A Tasty Suggestion
Blackfriars (+44 (0) 191 261 5945) is the oldest dining
room in the UK. Originating in the 11th century, the
Blackfriars’ menu has seen many changes and today
it serves the latest modern cuisine as well as traditional
English staples. It’s a blend of European and Asian
cuisine, with a wine list ranked as one of the 20 best
in the UK by Restaurant Magazine.
The variety of what’s available on the menu is furthered
by seasonal changes. Themed events, Christmas and summer
all help to shape the best fare that Blackfriars has to
offer. The venue is ideal for both large parties as well
as more intimate meals and has split level seating for
around 60 people.
Blackfriars is one of NewcastleGateshead’s best-loved
restaurants, with an AA rosette and mentions in both the
Good Food and Michelin guides.
Having also recently been voted the best restaurant in
the North East by readers of The Observer, drop into Blackfriars
for a dining experience steeped in history. www.blackfriarscafebar.co.uk
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OCTOBER 28 2008: Frank Skinner performs live at the Theatre Royal in the city centre. One of the best British comedians to come out of the 90’s his unique brand of comedy will no doubt attract hundreds to the show. To find out more information visit www.newcastlegateshead.com/
...and here's more great things to see
and do in and around Newcastle...
NOVEMBER 28 2008: Cliff Richard celebrates 50 years in the music industry with his Time Machine Tour. Performing at the Metro Radio Arena he will perform his greatest hits to no doubt a sell out crowd. To find out more go to www.newcastlegateshead.com/
DECEMBER 2008: The Northern Lights Film Festival focuses on films from the Northern Hemisphere. Celebrating exciting new talent and well established film makers, it showcases some of the more challenging films in the industry. To find out more visit www.nlff.co.uk/
JANUARY 2009: The Metro Radio Arena is host to the UK Wedding Show. It has anything any future bride could want all under one roof and has the perfect ideas for every wedding. To find out more visit www.theukweddingshows.co.uk/
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Autumnal Stripes
The White Stripes will be bringing
their unique sound to the Metro Radio Arena this October. Expect
to hear great songs from their early days dabbling in garage rock
to current pieces from their newest album Icky Thump. Their style
and skill always provides fans with a great show and they are known
for amazing improvised sections, providing more entertainment and
creative genius than can possibly be generated by two people alone.
The Metro Radio arena will more than adequately help to create
a great atmosphere and with a capacity of over 11,000, the mood
on the night will be electric as the culmination of months of anticipation
is released. Don’t miss your chance to see a band that has
been placed in the top 15 of Q magazine’s top 50 bands to
see before you die list. Tel: +44 (0) 870 7000 971
www.metroradioarena.co.uk
A wise place for music
Designed by Sir Norman Foster and partners and opened in December
2004, The Sage Gateshead is NewcastleGateshead’s new music
complex. Approach this glassy extravagance by taking the Gateshead
Millennium Bridge over to the south side of the Tyne, to Baltic
Square. Home to the Northern Sinfonia and Folkworks, it has a 1670-seater
auditorium, where you can hear the best live music on offer in
the city (+44 (0)191 443 4555).
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The city now known as NewcastleGateshead
is an alliance between Newcastle, on the north bank of the River
Tyne, and its fierce historical rival Gateshead on the south. This
conurbation is transforming itself into one of the most exciting
city break destinations in Europe; 24,000 Guardian/Observer readers
recently confirmed its popularity, voting it the top city to visit
in England. It is a welcoming city, famed for its unique atmosphere
and an ambience that makes visitors feel at home and want to come
back.
A blend of the contemporary, cultural,
stylish and historic, NewcastleGateshead’s
must-see sights include the multi-award-winning Gateshead Millennium
Bridge (a world first with its unique tilting design), the stunning
Georgian architecture of Newcastle’s historic heart, and
Europe’s most exciting contemporary art gallery, BALTIC Centre
for Contemporary Art.
A leading cultural destination, with a wealth of galleries, museums,
theatres, public art, and live music venues throughout the city,
NewcastleGateshead also offers endless shopping opportunities and
lives up to its legendary promise of a great night out. The regeneration
of the riverside has seen the creation of a hub of cool, cosmopolitan
bars, restaurants, and clubs.
