
Best Pubs in Blyth
Waterfront inns, micropubs, and a Wetherspoon in a former cinema. Here are the best pubs in Blyth for a proper pint.
Blyth has always been a town that knows how to keep a pub going. The waterfront, the town centre, and the surrounding streets are home to a mix of traditional locals, social clubs, and one genuinely impressive waterfront inn. The scene is less craft-beer-and-small-plates than some neighbouring towns, and that's no bad thing -- these are pubs that serve their community, with proper pints, familiar faces, and the kind of atmosphere that can't be designed by an interior stylist.
Here's our guide to the best pubs in Blyth.
Commissioners Quay Inn
The Commissioners Quay Inn works just as well as a pub as it does a restaurant. The bar area is spacious and welcoming, with a solid selection of cask ales, lagers, wines, and spirits. The real draw, though, is the setting -- right on the waterfront at Quay Road, with views over the River Blyth and the harbour that are hard to beat anywhere in Northumberland.
It's a comfortable spot for an afternoon pint, and the terrace comes into its own in summer. The fact that there's a full restaurant menu available means you can easily turn a drink into a meal without needing to move. If you're showing visitors around Blyth, this is where to bring them.
Best for: Waterfront setting, cask ales, terrace with harbour views.
The Keel Row
The Keel Row on Waterloo Road is Blyth's Wetherspoon, and like the best Wetherspoons it occupies a building with some character. The usual Wetherspoon strengths apply -- competitively priced pints, a wide range of guest ales that rotate regularly, and food available from breakfast through to the evening.
It's a spacious pub that's rarely uncomfortably busy, making it a reliable option for a quiet midweek drink or a catch-up over lunch. The real ale selection is often surprisingly good, and the prices are hard to argue with. Not glamorous, but consistently decent.
Best for: Affordable pints, guest ales, all-day food, reliably spacious.
The Wallaw
The Wallaw on Union Street is housed in a beautifully restored former cinema -- one of Blyth's most handsome buildings. It operates as a micropub and small cinema, combining a carefully curated selection of craft beers, real ales, and wines with film screenings in a wonderfully atmospheric setting. The building alone is worth a visit, and the drinks selection is a genuine step above the average.
It's the kind of place that gives a town a spark -- independent, characterful, and clearly run by people who care about what they're doing.
Best for: Micropub in a former cinema, craft beers, film screenings, full of character.
Blyth Sports and Social Club
Not a pub in the traditional sense, but Blyth Sports and Social Club deserves a mention for anyone looking for a sociable, affordable drink in town. Members' clubs like this are the backbone of social life in many Northumberland towns, and Blyth's is no exception. Expect competitive prices, a friendly atmosphere, live entertainment at weekends, and the kind of community spirit that a chain pub simply can't replicate.
Guest entry is usually available -- just sign in at the door.
Best for: Affordable drinks, live entertainment, community atmosphere.
The Olivia
The Olivia on Waterloo Road is a traditional town centre pub that serves as a straightforward local for residents in the heart of Blyth. It's the kind of pub where regulars have their spot at the bar, the telly shows the football, and the pints are poured without fuss. No frills, no pretension -- just a honest local doing what locals do best.
Best for: Traditional local, no-fuss drinking, sport on the telly.
Blyth's pub scene reflects the town itself -- unpretentious, welcoming, and quietly rewarding for those who take the time to explore it. For more on eating and drinking in Blyth, see our guides to the best restaurants in Blyth and the best cafes in Blyth.
Know a Blyth pub we should feature? Get in touch and we'll add it to the guide.