march-2013

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newcastle
united kingdom
62,698,362 +44 7°C
british pound (gbp)
Three times daily
paul smith
A spring break in Newcastle promises a breath
of fresh air and the warmest of welcomes
OUSEBURN
A short walk from the city centre,
there’s plenty packed into this
once-industrial neighbourhood.
SLEEP Set in a shipping company’s
former headquarters, Newcastle’s
Hotel Du Vin (City Road, (0)191 229
2200, hotelduvin.com, rooms from
€127/£105) has spacious, stylish
rooms, a well-stocked wine cellar
and views over the River Tyne.
CULTURE The volunteer-staffed
Star and Shadow Cinema (Stepney
Bank) promises an eclectic schedule
of film and art. This month’s highlights
include Write On Tap, with actors
performing new plays by eight up-andcoming
writers. A national centre for
children’s books, Seven Stories (30
Lime Street) occupies a Victorian mill,
hosting story sessions, events and
exhibitions. Until mid-April, there’s
an exhibition on Julia Donaldson,
author of The Gruffalo.
LATER Fans of live music should make
time for The Cluny (36 Lime Street),
which has gigs almost every night. If
the evening sky is clear, enjoy sunset
over the river from the beer garden of
the Free Trade Inn (Saint Lawrence
Road), which has a commendable
array of craft beers and cask ales.
TIP Don’t miss the chance to explore
the Victoria Tunnel, a two-mile long
tunnel deep beneath the city. Built
to transport coal down to the River
INFO
Newcastle
International Airport
is 12km north west
of the city centre.
Train
Metro trains depart
the airport every 12
minutes at peak
times. The journey
to Newcastle takes
20 minutes and
costs €3.90/£3.20.
Taxi
The journey to the
city centre takes 15
to 20 minutes and
costs between
€18/£15 and
€22/£18.
Tourist info
The main tourist
offi ce is at 8-9
Central Arcade,
(0)191 277 8000,
newcastle
gateshead.com
FLY TO newcastle three times daily. brusselsairlines.com
Tyne, it was used as an air-raid shelter
during the war. Tickets must be booked
in advance at ouseburntrust.org.uk.
HIGH BRIDGE
In the heart of Newcastle, High
Bridge is an ancient lane that’s
now enjoying a new lease of life.
EAT Come the weekend, Dabbawal
(69-75 High Bridge, (0)191 232 5133)
is generally thronged, so book a table
for a weekday evening to enjoy the
tapas-style Indian menu, from Punjabi
chicken lollipops to sweet potato
chaat. Coffee connoisseurs should
try a flat white and slice of walnut
cake from 9 Bar Coffee (100 Grey
Street). It also serves an Italianinfluenced
lunch menu, from plump,
homemade arancini to mozzarella and
sausage-stuffed sourdough sandwiches.
CULTURE In just 18 months, The
Stand (31 High Bridge) has become
north-east England’s top comedy
venue. Local turns like Steffen Peddie
give audiences a taste of Geordie
humour, while big-name stand-ups
set to appear this month include
Mark Thomas and Rob Deering.
SHOP Opened in 1987, Union Clothing
(23 High Bridge) sells superior denim
brands and menswear, while specialist
vinyl experts RPM Music (4 Old George
Yard) have been going for almost as
long. Nearby Bcharmd Boutique
(16 Shakespeare Street) sells bold,
Newcastle has come a
long way from its
industrial roots
affordable jewellery, from bejewelled
bangles to weighty cocktail rings.
LATER Sip on cut-price cocktails in
Browns (51 Grey Street) from Sunday
to Wednesday, or sample dozens of
real ales and microbrewery beers at
Bacchus (42-48 High Bridge).
GOSFORTH
Take a trip to Newcastle’s affluent
northerly neighbourhood for a
taste of local life.
SLEEP It may look like a traditional
Victorian house in a sleepy suburb,
but the ten-room Townhouse Hotel
(1 West Avenue, (0)191 285 6812,
thetownhousehotel.co.uk, rooms from
€114/£95) offers a lavish boutique
experience away from the city lights.
EAT Loch Fyne (West Avenue,
(0)191 255 9320) remains a favourite
for both its food and setting. Feast on
fresh oysters, shellfish platters and
Scottish rope-grown mussels from the
pure sea loch waters of Loch Fyne
beneath the stained-glass arches of a
renovated United Reformed Church.
LATER In South Gosforth, the
Brandling Villa (Haddricks Mill Road)
is an independent pub with plenty of
cask ales to choose from; it also hosts
a well-attended ale and sausage festival
every spring. The Queen Victoria (206
High Street) is another haven for beerlovers,
offering an extensive range of
local brews in a traditional pub setting.
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