Broken up into six main nightlife hotspots, the Toon has distinct areas for different crowds. The Diamond Strip attracts a wild, Geordie Shore following, where the seriously posh Quayside sees sophisticated stag groups enjoying civilised nights. For the craft ale lover, Grey and Dean Streets are where to head, however, if youβre after sports bar, casinos and big clubs, The Gate will be more your style. Newcastleβs Bigg Market is the ultimate rowdy night out, and Jesmond is a Happy Hour heaven.
01. The Diamond Strip
- Home to Geordie Shoreβs biggest nights out
- Newcastleβs SW1 - ideal for celeb and VIP spotting
- Trendy, classy and exclusive (so make sure you scrub upβ¦)
The Diamond Strip is like the W1 of London β trendy, suave and expensive. With βdiamondβ denoting its exclusivity; these upmarket and cool bars and clubs attract Newcastleβs VIPs β celebrities, the Geordie Shore crew, footballers and their adoring female fans. It truly is the place to be and be seen. These bars attract a mature crowd, and while theyβre not exclusively student-free, you wouldnβt get into any of these bars with a pair of Converse trainers and ironic spectacles.
We'd highly recommend snapping up our Newcastle Nightlife Wristbands for your group because it'll get you into some great bars on The Diamond Strip, as well as The Bigg Market.
Just a minutesβ walk from Central Station, the main Diamond Strip is set on Collingwood Street and extends to a couple of bars on Mosley Street. The bars are united by their bohemian-luxe interiors and sultry, seductive atmospheres β exposed brickwork, lavish dΓ©cor and plush ornate sofas in cosy little corners. ChachiBuchi is a highlight β with chalet style-deco and an exotic drinks menu. Verano is like ChachiBuchiβs more exotic sister β with summer vibes and filled with tequila. Revolution is a vodka bar set in a luxurious former bank with 30ft ceilings and marble pillars, and Bohemia is a boutique lounge with a βsecret gardenβ, where you can book booths or beds (depending on where the night takes you). Youβve also got Bijoux, Tup Tup Palace and Howlers to stumble into. If The Diamond Strip sounds like your kind of night out, whack on your muscle-fit designer tees and false tan, and party hard with the Geordies on our Diamond Strip bar crawl.
02. The Bigg Market
- Cheap and cheerful
- Can get pretty rowdy
- Located in the centre of the city
Youβve probably heard of Newcastleβs Bigg Market β its reputation precedes it for a reason. It has its place on a certain sort of night out, as long as you know what youβre in for β but donβt head here if youβre after civilised G&Ts or sophisticated surroundings. However, sometimes you want somewhere that doesnβt take itself seriously β somewhere the drinks are cheap and cheerful, and you can abandon inhibition, dance unashamedly to nostalgic tunes and channel the days of your youth.
Cosy Joes welcomes fancy dress, and is a cracking place to start a stag night. They have a karaoke bar upstairs, βtequila timeβ, and βparty-podsβ that you can book for your stag do, with a push-button drinks service. The Bigg Market also boasts Filthyβs β with an outdoor beer terrace, live music and a rowdy atmosphere every night of the week. Opposite Filthyβs is the German-themed Bierkeller β where you can channel your inner Bavarian and get tanked up on steins. Mushroom Bar, just around the corner, is super popular as they offer really cheap trebles. With booze prices low and spirits high, on a Bigg Market bar crawl, you will end up literally crawling.
03. The Quayside
- Upmarket and classy (leave the penis costumes at home for this one)
- Overlooking iconic landmarks such as The Tyne Bridge, The Baltic and The Glasshouse
- Posh nosh and expensive drinks aplenty
This awesome area of Newcastle and Gateshead surrounds the picturesque River Tyne β which has become the cityβs epicentre for modern arts, music and culture. However, at night, Newcastle Quayside, comes to life with upmarket and trendy bars, set against the mesmerising riverfront and combines its party atmosphere with epic views. The Pitcher and Piano is by far the most popular venue here, for both its stylish glass-walled building and its proximity to the spectacular Millennium Bridge, which is illuminated at night with changing coloured lights.