Visitors can now enjoy world-class musical performance of all
kinds at The Sage Gateshead. Opened in December 2004, this spectacular
Sir Norman Foster building is a state-of-the-art, international
music centre and offers breathtaking views of NewcastleGateshead
from its location on the south bank of the River Tyne.
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NewcastleGateshead is easily explored
on foot – along the way take in the stunning view of the
seven bridges across the Tyne, the medieval city walls and fortifications,
and, for just £1.50, climb to the top of the Norman ‘New
Castle’, which gave the city its name. Alternatively hop
on an open-top city sightseeing bus for a whistlestop tour.
For shopping with a twist, visit the Biscuit
Factory, Europe’s
biggest original art store. Make sure to have lunch in Barn@The
Biscuit, where the menu matches the creativity all around you.
Alternatively, for interactive family fun, visit the Life Science
Centre (+44 (0) 191 243 8223 on Times Square, Scotswood Road, if
you and the kids are interested in biology. Or go to the Discovery
Museum (+44 (0) 191 232 6789) on Blandford Square if you’re
keener on Newcastle’s engineering history.
Spend your evening at The Gate,
a unique entertainment complex in the heart of Newcastle city centre,
with an impressive collection of bars and restaurants (not to mention
a 12-screen cinema). Tiger Tiger is one of The Gate’s top
eateries, with a modern approach to good food that balances classic
British, European, and Asian styles. Then make your way down to
the Quayside, where you can play it cool at Stereo in Sandgate
or dance to garage and house at Nice at the Playrooms on Low Friar
Street. www.thegatenewcastle.co.uk
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There is a good choice of accommodation
both in the city centre and the surrounding area, whether you are
looking for four-star luxury, to rent your very own chic apartment
or a traditional B&B.
Book on 0871 900 8297 or visit www.flybehotels.com
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By car: Explore the city and the countryside in comfort and style at great prices! Get the best deal by checking Flybe's partner Avis for the best available car hire rates at www.flybe.com/avis
By road: Newcastle
International Airport is 8km (5 miles) northwest of the city, close
to the A1 trunk road that gives quick access downtown, as well
as putting Edinburgh within just two hours’ drive. The airport
is served by the Metro providing a quick shuttle link into the
city centre. Contact Flybe’s partner Avis for the best available
car hire rates.
www.flybe.com
By rail: The
Metro fast transit system links the airport directly to Newcastle
Central Station.
By bus/coach: No
fewer than seven different bus routes link the airport with downtown’s
Eldon Square; expect to wait no more than 20 minutes.
By taxi: Airport
Taxis (+44 (0)191 214 6969).
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Newcastle has a range of bus services
centred around Central Station on Gallowgate and Haymarket Station
near the university to the north of the city. It also has a Metro
service (+44 (0)191 277 8000) www.newcastle.gov.uk
However, most of the tourist sights
of the city are within walking distance.
The mainline railway station is Central Station on Neville Street.
For all timetables and fares UK wide:
National Rail Enquiries: +44 (0) 8457 48 49 50
For all rail travel requirements:
Traveline +44 (0) 870 608 2 608
While it is possible to bring your car
into the city, it’s
worth remembering that throughout the city there are parking restrictions.
Parking attendants regularly check cars so be careful - and if
you get a parking ticket don’t ignore it.
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Golf: Located
two miles from the city centre, the Newcastle United golf club
has 18 holes spread over moorland that is characteristic of the
region. Keen golfers have access to the ground throughout the week
and restrictions are only enforced when competitions are being
held. The clubhouse is open to those who feel peckish after a few
rounds or fancy a drink. Tel +44 (0) 191 286 9998
www.nugc.co.uk
Horse
riding: The Murton Equestrian
Centre provides lessons for riders of all standards. With many
lessons on offer you will be hot to trot in no time. The experienced
staff provide training that can last a day for adults and up to
three or four days for children and seniors. As well as riding,
visitors also get taught about all aspects of caring for horses.
