Villa Bistro, South Gosforth - pub details
Previously called: Brandling Villa
Address: Haddricks Mills Road, South Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE3 1QL [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 11064) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Manors (2.4 miles), Newcastle (2.7 miles), Dunston (4.3 miles)
Pub facilities/features:
- Wireless internet access (provided by The Cloud)
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> Current user rating: 5.2/10 (rated by 12 users)
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other pubs nearby:
Millstone Hotel, Gosforth (0.0 miles), Victory, South Gosforth (0.3 miles), Job Bullman, Gosforth (0.6 miles), Lonsdale, Jesmond (0.6 miles), County, Gosforth (0.6 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of Villa Bistro, South Gosforth
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 9 shown - see all reviews
| Background: For a long time this was the best of the three pubs in South Gosforth; Millstone and Victory make up the trilogy. The Brandling Villa - heaven knows why it's referred to as Villa Bistro on BITE - has had it's ups and downs mostly due to bizarre choices in front of house staff, but a relatively recent change of management seemed to be getting on top of that problem. So what is it like now? Shabby is the starting point. The whole pub looks tatty and tired and the toilets are not just rank; they are gross (at time of writing this - the less rank of the two Gents Toilets was closed for repair). You need a ferryman to get you from the door to the urinal. The beers are well kept and there is a respectable variety. Food is ok - but spoiled for me when I had the delight of listening to one of the Bar Staff (Manager?) bragging loudly about the deal he got on the burgers from a local supplier i.e., 76p each. That 76p burger, with some chips and bits added, is on the menu for well over £6. I don't mind 'mark up' but that is kicking the a*** out of profiteering. The BV seems to be focussing on its Sausage and Ale, and, Pie and Ale special events and forgetting that it is a local pub in between. Both the two nearby pubs, as mentioned above, the Victory and the Millstone, are under new management - and both are being turned around into very pleasant pubs; if I was managing the Brandling Villa I would be worried. Very worried. Thirsty_Jonny - 23 May 2011 12:42 |
| Came up for its pie and beer festival - was very impressed. A great range of ciders and beers, and the pies were amazing. All well served with 1/3 pint glassses allowing us to taste the full range. I've never been before so can't comment on other reviews, but it was nicely busy the whole day, fairly well priced and well run - no loud music, and that which was playing was good stuff. The live band was a little crap, to be frank, but not irritatingly so. Robdurbar - 7 Mar 2010 17:01 |
| The Brandling has seen no improvements since the new management took over. I visited their "sausage and beer" weekend; it was ridiculously over priced, the live music was so amateur a chimp would have given a better performance and the staff were surly, arrogant, rude and immature. I was standing at the bar, the place had only a few customers and the burly beer bellied manager ordered me to move away from the bar as I was blocking his customers from ordering drinks! What customers? And the bar is over 20 feet long. Needless to say, I moved at his request as the look in his eyes was like a pit bull! Not a chap to engage in polite chat with, his young years made me actually feel so threatened I left and spent a pleasant evening elsewhere. The beer price at the Brandling is no cheaper than elsewhere in the vicinity: not only that, but my pint of cider was so cloudy and yeasty it could have come from the still rancid smelling toilets! The place has now become like a private youth club. When I have since passed by this pub, I notice the staff are engaged in late night private parties. Thumbs down from me! I don't think I'll return there until it changes hands again!!! Sirmarrion - 4 Mar 2010 02:03 |
| The place has changed hands twice in the past yer. The couple who had it a year ago were nuts and were the pubs only decent customers. The couple who took it next were an odd mix, he was a nice fella but she was a big surly matron type who invited herself to butt in to your conversations then told you off like a schoolchild if you swore. Beer was always crap with both couples, always felt ill after a couple of pints. New guy has taken it on recently, its becoming a decent pub again, theyve cleaned it up and are making an effort. I think the landlord is the guy with the gut falling out the jeans! Excellent pub quiz with free food on a sunday night, decent music, great selection of real ales, pint about 25p cheaper than the Victory or the Millstone. They had a great Sausage and Beer festival this weekend. They seem to be trying lots of new stuff so hopefully the place is on the up. beerm0nster - 16 Jan 2010 23:21 |
| As other reviewers have noted recently under new management. It is still reletively deserted every time I have been in. It seems to me it falls between two stools. It now sells real ale which I think is off high quality and well kept. However it does not look like a traditional pub and may not attract the real ale fraternity despite camra leaflets dotted about the place. Beer choice was curious. London Pride served semi flat will have a hard time up here I fear. It also has loud modern music (too loud for me!!) but I dont think theyll get many younger ones in this area. . Finally toilets are appalling as noted previously and bar staff are poor. Last time I was in I was served by surly scruffily dressed individual whose beer gut was falling out if his jeans!. Has life music on saturdays which is well supported. maayoiyot - 16 Jan 2010 21:21 |
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