Copperfields, Grand Hotel, Tynemouth

Aug 8 2010 by Sunday Sun

TELEPHONE: 0191 293 6666.

FOOD SERVED: Noon till 9.45pm.

COME the first sunny Sunday in ages, Mrs Eats was demanding a day out at the seaside.

So we took advantage of the bright morning to get a lungful of sea air.

A trip to Tynemouth in North Tyneside was in order and a stomp along the beach.

Whenever we take a trip out on the Sabbath, the question of food will always arise.

So it came as no surprise when Mrs Eats announced that all the exercise had given her a raging appetite.

Linked to the imposing landmark of Tynemouth’s Grand Hotel is a pub called Copperfields, which I last visited around two years ago.

It is a short walk from the noisy and overcrowded circuit pubs on Front Street, but a world away in ambience. And a regular scran fan recently dropped me a line to say it has undergone a bit of makeover, so I was curious to see it.

The Grand was originally built in 1872 as a home for the Duchess of Northumberland.

And the hotel has had some pretty famous guests.

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy made a point of staying there whenever they were appearing at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle.

The pub Copperfields has been going for donkey’s years, although no one can quite recall when it opened.

Arriving just after noon, there were already couples and families tucking into lunch. There is no booking system and even at lunchtime it was packed out.

At the back of the pub, there is a raised area where most diners sit. Unfortunately they were all taken so we hovered at the bar with our drinks, ready to pounce on the next free table.

We got a seat right at the door next to the television.

The pub is a cosy affair and is now all soothing green, both walls and drapes.

And so to the grub.

There are no starters but there are 15 dishes for the main course, catering for meat and fish lovers as well as vegetarians.

I opted for the beef with all the trimmings while Mrs Eats chose the chicken tagine. Neither of us were disappointed.

The beef itself, in plentiful quantity and very tender, also spot on, as was the middling-to-thick gravy. The medley of vegetables, including mashed potatoes, cabbage, carrots, cabbage and parsnip, was delicious.

Mrs Eats remarked that the veg was quite firm and not mushy as tends to be the way in some places.

And to top it all, there was a splendidly crispy Yorkshire pud – all washed down (in my case) with a delicious pint.

Mrs Eat enjoyed her chicken tagine (£7.90), which was a delicious slow-cooked stew with dates, plum tomatoes and flaked almonds served with rice and flatbread.

So what about the price of my roast?

It was £8.20, which is a lot to pay for a pub roast dinner, but I couldn’t fault it for quality.

Come pudding time, I plumped for sticky toffee pudding with ice cream (£4.70) and Mrs Eats went for something calling itself the Grand Glory (£4.50), which was a decadent sundae made with ice cream, berries and sorbet, laced with creme de cassis.

My dessert was very sweet but wasn’t at all bad.

Mrs Eats was equally pleased with her pudding.

Both were very generous portions. In fact, I am ashamed to admit that I couldn’t quite finish mine as it could easily have satisfied two healthy appetites.

So Copperfields is still flying the flag for good honest pub grub. Local residents seem to have taken to the spruced up Copperfields with enthusiasm – both bar and restaurant were busy well past the lunchtime rush.

My gripe last time was that a booking system should be introduced and I still maintain that.

Rating: 16/20