Tel +44 (0) 191 257 1369.
www.murtonequestriancentre.co.uk
Cycling: Whiptail Cycles of Tynemouth
has a large selection of bikes for hire. Cycling is the best way
to get to know the lush open spaces of the Newcastle upon Tyne
area. Bikes can be rented for a day or, for the more adventurous,
an entire week. Whiptail Cycles provides mountain bikes for all
ages and a host of accessories such as helmets, inner tubes and
pumps as well as maps and guides. Tag-along trailers and tandem
cycles are also available. Tel: +44 (0) 191 257 2212
Creative
Workshop: Fi Fie Fo Fum,
an art gallery and creative workshop, is located 20 minutes from
Newcastle. The art gallery presents works from the best local talent
but there is also a lot for visitors to get involved with. Workshops
include papermaking, photography, creative writing, watercolour/oil/pastel
painting as well as a host of other activities.Tel: +44 (0) 166
184 4068 (Wednesdays to Sundays). www.fifiefofum.com
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The compact city centre means you can easily move about and sample everything NewcastleGateshead has to offer.
The simplest advice is to view the city’s nightlife as having four distinct areas:
The Quayside or Bigg Market - full-on party vibe.
Osborne Road in Jesmond - lively and sociable.
Central Station to Grainger Town - a touch of class.
Around Central Station - civilised chat in nice bars and pubs.
The choice of pubs and clubs is endless. Choose from bars such as the dark, modern Tokyo, The Living Room, the youthful Popolo, and Hoko-10, a Japanese-themed bar with a neat little sushi eatery attached. A firm favourite is stylish restaurant and bar Apartment, with its sumptuous décor, stylish crowd, and live DJ. Nightclub World Headquarters is sweaty and lively with floor-filling music. See An Insider’s Perspective for the low-down.
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Newcastle offers those looking
to invest in property a variety of options. The large student community
present in the city means that finding tenants will not be too
much of a challenge. There are also properties available for those
looking for professional premises for new offices. Recent decisions
by the city council have led to restrictions on certain buildings
and an outright ban on new drive-through restaurants and new zoning
plans mean that pedestrians have greater access to the city. Recent
questions raised over population densities could also lead to the
development of taller buildings within the town.
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The Castle: This
12th-century keep just off St Nicholas Street stands on the site
of the original Norman castle that gave the city its name. Exhibitions
on its history are staged here (+44 (0)191 232 7938)
http://museums.ncl.ac.uk/keep/
St Nicholas’ Cathedral: Features a lantern tower, stained glass, and a 15th-century brass
memorial (+44 (0)191 232 1939).
Bessie Surtees House
Two original 17th-century merchants’ houses on the Quayside,
now the regional office for English Heritage. Free entry (+44 (0)191
269 1227).
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art: This new complex houses temporary exhibitions of modern art, plus
studios, bookshop, restaurants and bar. Free entry (+44 (0) 191
478 1810) www.balticmill.com
Laing Art Gallery: This Victorian edifice on Higham Place houses the city’s
art collection, plus silver, glass, and historical fashion displays,
and a Children’s Gallery. Free entry (+44 (0)191 232 7734).
Shefton Museum of Greek Art and Archaeology: Major archaeological museum, on the Quadrangle at the university.
Free entry (+44 (0)191 222 8996).
Hatton Gallery: Housing a permanent African collection, as well as temporary exhibitions.
Free entry. University of Newcastle (+44 (0) 191 222 6095).
Seven Stories, Centre
for Children’s Books: A brand new attraction featuring original manuscripts and illustrations,
housed in a grade II Victorian granary warehouse, includes reading
rooms, events, exhibitions, a café and bookshop. Ouseburn
Valley, Newcastle (+44 (0)191 271 0777) www.sevenstories.org.uk
Biscuit Factory: Housed in a beautiful Victorian building, this is the biggest
commercial art space in the UK, with an extensive array of art
for sale from £20 - £20,000. Entry free. Stoddart
Street, Newcastle (+44 (0)191 261 1103).
Hancock Museum: Major natural history museum on Claremont Road. Free entry (+44
(0) 191 2227418).
