I had discussed booking a trip for my birthday as I had a few days off, it would also be my first time leaving the island of Ireland since the pandemic all kicked off, and it did not come without its hiccups.
Amy and I had originally planned to visit Exeter, but after Stobart Air suddenly cancelled their contract with Aer Lingus, we had to promptly arrange another trip, and Newcastle beckoned.
We arrived a few hours ahead of check in – so we wandered a little around the city centre and planned out a bar crawl route to the hotel. Newcastle is one of 11 English cities home to an Alchemist bar, and after being thoroughly impressed with the one we visited in Manchester, we decided to go back and try some food in this one too too.
After finishing up we went to the Royal Station Hotel, which looks remarkable on the outside, and was fantastic to stay in (£91 for 2 nights).
We had heard dozens of people tell us how good the nightlife in Newcastle was, so after getting changed and freshened up a little, we decided to check out some of the bars (we resumed checking out the bars).
First up was Head of Steam, located close to the river Tyne in Newcastle’s Quayside area. It was a nice, quiet bar with a selection of craft beers on tap – and I was in my element getting to try new beers.
Next up was Newcastle Tap, conveniently facing our hotel. We had booked here for pizza and to sample more craft beers. The pizza was delicious, the atmosphere inside was rather chill – and the beer selection was phenomenal, although as a craft bar, the options will constantly vary.
Before we ended the night, we ventured to Jalou – a cocktail bar located right next to the hotel. It was very lively, and it was reassuring seeing a place with a crowd and live music after months of COVID restrictions preventing such an atmosphere. Some of the cocktails were really niche, and my favourite was the Cookie Monster (pictured below)
Rather than waste a morning feeling sorry for ourselves – we got up early and ventured to St. James’ Park, the home of Newcastle United. It was a brief walk from our hotel, and a mammoth stadium. I’d love to see it in full swing on match day.
After having a nosy around the stadium, we grabbed breakfast in a nearby café/bar and then got a taxi to the Biscuit Factory.
And shockingly, the biscuit factory does not make biscuits – it’s an art gallery featuring works of local artists.
It was a really cool venue featuring a range of styles from oil paintings to sculptures. I’m an art noob, so I can’t go into too much details on the actual art, but I love walking around exhibitions and seeing what jumps out at me. One particular piece featured a canvas covered in US dollar bills, painted over by translucent white paint, and a portrait of former President Donald Trump over it (in his more controversial quotes). I’ll share images of it, and a few of the other pieces that stood out for me below. And the best part about the Biscuit Factory gallery, is that it’s free to access!
After the Biscuit Club, we walked back into the city centre towards By The River Brew Co. The walk alongside the river on the Gateshead side of Newcastle is very therapeutic as you go underneath the bridges. It almost feels like the DUMBO area in New York.
By The River Brew Co. is an outdoor bar right alongside the river Tyne, just over the bridge, so technically in Gateshead. It has a very metropolitan feel as you drink beneath the huge bridge connecting Gateshead to Newcastle (beware of seagull droppings).
After By The River Brew Co. we ventured to another Craft Brewery, Full Circle Brewing the far side of Newcastle. A quick Uber drive across the city and we were there – the venue was quite cool, and you can see directly into the brewery whilst enjoying your beer. You couldn’t get closer to the action unless you were actually doing the work. I’m very complementary about Full Circle’s actual beer as well; one of the nicest craft breweries I’ve visited on my travels – well worth calling into if craft beer is your scene.
Since we enjoyed the local delicacies in Marrakech so much, we tried to find some sort of Middle Eastern eatery in Newcastle, and came across a delightful Lebanese eatery called Beirut Lounge. The food was delicious and the service was excellent, with very hospitable staff. I got Kabseh Lamb and Amy got shawarma. If the food is this good in Lebanon, I’ll have to begin planning a trip to Beirut.
Then to begin to wrap the night up, we went to the charming Tyne Bar on the edge of the city centre. We enjoyed sunset and a few nightcaps before walking back to our hotel and ending our visit to Newcastle.
It’s a city with not a great deal to actually do in it, but it’s a very beautiful city – and if you’re interested in craft beer, or just want somewhere to go for a weekend of drinking, I couldn’t recommend it strongly enough.
