FROM the outside The Mile Castle in Newcastle looks like any other Wetherspoons pub.
Like many other of the brand’s no-frill boozers up and down the country, it operates within a Grade II listed building – this particular haunt was formally a bank that was built in the 1800s.
It also has the same regulars you’d expect to see chatting outside with a cup of coffee or pint.
But once you step inside it is clear to see why some people have been calling this one of the UK’s first “superspoons”.
The Mile Castle underwent a major £5million transformation earlier this summer, following Spoons’ initial purchase of the site in December 2009.
That included new carpet, upgraded lighting, extending the bar and creating a new cellar.
Not only that, but Wetherspoon‘s has also transformed the adjoining building into a hotel, a feature which has now opened to the public following the business‘s initial purchase in 2018.
I made the three-and-a-half-hour trip up from London to see it for myself.
Starting with Mile East pub itself, you can immediately tell it is a lot larger than your run-of-the-mill Spoons.
It has a total of three floors all of which have their own individual bar and 908 seating areas, which is quite rare for Wetherspoon pubs.
I thought this was a great feature, especially if you hate spending ages in the queue waiting to order a pint.
Despite the refurbishment, the pub had a very stereotypical Wetherspoons feel to it.
It was dimly light and had the typical array of slot machines lined up across the pub and of course, the carpet had a vintage feel to it.
On the menu, you can also expect to see an array of classics such as its signature fry or fish and chips.
But what sets this apart from other locations is a secret door next to bar which takes guests to Wetherspoon’s brand-new hotel.
Upon entering you are immediately transported to a luxurious hideaway that feels more like the New York Park Plaza than a bargain room in Newcastle city centre.
The 26-room inn, set within the grounds of a former law firm, is as grand on the inside as it is on the out.
It is one of over 50 Wetherspoons hotels across the UK and the first ever in the North East.
Each room boasts large double beds which can be split into two singles if you are sharing and are immaculately clean.
The bathrooms are large and modern and guests can expect to see complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits upon arrival.
One of my favourite rooms I was shown had a window view of an exposed brick wall, which I enjoyed for its quirkiness and thought it added to the New York feel.
A night’s stay in the Mile East Hotel will set you back £75 or £85 if you want a family room.
This is compared to the £110 you would pay if you stayed in the nearby Premier Inn.
I thought the new hotel would have put any other budget hotel I have stayed in recently to shame.
Not only because of how cheap it was but also how central it was to Newcastle city centre.
It is also just a two-minute walk to the city’s main train station making it perfect for travellers.
Outside, guests from both the hotel and pub have access to a 200-cover beer garden.
The massive outdoor drinking and dining area spans 3,000 sqft and is set across two floors.
Wetherspoons has many beer gardens across its 900 plus in the UK, but this is on a scale like no other.
Its latest attraction opened on Tuesday, November 26 alongside the hotel and I can tell it will be a hit with punters.
However, I don’t know if I could brace sitting out there with a drink until the weather really started to warm up.
Wetherspoons has over 900 locations across the UK, and some feature really beautiful interiors such as The Samuel Peto, in Folkstone.
I have to say the interiors of the main pub were nothing spectator and lacked colour and innovation.
But considering the building was originally Newcastle upon Tyne’s Savings Bank, I think it has done well to keep the energy of the former 19th-century institution alive.
One draw is the prices, which are much cheaper than if you were dining in a Spoons in London.
A pint of Ruddles Best, Wetherspoons cheapest pint, costs just £1.79 at the Mile Castle.
This is compared to the £3.29 you would be asked to pay if you went to one of the brand’s pubs in central London.
A small all-day brunch, which includes sausage bacn, fired egg, beans and chips will set you back £7.49 or £9.02 if you want to add an alcoholic drink.
Another feature that sets this pub apart from other spoons is the fact it has a DJ every Friday and Saturday night.
Usually, most spoons have a strict rule to play no music at all, so I thought this decision was quite fun and a nod to Newcastle’s party spirit.
I would definitely pay another visit and maybe stay a bit later to get a chance to boogie on the dance floor.
However, if you are hoping a super-sized Spoons is coming to a town near you I would not hold your breath.
The Sun understands the company has no immediate plans to open a similar concept to The Mile Castley anytime soon.
However, Wetherspoons is constantly on the hunt for quirky places to open up.
That includes on the site of the former London Dungeons where it has submitted planning persimmon for a brand new pub.
Better yet, Wetherspoons opened a brand new spot inside Waterloo Station earlier this year, giving punters a chance to grab a bargain pint before they shoot off on their travels.
PUB-GOERS love Wetherspoons for its competitive pricing and low-cost meals - but did you know there are more ways to save money?
Senior consumer reporter Olivia Marshall explains how.
Free refills – Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.
Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.
So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.
Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.
For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.
Pick-up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in
their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.
Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it.
Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.
Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.
It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.
As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.
