boatone
Well-known member
Anyone remember this? It was a grotty little pub just up the lane from the tankcleaning jetty at North Shields. Old biddy aonly served you if she felt like it.
What was it called????
What was it called????
This would be Minnie Beck's, The Dock Hotel. I trawled this area in the early 70's photographing the old Albert Edward dock and surrounding areas, but I think the pub had gone by '74 or '75. I have a photo if you'd like it emailed?
I remember a grotty pub just up the road from Smith's Dock in N Shields. Called 'the Jungle' IIRC. Were all NS pubs grotty?
Although in my slightly biased opinion, Even the grottiest Geordie pubs on ither side of the Tynes.Were quite classy compared some of the Pubs on the Humber. Where “The Bongo” was in my option possibly one of Britain’s Grottiest.
I think the main problem is that true Geordies speak a very specific dialect of English which includes an unusually high number of dialect words. The result is that it can be very difficult for someone speaking a more "standard" version of English to understand them. I suspect that's why you get the stories about them being unfriendly. I once heard a group of Geordies speaking together in a cafe, and asked my Dad what language they were speaking!I am not qualified to define who is and isn’t a Geordie. If I remember correctly S Shields folk were known locally as Sand Dancers.
I worked for a Newcastle company, head office actually in Gates Head. For a while. One old fellow was one of the Elder Brethren.
A position he was quite proud of. He took great pleasure in explaining to me. Why I could never be one of the Brethren.
Because I am a Scot.
To be one of the Brethren for the Tyne area. You have to be first a Freeman of the City of Newcastle. To become a Freeman apparently you have to go out and by the required robes ect and a Sword. You then swear an oath to defend the city from marauding Scots.
So I couldn’t meet the requirements.
Although I generally found the Geordies and others from the area quite friendly. Almost everyone who came from other parts of England would complain about how unfriendly they were.
Hello Steve - Grateful if you could forward a photo of Minnie, her pub and the area if you can - I was a newly qualified Marconi Radio Officer finishing his 'probation' on one of Stevie Clarkes colliers (the Flatties) "mv Harry Richardson" in the mid-sixties. I remember Minnie Beck well, on my first visit I was permitted just one half pint of Newcastle Brown on the basis that I was over 18 but under 19! Some photos of the staiths (if you have any) would also be much appreciated.This would be Minnie Beck's, The Dock Hotel. I trawled this area in the early 70's photographing the old Albert Edward dock and surrounding areas, but I think the pub had gone by '74 or '75. I have a photo if you'd like it emailed?
It had the reputation of being a brothel for many years.Wasn't the Jungle's actual name The Northumberland Arms Hotel? Run by a Mr Sid McCuloch of local fame.
Spent many an evening enjoying the ambience while under refit at Smiths.
I can JUST understand the Lambton Worm - but that's in Northumbrian dialect, not Geordie! Dad didn't speak with a Northumbrian accent, but he did sing the old folk-songs from those parts, and of course my grandparents spoke Northumbrian dialect.