Newcastle - things to do?

Moe_Zambeek

Heading to Newcastle in a few weeks. Any recommendations for good restaurants (not Chinese / Indian / Italian) in the city centre / quayside area (we'll be staying down by the river)? Also - good live music venues?

Are there any guitar shops left in Newcastle, apart from Guitarguitar?

Cheers

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

Moe_Zambeek said:

Heading to Newcastle in a few weeks. Any recommendations for good restaurants (not Chinese / Indian / Italian) in the city centre / quayside area (we'll be staying down by the river)? Also - good live music venues?

Are there any guitar shops left in Newcastle, apart from Guitarguitar?

Cheers

Live music venue - definitely see what's on at The Cluny - https://thecluny.com/gigs - or The Globe - theglobenewcastle.bar/whats-on/ assuming there's no big bands on at the O2 Academy when you're up. If you're more into your Blues/Americana stuff I'd check out Billy Bootleggers for a cracking night out - https://www.facebook.com/billybootleggers/

Restaurant wise, are you looking for high-end 'cheffy' stuff or more reasonably priced, simple stuff?

For 'cheffy' food I'd try Dobson and Parnell on the Quayside - https://www.dobsonandparnell.co.uk/ - or try Six Restaurant on the top floor of The Baltic for decent food with the best view in town - https://www.sixbaltic.com/ ;

Further away from the Quayside the best restaurant in Newcastle for me is Peace & Loaf in Jesmond - http://www.peaceandloaf.co.uk/ Artisan at the Biscuit Factory art gallery is also v good - http://artisannewcastle.com/home

For more reasonably priced, straightforward stuff I'd try Zapatista for a cracking burrito - https://www.zapatistaburrito.com/ - or one of the Fat Hippo restaurants for a dirty burger - http://www.fathippo.co.uk/page/underground

Guitar shop wise the other major player in town is PMT, and there's also JG Windows which is OK for guitars but is more of a general musical instrument (esp Classical and jazz) store. 

Phil_aka_Pip

(see the other thread) there's always whacking your todger against car windows and taking a dump in the street ...

MattBanshee

Fat Hippo burgers are definitely worth checking out.

JAYJO

Go visit Dec he's been on his todd for a while.

Moe_Zambeek

Thanks, @Dontgiveupyourdayjob for the very useful info! MattB doubling up the Fathippo recomendation so that might make a lunch option. The views from the Baltic look great too...

Phil and Jayjo,  not so much

Koa

Is there still a little place down a lane called The Guitar Shop, seem to recall a small independent.....original name huh

Moe_Zambeek

Back when I used to visit regularly there were loads of little second hand places around the city centre, the guitar shop, one that eventually became Spenders when Jimmy Nail was famous, some up near the Uni and a few dodgy ones up on Westgate road...many years ago though. 

I bought my SG from Peter Cooks when they had a branch there back in 1990. Things have changed a lot since then I imagine.

Hattigol

Fight?

EricTheWeary

I think I've been to Newcastle twice in my life. The first time Queen were playing at the football stadium and you could hear it as you went around. Google says this was 1986, wow. 
Not much help really but if stuck for a conversation starter those Geordies love their pomp rock. 

west

smerk tabs , drink biah and teck up wiah canny lass ...

markblack

Broad Chard - great gastro pub.

https://thebroadchare.co.uk/

Nitefly

Try to use the Geordie chat-up line:

"How, Pet, 'n' show us yer tits?"

Moe_Zambeek

‘Wanna see my elephant impression?’

We were in Newcastle Sunday / Monday and had a fine time, as the weather was amazing.

I was surprised though - there were lots of homeless looking junkies and alkies about in the city centre. Mostly all young too. And in the heat, around Grainger market / Bigg market and that area, the smell was disgusting in places, with piles of rubbish lying around and clearly lots of unofficial toilet areas for those partaking of a beverage or two on the Friday / Saturday. In fact based on that jaunt round the town i'd have to say that parts of Newcastle city centre are bordering on sh*thole status. I was shocked, because the last time I was down there a few years ago it was a lot better.It reminded me a lot of Easter Road in Edinburgh

Having said that, once you get back to Grey street area and then down by quayside it's a lot nicer and was absolutely mobbed with folks out and about in their Sunday best. 

Another thing we discovered was that most of the bistro-y or restaurant-y places don't do dinner on Sundays, usually finishing up after the lunch time sessions. That was a surprise to us but that may be a Scottish Sunday trading thing - we're used to Sundays being the same as any other weekend day.

Anyway, thanks all for the recommendations!

cpcompany

Grainger Market and Bigg Market have always been like that mind. Some rough and ready pubs, streets reeking of piss and left over takeaways/food from the market stalls. 

Legionreturns

I'd seriously recommend the Big Mussel on the Quayside if you like seafood. It's also right next to the Crown Possada if you like quirky pubs with fantastic ale. 

tone1

I’m sure I saw a Documentary where native Geordies talk of ‘getting Mortal’ 

Snap

I was there at University between 88 and 91, and loved it. Went back a couple of years ago and I was surprised at how shitty Grainger town had got. In fact, seems a lot of the city has gone a bit rough. Maybe it is rose tinted memories, but it seems to be a lot more down at heel than it used to be. However, I did notice that the geordies are as daft as ever, and the weekend seems to be 7 days long, 24 hours a day too.

57Deluxe

Shoplifting in Primark