The Swatters Carr – JD Wetherspoon
📍 1.0 miles from Riverside Stadium
About this Pub
Why it's great for Matchdays
Centrally located on Linthorpe Road, the pub is a short walk from Middlesbrough town centre (listed as ~750 yards south) and about 1.7 km from the railway station, making it an easy pre-match meet-up before heading to the Riverside. It opens early (from 8am) and serves food all day, so fans can get breakfast or a meal on matchdays. CAMRA and venue pages note multiple handpulls and rotating guest beers, appealing to groups. Reviews of the venue describe busy weekend sessions with a mix that includes football fans, and local supporters on OneBoro indicate it’s fine for visiting fans as a neutral Wetherspoon option in town.
Recent Fan Reviews
Had a few beers. Unfortunately one was on the turn but was changed without any argument or issues, in fact the beer was taken off when we returned it so that's a positive. Atmosphere isn't bad, especially for a Spoons pub and the toilet is actually downstairs. Preferred it when it was the Hogs Head and the Empire back in the dark ages but it's still worth a visit as it has several real ales and ridiculously cheap prices.
Been here several times, but I had a steak yesterday and I HAVE to leave a review. The food has always been good, fast and friendly service every time! I’m always wary having steak at restaurants, because they never get the cook right, but omg, I genuinely commend whoever cooked the steak yesterday. It was PERFECT. Medium rare as I’d ordered, absolute perfection! We also had a baby with us and were given a high chair by staff (thank you). Staff are always lovely, it’s always clean and quick service. Food and drinks have always been good! And staff always do their best to meet your needs, allowing me to order dessert to take home with me instead! It’s a busy spoons, but great atmosphere, and one of the only spoons that you don’t have to walk miles up and down stairs to toilets. The toilets are very easily accessible! Pics from multiple trips with friends.
This is a really down to earth good pub. Great atmosphere, busy but not absolutely crammed. The food is exactly what it states on the tin. Easy to order, either via an app which I don't do or face to face over the bar, old school. The prices are extremely good value and the food is always ready extremely quickly. Excellent value. The menu is very comprehensive catering for all needs of dietary requirements. Large or small portions, what ever takes your fancy.
I had a very disappointing experience. The bathroom lock was not working properly, which is a serious safety concern. On top of that, the cleaning service was extremely poor and not up to standard. When I tried to report the issue through the website, it was showing “under maintenance,” which made the situation even more frustrating. In the end, I had to call my friend to help fix the issue myself. Very unprofessional service and highly disappointing.
“I hadn’t been back to this bar in over 12 years, and returning brought back so many great memories. It’s always been a warm, welcoming place — perfect for relaxing with friends, family, or classmates after lectures or seminars. Still a friendly spot with a great atmosphere! 😌