By Ania Askwith
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Abajo, 42-50 Basement Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6AE
Best For: Newcastle, pub food, burgers, tapas, sports bars, Newcastle sports bar.
Last week we tried the newly opened sports bar in town – Abajo.
The space is definitely not what I expected – the entrance on Grey Street is tiny but once you walk down the stairs (or take a lift down), the place opens into huge open space full of booths, tv screens playing live sports (everything from football to boxing and darts), there is also a pool table and Jane, the owner, plans to bring darts soon too.
The vibe
The decor is very city -sports bar chic (if that’s a thing?); you can definitely tell you are in a sports bar with the barrels used as tables and quite an industrial vibe (dark colours, exposed ceiling fixtures, bricks), which fits perfectly with the type of venue it is. Jane also explained that she plans to introduce some more wall decorations, so it will be interesting to see the venue once this is done.
The food
Abajo offers a great selection of food – both classic sports bar menu (burgers and pizzas) as well as tapas (my happy food!).
We had to try a bit of everything, in the name of research, and we went for:
- Blackened Cajun burger – A grilled Cajun-spiced chicken breast with lettuce, tomato, pickled red onion, and spiced mayo, served in a charcoal bun with house fries. What I found really great about this was that everything was super fresh – really juicy tomatoes, a generous portion of all the toppings which I think makes for a great burger.
- Gambas pil pil – My go-to tapas dish; king prawns cooked with garlic, chilli, and paprika. The portion was generous and absolutely delicious.
- Patatas bravas – A classic tapas dish and one of my favourites. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. I’d have it again and again!
- Mac & cheese bites – Deep-fried croquettes of macaroni and cheese, served with a tomato salsa. Comes with that satisfying cheese pull.
- Garlic bread – Super thin with a lovely garlicky flavour. We added the salsa from the mac & cheese bites on top, and it was a game changing combo. Definitely recommend.
Their tapas selection is great, and they have a deal on Tapas & Light Bites – 3 for £15.95, available all day, every day.
Why we enjoyed our visit
- Great food options – while they have the usual sports bar staples like burgers and pizzas, the addition of tapas sets them apart. I loved it!
- Cool set up – with loads of screens, you’ll never miss the action, no matter where you’re seated.
- The addition of a pool table is a great shout– there isn’t many places in town that offer this, so I am sure this spot will be super popular in no time
Location
Abajo is located at 42-50 Basement Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6AE. It’s just a 5-minute walk from Monument Metro Station, with Dean Street Car Park just at the bottom of the street (it is also free after 7pm which we always take advantage of)
Link
To see current menu and any updates, visit their website here, and check out their Instagram here
Tips for visiting
- The entrance on Grey Street is easy to miss, so keep an eye out.
- Even on a Wednesday night, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. This place is brand new but already super popular.
- For live sports events, especially on match days, it’s worth booking a table, as the place gets packed.
- They offer table service, so you don’t have to worry about bar queues in half time.
- They also have live DJs on Saturdays and have plans to bring in more entertainment like singers soon – it’s a great venue for more than just live sports.
- You don’t need to be a sports fan to enjoy this place, the atmosphere is fun and the food is great
Enjoyed this post? If you love discovering things to do, places to go, and the best spots to eat and drink in the North East and beyond, be sure to follow my blog for more reviews, recommendations, travel tips, and hidden gems. And for a closer look at my day-to-day experiences, follow me on Instagram@ania.askwith for behind-the-scenes content and even more discoveries! Let’s explore together!
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