All change for city centre pub
ONE of Newcastle’s oldest pubs is set for a major makeover, with a roof terrace, boutique hotel and a new name after being snapped up by the leisure group behind Stack and Hadrian’s Tipi.
The Duke of Wellington on High Bridge has been a popular pub for tourists, football fans and cask ale aficionados for decades, and even features on guided walks around Grainger Town.
Now the grand old Duke is under new ownership after being bought by Danieli Holdings for an undisclosed sum, triggering the start of big changes, including the addition of a boutique hotel. Bosses at Danieli Holdings say they plan to build on the site’s cask ale heritage while creating a new use for the floors above the main pub.
Subject to getting planning permission, the company will develop the site into a 14-bedroom boutique hotel on the upper floors – and it will also extend the neighbouring bar they also own, Yolo Townhouse, into the public house side of the Duke of Wellington.
It is believed The Duke of Wellington name is also set to change, though this has yet to be confirmed.
Danieli also wants to open up the gable end of the historic building to create an outside heated terrace with views of High Bridge.
Its plans for the venue also include live music, an extended roof terrace, a lift to the upper floors, a new disabled toilet and an increased capacity for bigger functions. Food will be served at the venue, from breakfasts at 7am all the way through to dinner, and the company’s all-day menu will help cater for the ever-changing market of the patrons of High Bridge.
Neill Winch, chief executive officer of Danieli Holdings, said a substantial investment will be made by bringing back use of the upper floors in the building, which haven’t been used in more than 50 years, and that 30 new jobs will be created as part of the venture.
Mr Winch said: “We are looking forward to investing into the development, while also keeping the heritage of the Duke’s cask beer reputation at the forefront of our mind.”
This is one of the latest developments of Danieli Holdings, which have brought the city developments including Stack, the popular shipping
container collective at the former Odeon site; The Muddler pan-Asian restaurant and cocktail bar; Hadrian’s Tipi; and the Yolo bars in both Ponteland and Newcastle.
The Duke of Wellington was also known for years as Stokoe’s after wine merchants Stokoe & Co, which had its shop in High Bridge.
In the 1800s it was famed for being run by William Campbell, nicknamed
the “Scottish giant”. Mr Campbell, who was 6ft 8ins tall, became landlord of the pub in November 1877 with his wife Polly, but died the following year.
On the day of his funeral, an upstairs window and part of the wall had to be removed as the coffin was hoisted up to his bedroom where a number of strong men lifted him into it.