Potters Bar - CAMRA Potteries

Lorna Denny Raises her Glass
to the Castle Mona
Recently, CAMRA members have been disheartened by
the fact that pubs are closing down, being converted into
flats, left derelict or demolished . However, one pub with a
happy ending is the Castle Mona in Newcastle. This can
be found tucked away in a side street, a small terraced
building, minding its own business from the world. Walk
into the pub and it is buzzing with locals and visitors alike.
This is due to Steve and Mandy Edwards, who have run
the pub since November 2008 and have made it into the
pub it is today. They have darts, pool and crib teams, a
quiz on a Wednesday night and live entertainment on every
Saturday. Live sports also draw in the drinkers for local and
national events. If you fancy a quieter drink, relax by the
real fire in the lounge or enjoy the banter in the bar area.
The surprise is the large beer garden at the rear of the pub.
I have spent a few pleasant sunny days out there putting
the world to rights with the other half. The pub won the
Potteries Pub of the Month award in December 2009 and
has been a regular in The Good Beer Guide ever since.
However, as the pub was owned by Punch Taverns, there
was a threat looming over the Castle Mona when they
started to sell of their pubs, more than often to the highest
bidder. Steve and Mandy tirelessly stood their ground and
after much negotiation with Punch and a long nail-biting
time waiting for an answer, they have finally won and are
buying the pub and making it a free house (which it finally
became in the middle of May).
The Castle Mona has always provided fantastic,
well-kept real ale; however, the choices were tied to
Punch’s lists. Contact with local breweries is already
established to work closely with them and there are plans
to add a hand pump to the six already available which will
solely be for real cider. (Currently Weston’s Old Rosie is
available in bottles). Prices will start from £2.30 a pint. The
pub has already hosted two very popular beer festivals and
another is planned for later in the year.
I am sure that you will join me in wishing Steve, Mandy
and John (the barman) all the best as they move into their
new adventure. Pop in and support them, look out for the
new beers which will appear and the odd beer festival. Who
knows, perhaps a microbrewery could be in the plans for
the future? One of my many favourite pubs and I raise
my glass to the Castle Mona and all who drink in her.
Cheers! Link in with the Castle Mona on Facebook:
@https://www.facebook.com/TheCastleMona
A few reminiscences from Steve Poole:
I’m an expat from Porthill, Newcastle now living in Surrey
but I’m a regular visitor and I keep in touch with local news.
I picked up the Winter edition of Potters Bar and read
Mervyn Edwards’ “Loved and Lost Pubs” with references
to The Steam Plough in Newcastle. Between 1976 and
1981 the Castle Mona around the corner was my local as
my grandma lived in Legge Street (as did my uncle), and
I used to visit with my dad and another uncle. I was
interested in photography at the time so persuaded all the
Mona regulars outside on a Sunday lunchtime for an ‘olde
worlde’ photo. My uncle Horace is on the far right and my
dad James next to him. My grandma probably had the
unfortunate distinction of being the oldest person ever to
be banned from the Mona (she was well into her 80s)
after a heated disagreement over some petty matter. The
Mona was full of characters in those days - it may still be!
Everyone got along and it was a good atmosphere.
SUMMER 2012 POTTERS BAR 25