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We are here...
There are several stories as to why we are called the Monkey Bar. He are a few for you to mull over.
While building the Tyne bridge the brick layers carried hods which were nicknamed monkeys. When they were out of work they could put their "monkey" behind the bar and run a tab. When they returned to work again they would pay off their tab and get their "monkey" back. This is probably the most likely story we have.
An old sailor whom we call Salty from the Bridge hotel told me this one:
When the merchant navy used to dock in the Tyne they would bring things back form their trip to sell. On most occasions they would bring back monkeys {live ones} and sell them from the window sills in the bar.
There has also been rumours that the original owner of the bar had a pet monkey in a cage on the bar.
{He really had wierd taste just look at the wall paper he chose which is still up}
I have been told it was named the Monkey Bar because an organ grinder and his monkey used to stand outside.
If you remember any other stories you have heard about where the name originated from, please contact us so we can up date this page.
In days of yore when Newcastle Priory was alive and kickin the brethren used to frequent The Market Lane for a pint or two of the olde meade... this frequently used to send them mental and they used to run round the place miming 'Michael, Row the Boat Ashore'... Father Michael Redgrave was not amused by this non verbal abuse and so in the ende eventually banned the Brotherhood from the place... Monkey Bar?... its something to do with scaffolders on the Tyne Bridge I think?... mad me... foc...
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