A bar open just 18 MONTHS has become the only North Shields entrant in the prestigious Good Beer Guide.
The Exchange Café Bar, part of North Shields cultural arts venue The Exchange, is featured alongside the best drinking holes in the country in the guide, produced by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).
The Exchange, on Howard Street, was reopened as a cultural arts venue in January 2016 and has since featured hundreds of artists, musicians, poets, singers, groups and plays in its 300-capacity auditorium and the bar itself.
During that time the bar has stocked almost 200 beers and helped boost the local economy, with ALL kegs coming from local breweries.
Gerry Beldon, the man behind the food and drink in the popular cafe, said: “We are really dedicated to bringing only great local beer to The Exchange, and making sure we store it well.
“For us we want to stock beers with character, taste and flavour from within 30 miles of the bar. I think that has really helped us make the leap into the guide, which is a real feather in the cap for us.
“What is great about being in the Good Beer Guide is it recognises the work we have put in to make sure the beer we stock is top notch.
“Also it means that beer drinkers from all over the country will find out about the bar, and some of them will hopefully pay us a visit, and see what North Shields has to offer.
“It really is a proud moment for me and my team, and The Exchange as a whole.”
Since reopening its doors The Exchange, a registered charity, has turned itself into the cultural hub of North Shields with people from all over the country flocking to perform and enjoy its various shows and exhibitions.
The bar has become very popular with locals, keen to sample the ales pulled from its constantly-revolving five pumps and enjoy the entertainment on offer.
It also serves light lunches from 12pm-3pm, seven days a week, and caters for all sort of events.
Gordon Heal, from CAMRA, said: “A team from CAMRA came to the bar unannounced and were very pleased with the quality of the ales together with the warm welcome from the staff, and also took into account the bar’s community focus.
“We were very impressed be their focus on stocking beers from local breweries and the excellent quality of the beer was noted. The bar has earned a well-deserved place in the Good Beer Guide.”
Gerry has been working in bars on and off for 45 years, but got the taste for running a bar while providing drinks at the Under The Dome festival in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
He now runs Café Bar for The Exchange, which is open every day from 10am until 11pm, with help from 12 bar-staff, which include his son Sam 26, and daughter Aine, 24.
For more information on The Exchange, including forthcoming acts, events and volunteering opportunities, head to http://www.attheexchange.info/.