Pig and Whistle was a Bigg part of city scene
FOR years, the Pig and Whistle was one of Newcastle’s most popular watering holes.
Situated in the block of buildings that separate the Cloth Market and Groat Market on the site of the old Town Hall, it was very much part of the city’s ‘Bigg Market scene’.
The pub was opened by Cameron’s, ‘brewers of Strongarm’, 45 years ago on Wednesday, December 8, 1976.
If many of us remember it as a lively enough boozer on a Friday night in its later years, early on it was going for a more sedate market.
A feature in ous sister paper The Chronicle on the new establishment carried the headline ‘A very old rural name for a very new city pub’.
“The Pig and Whistle has a most inviting air about it – a pub to drink comfortably in,” we reported.
“Happy news for those who are tired of having their ear drums blasted by eternal music from the jukebox is that the new bar will have subtle background music.”
Our reporter noted: “From the small framed windows to the deep rich red carpet, and the button-back upholstered seating, it has all the elegance and grace of the Victorian era.
“The mahogany walls are stainresistant and the toilets are a picture of attractively designed mod con.”
The new pub, we noted, had a 200-metre open bar lounge, with “island seating”, and “a dining area screened off in Victorian style”.
There were revamps in the 1980s and ‘90s as the Pig and Whistle continued to be a favourite city centre haunt, with one punter remarking later in the pub’s life “for people like me who love hardcore S Club 7 megamixes, this place is the one for you” – a far cry from the venue’s early days.
For a while, the building was home to the popular Destiny nightclub.
Then in June 2018, the Chronicle reported: “Some serious Latin vibes will be brought to Newcastle this summer with the opening of new red hot bar, restaurant and night club
Revolucion de Cuba.
“Opening in the building previously occupied by famous haunts Destiny and Pig and Whistle, the four-floor Latin American rum bar and cantina will bring a taste of Havana to the Cloth Market.”
And not a pint of Strongarm anywhere.