NE WCA STLE
A Great Exhibition comes to Geordieland
Visitors to Newcastle upon Tyne are welcomed by the open steel wings of the Angel of the North, Antony Gormley’s sculpture, which celebrates its 20th birthday in 2018. The sculpture signifies a turning point in the city’s outlook and fortunes: no longer about coal mining, heavy industry or punishing manual work, but now a thriving regional capital looking towards the brighter future of the “information age”, as Gormley has described it.
Newcastle has also long been known for what locals describe as “epic nightlife”. The Angel of the North braves wind, cold and rain without so much as a warm coat, just as many Geordies do on a night out. Describing the locals as “warm” means more than just friendly; they’re toasty. Beyond busy bars and clubs, Newcastle has a lively gastronomic scene, plus a vibrant artistic and cultural life. This summer it will host the Great Exhibition of the North, a showcase of art, culture, design and innovation from the north of England.
INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE
The industrial history of the city and region is inescapable. Once a major port and shipbuilding centre, Newcastle upon Tyne and its twin city, Gateshead on the south bank of river, have now grown into major business, creative and digital hubs. The skilled workforce that arose from the strong industrial base has long attracted multinational
corporations, but it now also draws digital start-ups to Tyne and Wear.
In recent years Newcastle has been at the centre of a tech revolution. A “Gigabit City”, it boasts the country’s fastest broadband speeds. The city will also host the new £30 million National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD), part of the government’s digital strategy to encourage the next Google or Facebook to start in the UK. Many more blue-chip and whitecollar jobs are being created in Newcastle, and the greater expenditure on local entertainments and going out reflect this; good restaurants do a busy trade. For dinner, secure a table at the city’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, the House of Tides. Chef-patron Kenny Atkinson serves an exemplary tasting menu in his atmospheric dining room set in a 16th-century merchant’s townhouse on Quayside.
WALK THIS WAY
Some of Newcastle’s most prominent streets and landmarks are found in Grainger Town in the city centre, constructed between 1824 and 1841 by Richard Grainger, a builder and developer. It includes the 40m-high Grey’s Monument, erected to celebrate Earl Grey’s role in the passing of the Great Reform Act of 1832. The Grade I Listed Theatre Royal is also in this district, putting on a varied cultural programme that ranges from pantomimes and musicals to ballet and comedy acts. “A great thing about visiting Newcastle for business is that it’s such a compact and walkable city, packed with history and culture. Business travellers have the opportunity to get to know it, even when on a tight schedule,” explains Catherine Walker, Inward Investment Director at Invest Newcastle. “We have a vibrant restaurant scene, nightlife, galleries and performance venues, and of course, Premier League football – all of which business visitors can enjoy on either side of a busy working day or conference.”
It would be remiss not to mention football when in Newcastle. There’s often a chance to join the Toon Army and watch a Premier League match at St James’ Park, the hallowed ground of Newcastle FC, a short walk from the city centre. Alternatively, mug up on Newcastle’s industrial heritage at the Discovery Museum, home of the Tyne-built steam-powered ship the Turbinia.
Just across the Tyne, Gateshead has a major destination in the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. This occupies a former art deco flour mill, converted into an art gallery that hosted the Turner Prize exhibition in 2011. For lunch try Six, the Baltic Centre’s rooftop restaurant. Here you’ll find modern dishes with a northern twist, such as Northumbrian hill lamb with lamb-fat peas and turnip, accompanied by mesmerising views down the River Tyne. So do tag on a day or two to a business trip to make the most of this illustrious northern (twin) city.