Spy Bar has been named a finalist in the Great British Pub Awards 2025, reaching the final six in the competitive “Best Pub to Watch Sport” category.

The annual competition aims to celebrate the best in UK hospitality and Spy Bar, which has six HD widescreen TVs, was the only pub in Newcastle to be shortlisted in this category. After initial selection, the judging process involved a covert visit by a representative from the competition who observed the bar unnannounced. After explaining who they were, they requested an official tour of the premises. The finalists were then chosen after a panel interview conducted virtually via Teams.

Assistant manager Lauren Hall, 24, said: “We were buzzing when we knew we were a finalist, and then to be placed in the final six… let’s just say we celebrated well that night.” She said the team is also celebrating the achievement as a win for the local community, as well as a testament to the hard-working staff.

Six members of the Spy Bar team attended the awards on Wednesday 24th September, hosted in Leeds at the First Direct Arena. Chair of judges, and Morning Advertiser editor, Ed Bedlington, told JesmondLocal: “Spy Bar should be really proud of themselves. The field is too narrow to give places. Spy was a winner, among the other five best in the country, so they are in great company.

“Bars like Spy make it to the top because, although it’s good to have really heavy investment into screens and tech, a finalist must also strive to be a great pub at the heart of it. They’ve got to get the basics right – they have to do food, they have to serve a good pint and service levels have to be brilliant.”

Spy Card customer Leah Dixon, 20, said: “We love Spy Bar. We come in most Tuesdays while being here at university to have a drink and play darts. I’m not surprised they were finalists, but I think they should have won [overall].”

Spy Bar has six widescreen TVs for sporting events. Photo: Lauren Reeve