Thank God for saving top boozer. . . maybe.

The pub’s out of the way location makes it a perfect haven from the usual rowdy rabble that frequent Newcastle’s quayside.

But it is blessed with what is possibly the best view of the river in the region.
The proposed monstrosity would have totally ruined that view.

And, let’s face it, some things should be sacrosanct . . . including anything that interferes with a man’s enjoyment of his drinking experience.

Besides, the last thing Newcastle’s quayside needs is another pile of posh flats that only Yuppies and property investors can afford.

Does anyone actually live in these places anyway? Whenever I’m on the quayside I can’t help but notice that most of the lights are always out on the numerous tower blocks along the riverside.

Either the people who own them are never at home or no-one lives there. I suspect the latter is a more plausible explanation.

In any case, surely the market for this type of accommodation in the city centre has long since reached saturation point?

I’ve lived near Newcastle most of my life and to this day I still mourn the demise of the wonderful Broken Doll, which was demolished more years ago that I care to remember to make way for a dual carriageway, now pretentiously named St James’ Boulevard as if it were some off-shoot of the Champs-Elysees.

We can’t let the Free Trade Inn suffer the same fate.