Life Science Centre: An interactive, biology-based entertainment centre with rides
and games. On Times Square, Scotswood Road (+44 (0) 191 243 8223)
www.center-for-life.co.uk
Life Science Centre: An interactive, biology-based entertainment centre with rides and games. On Times
Square, Scotswood Road (+44 (0) 191 243 8223)
www.center-for-life.co.uk
Discovery Museum: Fascinating interactive displays and reconstructions looking at Newcastle’s
history and engineering achievements. On Blandford Square (+44 (0)191 232 6789).
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Alnwick lies about 40km (25 miles) to the north
of NewcastleGateshead, within easy reach for a day trip. It has
cobbled streets and a charming marketplace, but also boasts the
largest inhabited castle in the country after the Queen’s
seat at Windsor. It has been in the Percy family since 1309, and
contains ample evidence of that dynasty’s pre-eminence in
the English aristocracy. There is china from Meissen, gardens by
Capability Brown, and paintings by Titian, Canaletto, and Van Dyck.
The Alnwick Gardens’ magical landscape is open 364 days
a year and this year there’s even more to discover with the
opening of the Serpent Garden, the Poison Garden, and the Labyrinth.
Opened in January 2005, the Treehouse is another spectacular new
addition. A wooden structure of turret-topped cottages and walkways
in the sky, it contains a shop, education and resource rooms, and
a magical restaurant area with open log fire (+44 (0)1665510 777).
To the south of the city, sited just off
the A1 south of Gateshead, you’ll find the immense steel sculpture entitled the ‘Angel
of the North’. This enormous winged man was completed by
Antony Gormley in 1998 and has become one of the must-see attractions
in the North of England.
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The Sage Gateshead is the city’s
new music complex, situated on the south bank of the River Tyne.
It is another building block in the riverside regeneration that
has shifted the focus of the city south towards the Tyne, and Gateshead
across the river, and has brought new prosperity to the area. New
pubs, restaurants, and clubs have sprung up to serve the locals
and tourists visiting The Sage Gateshead and its visual arts companion,
BALTIC.
Many see Newcastle’s cultural regeneration starting in 1994,
with the commissioning of the immense steel sculpture entitled
the ‘Angel of the North’. This enormous winged angel
was completed by Antony Gormley in 1998 and sited just off the
A1 south of Gateshead
NewcastleGateshead Initiative is the destination marketing agency
for the city region. Their vision is to make NewcastleGateshead
a world-class place in which is live, learn, work and visit, and
is leading the way with a cultural programme designed to build
on this regeneration.
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Newcastle has got nightlife in spades – this
is definitely one of the reasons for living here. Whatever ‘floats
your boat’, you can find it. One solution to the huge range
of bars, clubs, venues, and comedy on offer is to get stuck in
and see what grabs you - the compact city centre means you can
easily move on and sample everything - but a little inside knowledge
can save you lots of time.
If you’re after noise and excitement, then the Bigg Market
should hit the spot. You’ll find the locals at Revolution
on Collingwood Street. Another popular area is the Quayside - it’s
young, loud, and in your face. The Sea nightclub is the place to
aim for at closing time, but expect to queue. Jesmond is the student
area and Osborne Road here is young, fashionable, and less frantic
than either the Quayside or Bigg Market.
Those of more mature years who like to be able to hear themselves
think should check out some of the carefully restored bars in Grainger
Town. They will also probably enjoy hand-pulled pints in pubs such
as the Crown Posada on The Side (in the shadow of the Tyne Bridge),
and, further east, the Free Trade Inn on St Lawrence Road, which
also does great sandwiches.
If it’s gigs you’re after then there’s no shortage
of venues. The Cluny, Head of Steam, the Northumbria and Newcastle
University Unions, the Corner House, Jazz at the Bridge, the Jazz
Club, and The Black Swan all have live music. It’s your choice,
all the way from jazz to pop.
If you want to hit a club, top of your
list should be Newcastle’s
Foundation on Melbourne Street, which attracts top DJs from around
the world. Or try The Attic and the popular Baja Beach Club. Clubs
of a different kind include the Salsa Club and the Hyena Comedy
Club. The Salsa Club has salsa music, dancing, and Latin American
food. The Hyena always features a line-up of top comics, but make
sure to book in advance.
There’s now a thriving gay scene
with several pubs and clubs within a short walk of each other
in the Gay Village near the Central Station.
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