The Broad Chare in Newcastle is named third best…

The Broad Chare in Newcastle is named third best gastropub in the UK

A popular quayside boozer has been named as the third best gastropub in the UK by a new survey.

The Broad Chare, which prides itself upon being a 'proper pub' selling proper beer and proper food, has been a regular award-winner ever since it opened on the quayside with its menu created by top Newcastle chef and restaurateur Terry Laybourne. A Michelin Bib Gourmand holder, it recently was also picked out as one of just four city venues to make it into the OpenTable list of the UK's 100 'most beloved restaurants' of 2022.

And now the pub, which serves food both downstairs in the bar and in an upstairs restaurant, features in third place in a new list of the top 50 gastgropubs, with another North East venue - The Rat Inn in Northumberland - also making it into the list at number 23. The study by a global travel site ranks its list on factors such as ingredient quality; value for money; consistency - taking into account reviews on Google and by critics - and innovation.

Other considerations by the company, Big 7 Travel, include atmosphere, location and accessibility as well as its own writer suggestions and previous awards. In its description of its third place pick, it says: "The Broad Chare is the type of gastropub you wish you lived right next door to.

"Nothing fancy, nothing fussy, just honest and delicious food and properly local ales. The menu is perfectly British and fiercely seasonal, with a range of snacks to eat at the bar or more substantial dishes for a full meal."

The Broad Chare is proud of its 'proper pub, proper beer, proper food' reputation (@_thebroadchare on Instagram)

The pub, which is open seven days a week, offers a regularly-changing range of craft beer, including a current Champagne of beers, and dishes ranging from the likes of pork pies and haggis on toast to oysters and monkfish cheeks. Big 7 Travel also praised what it called: "Some of the very best and most underrated cooking in the UK."

The write-up for The Rat Inn, which is another foodie favourite, said: "This long-serving pub might not have the most appealing name but it’s one of the best gastropubs in the UK. Head chef Kevin Maclean has been named Pub Chef of the Year and his kitchen is known for dishes like its Lindisfarne oysters with shallot vinaigrette, home-made Scotch eggs with kimchi, and the slow-cooked belly pork and chorizo stew.

"Its rural location benefits from plenty of surroundings farms – the pub works closely with local farmers to make the most of the fresh Northumberland produce.

See the chosen top 10 below and for the full list of The 50 Best Gastropubs in the UK see here.