest pub, but they still know how to have a good time, with enough offers to keep you busy until the screening starts. There’s an impressive menu to explore as well, so don’t be surprised if you’ve no room for cinema popcorn!

And of course, how could we forget Everyman’s very own Spielburger Kitchen? Get your Jaws around a chilli crisp fried chicken burger or face a Close Encounter with some cookie dough – there’s plenty of drinks to wash ‘em down with too! Plus, if you’re tight on time, you can order from the menu straight to your cinema seat. Talk about award-worthy service.

Tyneside Cinema

Tyneside is so much more than just a cinema! This thriving arts hub and registered charity boasts one of the most varied film programmes in the North East, offering everything from 35mm screenings and Q&As with up-and-coming directors to Twilight marathons and National Theatre Live events. What’s more, they’ve got a super discount scheme for 15-24 year olds and £5 tickets on selected films. It’s enough to make even Bella Swan crack a smile.

Head downstairs in this art deco venue, and you’ll find Tyneside Cinema’s Bar Café – the ideal spot for grabbing a drink or a bite to eat if you’re running late. There’s loads (and we mean loads) to pick from here, including a range of soft and non-alcoholic drinks should you fancy ‘em.

Just outside meanwhile, Castro’s brings the sunny flavours of Latin America to Hood Street. Offering more than 90 different rums from across the Caribbean and South America, you’ll be spoilt for choice for your pre-cinema bev! That’s not forgetting that there’s a chilli pineapple margarita on the menu too, for the pineapple on pizza defenders amongst you…

Whether you have ‘em shaken or stirred, Banyan’s huge range of cocktail concoctions is guaranteed to keep even the 007 connoisseurs amongst you happy. This lively hub in the heart of the city centre includes everything from the sarti spritz to the smoked old fashioned on their menu. Plus, their 2-4-1 offer runs all day, every day, so you won’t have to tighten the purse strings for a tipple or two!

Alternatively, why not see the city from new heights with a trip to The Botanist for your pre-cinema drinks? Don’t feel like you have to go full Rocky up all those flights of stairs – a lift will take you right to the top, where their awesome botanically themed bar takes centre stage. Catch some vitamin Dwith a drink on their roof garden – where the views over Newcastle are so cinematic that you’d be forgiven for forgetting you’re not actually at the movies just yet.

Weird Science is the name of the game over at The Alchemist, where a creative cocktail menu will put your mate's dodgy margaritas to shame. Here, drinks brew and boil and bubble, with the most Instagrammable aesthetics you can imagine. We’ve got our eyes on the Cosmic Oysters – boozy shells designed to be shot rather than sipped.

Hidden away upstairs on Nelson Street, you’ll find No28. If you favour fizz then this is the place for you, since they were the first bar in Newcastle to launch a bottomless prosecco brunch! But even if you don’t fancy that much of the good stuff before the movies, there’s a huge variety of cocktails, beers and spirits to explore. Feeling peckish? Their burgers are just a tenner too.

And last, but by no means least, we’re stumbling over to the Wobbly Duck on Old Eldon Square. This lovely lot are quackers about craft beer, showcasing the very best local, national and international pints available. Grab a stool by one of the barrels to enjoy a pre-cinema catch-up with your pals – we won’t blame you for coming back for the post-film debrief too.

And there you have it! Our guide to some of the best pre-cinema bars and pubs that Newcastle has to offer. Roll credits, please…

Main Image: Tyneside Cinema's interior / Image courtesy of Tyneside Cinema

Want to be in the know about everything that’s happening in Newcastle city centre? Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.