The Burglar's Dog takes a bite out of Newcastle's pub scene

A new book based on cult website The Burglar's Dog features angry and rude reviews of more than 140 of Newcastle upon Tyne's best and worst pubs.

[ClickPress, Wed Nov 15 2006] Meet the Burglar's Dog: he's angry and rude, he's got four legs and an abysmal hangover. He spends much of his time visiting pubs in Newcastle upon Tyne and posting reviews on his most excellent website www.theburglarsdog.co.uk. And now he's written a book, or rather his alter-ego, first-time author Mark Jones, has.

The Burglar's Dog Alternative Guide to Drinking in Newcastle upon Tyne contains bleary-eyed reviews of more than 140 of the city's best and worst pubs, plus furry-tongued features on stag and hen weekends, pub DJs, toilet attendants, and other things that get up his snout. Newcastle is now one of the top destinations in Europe for weekends away, and the book is a handy survival guide for visitors.

Fans of the website will know what to expect. An acerbic drinking companion, The Burglar's Dog cocks his leg at pub mediocrity. No target is too soft, no gripe too petty, no insult too cruel. He yearns for proper pubs and has yet to find anything even remotely "to die for" behind the glittering façade of a luxury lounge bar.

"This mighty anthology has all the anger and spite you've come to expect from The Burglar's Dog," explains Mark Jones, "without the internet eyestrain."

Although he has published the book under his own name, the furtive Jones is reluctant to be photographed or reveal background details, hoping to retain some anonymity so he doesn't get barred from the many pubs he has savaged in print.

Jones is, however, delighted with his first book: "Just look at the size of it, man. Nearly 300 pages! Prop up a table leg? You could build a bloody two-storey extension with this compendium of curmudgeonly carping."

And with that he went to the pub.

The Burglar's Dog Alternative Guide to Drinking in Newcastle upon Tyne by Mark Jones is published by Tonto Press, ISBN 0955218349, RRP £9.99, available from all bookshops including Amazon.co.uk.

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