When did you start coming here?
“I’ve been coming since it opened up
in, I’m guessing, about 1987. There was
a fire at the Tyne Theatre in 1985 that
closed it down for a year and when it
was being refurbished, some parts
of the theatre were sold. The Bodega
was originally part of the old theatre,
probably the foyer, that was converted
into a pub. I started performing there
when it reopened, and you’d come out
of the theatre and into the pub.”
What’s the appeal?
“It’s what I would call ‘a grown-up’s
place’: just a good pub, not a nightclub-
type bar. It’s for people who like a good
ale. Also, it’s got all of these lovely
ornate fittings, as it was built over 150
years ago. Especially wonderful is the
domed glass roof, which was part of
the theatre’s entrance.”
Who comes here?
“It’s in the theatre-village part of town,
which only has three or four good pubs.
When people visit the theatre, they’ve
got this lovely option to go to a good
bar right next door. So, often the
theatre crowd come here, but it’s
also known by the real-ale drinkers for
having a good pint. People who want
a fun night, but just at a few good pubs,
they’ll walk a little bit further to have
a couple of beers here.”
What’s your order?
“It does a range of beers from local
breweries and ones from further afield.
They do a wonderful pint of Magus,
which is what I call a good quaffing
beer. The steak sandwiches are nice
too – good, filling stuff.”
What keeps you coming back?
“It’s nice to unwind after a show. You
walk out of the stage door dressing
room and it’s there. Plus, the staff are
great. It’s a lovely place to have a drink.”
Maxie Peters is playing Dame Nora in
Sleeping Beauty at the Mill Volvo Tyne
Theatre from 6-30 December.
millvolvotynetheatre.co.uk
Maxie
Peters
Pantomime dame
DRINKS AT
THE BODEGA
125 Westgate Road,
NEWCASTLE UPON
TYNE Tyne and Wear
NE1 4AG
+44 (0)191 221 1552
thebodeganewcastle.co.uk
AS TOLD TO
SAM POTHECARY
PHOTO
ANDY HUDSON
0 2 8
T H E R E A L R E G U L A R S