Livello is a few minutesβ walk up the bank and is a swanky bar that our very own Cheryl Cole has been known to frequent. But fear not, there are lots of fantastic options for us mere mortals too. They have a no-fancy dress policy, so keep this in mind if youβre dressed up β inflatable penises will not be well received here (weird). The Bridge Tavern is one of those new ultra-cool venues with exposed brickwork and an onsite micro-brewery - it takes itself a bit seriously, but in a good way. They pride themselves on quality, so itβs excellent for swanky drinks and proper beer and it has a stylish outdoor terrace directly underneath the Tyne Bridge. To join us on a Newcastle Quayside crawl, take a look at our swankiest of bar crawls in The Toon.
04. Grey Street / Dean Street / Pilgrim Street
- Sophisticated, older crowd
- Lined with craft beer bars, traditional pubs and high-end haunts
- Runs from Greyβs Monument to Quayside
Grey and Dean Streets runs down from the famous Monument to the quayside. Pilgrim Street runs parallel to it and there are definitely a few places worth a mention, especially if youβre a real ale lover. You want to get yourself on our Newcastle real ale bar crawl... On Pilgrim Street you have Alvino's β with an art-deco feel and interesting interior features β they have a football table and a heated outdoor terrace; a bit less traditional boutique bar and a bit more alternative (they also serve amazing pizzas).
Pleased to Meet You is on a little cobbled street which adjoins Grey Street to the legendary Bigg Market. Itβs a modern, stylish gin bar (and definitely where the cool kids hang out) - but they serve much more than just gin. From traditional lagers and ales, to expertly mixed cocktails, to bubbly served in champagne saucers - it's the place to be.
05. Jesmond / Osborne Road
- Best Happy Hour deals in town
- Student heavy population
- Three minute Metro / five minute taxi into Newcastle
Osborne Road, Jesmond's main nightlife hub, is one of Newcastleβs most popular places to start the night and is just a few minutes away from the city centre. The upmarket bars attract a swanky crowd and the clientele dress to impress, with admirable commitment. Fortunately, all of the bars and restaurants are, practically, on top of each other, so you wonβt need to walk far in your Sunday finest (nor will you see Geordie girls in coats β that particular stereotype is true).
Osborne Road comes into its own in the summer β all of the bars open up onto the front street and there is a sunny festival spirit. However, the evenings and colder months offer a bit more sophistication (as much as you can get in a student heavy district), with the trees adorned with fairy lights and heaters outside for those who havenβt been hardened by the bitter north-east weather. Osbornes is the biggest and best on the road. The centre of the drinking districts nightlife has two mega bars, beer from around the world and even hosts FIFA gaming nights. Likewise, Spy Bar bills itself as the top sports stop of the street β home to three big screens, eight flat screens and every game imaginable. A little further down the road, youβve also got The Holy Hobo β Jesmondβs Geordie Shore venue. Itβs dark, mysterious and serves alcohol by the (popcorn) bucket load. Osborne Road also houses several hotels, with lots of options for that all-important recovery breakfast. To make your stag do even simpler - we've put all this together in our Jesmond stag do bar crawl.
06. The Gate
- Popular with stag and hen groups
- Sports bars, cinemas, restaurants and clubs all under one roof
- Large casino within complex
The Gate complex is known as a βproperβ drinking venue. Itβs popular with big groups and stag and hen parties, due to the collection of bars and clubs in close proximity to each other β all conveniently located indoors away from the Geordie climate. For bars, youβve got some classics like Lloyds No. 1 Keel Row β part of the Wetherspoons chain β renowned for its dimly lit atmosphere and traditionally cheap drinks. The WonderBar is a cracking bar where you can play all kinds of e-darts games, as well as catch the footie.
The 24 hour Aspers casino is also a great place to spend a few hours on a stag do night, if youβre fancying a flutter. Just outside The Gate, you have The Mayfair - a massive party bar, with fun games like shuffleboard, where you can party 'til morning.
Now that we've sold you on Newcastle (never in doubt) - you can find out even more on The Toon on our Newcastle stag weekends page. Or, you can check out free, in-depth guide to Newcastle, with everything you could possibly need to know about a stag do in our Geordie homeland.