It has a proud name and a long history but there are no airs and graces about one of Newcastle's oldest pubs, The Duke of Northumberland, which is known by its nickname The Clock and for its reputation as a traditional boozer.
And that no-nonsense, good-value offer is why it is so appreciated by its regulars, who tend to be an older crowd on the whole and say it is vital to still have pubs like it in the city centre. Where other bars come and go, the Clayton Street premises, which dates back to the 1700s, continues to welcome a steady flow of customers through its doors - which turns into a flood on match days when, in the words of one regular, there's always a "fantastic atmosphere".
The Clock was the first pub licence aquired by local leisure and care operator Malhotra Group whose Newcastle portfolio now includes the likes of the upmarket Leila Lily's and The Three Mile. It was originally believed to be a grand private town house which ran the length of the street; the far end of which - a duplicate design now housing a casino and amusements - is the only other surviving part.
