Best of 2010

Best of 2010

Posted: 19 Dec 2010

 

Best of 2010

 

The team at ne4me has drawn up the best of 2010 in traditional end-of-year style. Categories are theatre, concert, restaurant, pub and sporting event. Contributors include: Paul Tully, Mike Bolam (nufc.com), Rob and Barbara Mason, Michael Hamilton and Anne Graham. Here are our unashamedly biased views in no order of preference.

 

Theatre:
- Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle. It's been going for years but it's been going for years for a reason. A largely male cast were nothing short of brilliant. (R+BM)
- The Durham Mysteries at various venues around the city including the Gala Theatre and the cathedral. A somewhat inconsistent but brave and hugely entertaining attempt to launch a new tradition to rival that of York. (AG)
- St.James' Park for another unbroken run of that much-loved comedy of no manners, The Wrong Owners. (MB)
- The Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle deserves a special cheer for its ambitious decision to show live transmissions of great opera, both from Covent Garden and the New York Met. And its enthralling transmission of Carmen from New York in January, starring Elina Garanca and Roberto Alagna, was simply breathtaking. They even serve wines to complement the occasion. (PT)
- Sunday for Sammy at Newcastle City Hall. It could have been chaotic but was brilliantly organised and showcased some up-and-coming local talent as well as stellar names like Mark Knopfler. (MH)

Concert:
- The Sgt Pepper Beatles tribute band at The Sage in February. Listening to every track from that iconic album, plus several more Beatles classics, was manna from heaven for all '60s nostalgists. Seeing ranks of greying heads in the audience bobbing along to the fab four's music was wondrous to behold. (PT)
- We've seen a few big names but the best concert was by north east band Minnie and the Victors who we saw at TJ Doyles, an Irish pub amongst the scrapyards in Deptford, Sunderland. (R+BM)
- Wilco at the O2 Academy in Newcastle, by whatever substantial unit of measurement one cares to apply. (MB)
- Elvis Costello and The Sugarcanes. A last-minute switch to the Sage after EC cancelled a gig in Israel. Tel Aviv’s loss was Gateshead’s gain. (AG)
- Mark Knopfler at the Albert Hall. I missed his date at the Metro Arena but managed to see the maestro in London during the same tour. A class act that just gets better with age. (MH)

Restaurant:
- The Anchor at Whittonstall. Unbeatable rural location, cracking atmosphere, a warm welcome, good ales and a superbly innovative all-day menu make this a venue to cherish. (PT)
- Little Italy - right on the seafront at Seaburn, and we mean right on the seafront. Walk along the road and you'll not see it amongst the row of restaurants. You have to go virtually onto the beach and find it hidden along the promenade. Make certain you get a window seat, sit back, relax and enjoy good food and wine near enough to the beach you could go for a plodge between courses! (R+BM)
- For price, consistency, perfect pizzas and draught Peroni, Il Forno on Tynemouth Metro Station. (MB)
- Sachins, Newcastle because I’ve been going since it opened in the ‘80s and have never once been disappointed. Punjabi cuisine at its best and with some exciting new dishes added to the menu this year. (MH)
- The Feathers in Stocksfield. It’s been the scene of some great celebration dinners this year. It effortlessly blends a pub atmosphere with top quality food sourced locally and a bustling but never rushed ambience. And it’s got me converted to black pudding. (AG)

Pub:
- The Newcastle Arms on St.Andrews Street, for sourcing cask ales from across the British Isles and serving them in perfect condition. No food, no music, just top ale. (MB)
- The Saltgrass, Deptford, Sunderland. Real ales and big dinners in a cosy pub hidden away amongst the scrapyards not far from the council recycling depot and with a deep sea diver's helmet in the corner. Not too salubrious a setting but a brilliant pub and there's often a live band in one of the two smallish rooms. Try and get there when Blue Diamond are on if you want top-class 60s and 70s rock. (R+BM)
- The Dun Cow in Durham. Historic pub, cosy but always a big welcome. A great pint of Castle Eden and live folk music on Thursdays. (MH+AG)

Sporting event:
- Whitley Bay v Barwell in the semi-final of the FA Vase at Hillheads in April. A match that demonstrated all that is good about football, without the falsenesses and posturing of the top-level professional game. Five goals, a last-minute Bay winner, a packed crowd, and two excellent sides intent on playing the beautiful game in the finest spirit. (PT)
- Chelsea 0-3 Sunderland. I'd been at the FA Cup final when Chelsea had completed the double and at this point they hadn't even conceded a goal at home in the 2010-11 season but Sunderland completely outplayed them on their own patch and were full value for a sensational 3-0 win. (RM)
- I'm contractually obliged to reference a certain 5-1 result on the afternoon of October 31st - or Bloody Sunday as the commemorative DVD was mysteriously not titled.... (MB)

 

 

Linked Articles:

• Sachins in Newcastle - Posh spice