12 Jan 2022
NewcastleGateshead
2022 long lead listings / developments
Anniversaries
140th Anniversary of Fenwick Newcastle
Fenwick is Newcastle's most famous flagship department store and a much-loved shopping haven that offers visitors a luxurious, all-round retail experience across five expansive floors. Founded by JJ Fenwick in the 1880s, Fenwick Newcastle was the first store of its kind and remains one of the best shopping experiences in the country. On 23 March 2022, Fenwick Newcastle will be celebrating its 140th Anniversary with a series of special events.
https://www.fenwick.co.uk/our-story.html
1900th Anniversary of Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall 1900 Festival, co-ordinated by Hadrian's Wall Partnership, will be a year-long festival to mark the 1900th anniversary of the commencement of the building of Hadrian's Wall – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Organisations, communities, and individuals are planning to celebrate this unique anniversary in a myriad of different ways across 2022 in a packed programme that will include everything from community events to high-profile arts commissions.
https://hadrianswallcountry.co.uk/hadrianswall1900
130th Birthday of NUFC
Newcastle United Football Club will be turning 130 years old on 9 December 2022.
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee
Next year, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service. Newcastle's plans for the extended weekend (Thu 2 June – Sun 5 June) are TBC.
BALTIC 20th anniversary
2022 is also the 20th anniversary of the opening of the BALTIC Centre of Contemporary Art. Since opening in July 2002 Baltic has welcomed more than 8 million visitors to experience free art, experiences and performances. To mark the anniversary BALTIC has teamed up with Travelling Gallery, Scotland on a new exhibition which will travel to communities across North East England.
Exhibition dates: Feb 21- Jul 18 2022
BALTIC & Travelling Gallery: What's for Tea? :: BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.
Hotel developments
Pilgrim Street five-star hotel on The Newcastle Fire Station site (expected to open 2023)
A former fire station in Newcastle city centre is set to be transformed into a five-star hotel, after “exciting” plans were approved by councillors. An £11.5m overhaul of the Pilgrim Street station will see it become a 60-bed hotel with a restaurant, bar, and pavement cafe.
First Moxy Hotel in North East England (Date TBC)
Following planning approval in summer 2021, a Moxy Hotel is due to open on Newcastle Helix – an innovation hub in Newcastle city centre where people and businesses from across the globe connect, innovate, and come together.
https://newcastlehelix.com/news/moxy-hotel-at-newcastle-helix-secures-planning-approval
New products and openings
CBK's Ice-Dip Social
At the Ice Dip Social, participants experience the invigorating cold waters of the North Sea, a therapeutic Finnish tent sauna and a group relaxation space, where they can chill out and enjoy a delicious locally sourced lunch cooked over an open flame. All of this comes together to create a unique day at the beach in winter, exclusively available to small private groups. This is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with friends in an unforgettable setting. Cycles of cold-water immersion and heat therapy provide a further boost to wellbeing for the group.
Price: £99 per person, min 8 people, max 10 people.
Suitable for: Exclusively for small groups, adults only.
Available: Thu 20 January to Sat 19 March 2022. Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
https://cbkadventure.co.uk/tours/ice-dip
Beamish's 1950s Town
Beamish Museum
February 2022 onwards
Remaking Beamish is the biggest development in Beamish's history. The exciting project includes over 25 new exhibits and attractions – period buildings from around the region moved or replicated – and is bringing a new era to the museum in the form of a 1950s Town and 1950s farm. Visitors will be able to visit Front Street terrace in The 1950s Town (opening 2022) and get their hair done, buy delicious fish and chips, sit in the booths in John's cafe whilst listening to the jukebox, and visit the replicated home of famous North East artist Norman Cornish. There'll also be a park with putting green, cinema, toy shop, houses and more!
https://www.beamish.org.uk/remaking/about-remaking-beamish/
Victors
106 Quayside
Early 2022
The former Las Iguanas restaurant on Newcastle's Quayside is set to become a new American-inspired eatery with a retractable 'Riviera' seating area. The site has been taken over by Victors Restaurants who have submitted an application to Newcastle City Council. If approved, the food offering will include a modern American menu with a selection of large and small dishes, as well as a range of tapas-style offerings and sharing platters.
NewcastleGateshead Quays
Gateshead Quays
2023-2024
Operated by ASM Global, NewcastleGateshead Quays, opening in 2024, will be the most sought-after event space for international meetings, conferences and events. The £260m development will include a 12,500 capacity state-of-the-art arena venue and an international conference and exhibition centre, offering 5,700m2 of exhibition space, and an abundance of flexible event space capable of hosting major national and international business events. There will also be two adjoining Accor branded hotels on site bringing 327 new bedrooms to NewcastleGateshead.
Giants on the Quayside - The 'Whey Aye' Wheel
Newcastle Quayside
Date TBC
Newcastle's new 460ft 'Whey Aye' wheel will be the tallest of its kind in Europe and will be surrounded by a host of other 'giants' – from trampoline parks and statues to food and drink developments. The Geordie Giant – a 30ft human-shaped steel sculpture will loom over the development and greet guests as they arrive. The development will also house a virtual golf course and affordable facilities for tennis and five-a-side football.
https://giantsonthequayside.com/
Major events
'Inspired By' Lindisfarne Gospels
Across North East England
Jan - Dec
A region-wide programme of cultural events has been created to coincide with the much-anticipated display of the Lindisfarne Gospels at Newcastle's Laing Art Gallery from 17 September to 3 December 2022. Events will be happening throughout the year across the North East, including at Newcastle Cathedral, Jarrow Hall Museum and Hexham Abbey.
https://laingartgallery.org.uk/lindisfarne-gospels-2022
Magic Weekend
St James Park
9-10 July
Magic Weekend will return to Newcastle's St James' Park for the 2022 Betfred Super League season. The showpiece rugby league tournament promises to give you a sporting weekend of unforgettable family entertainment once again.
https://www.superleague.co.uk/tickets/magic-weekend
UK Pride 2022
Across Newcastle
22-24 July
The city voted the UK's friendliest (Big 7 Travel) will play host to UK Pride 2022. Events will include a festival weekend at Newcastle's Town Moor (22-24 July) and series of activity designed to celebrate the LGBT+ community. Newcastle's UK Pride promises to be the biggest UK Pride to date with rainbow colours taking over the city to welcome LGBT+ audiences from around the UK and beyond. Details TBC
https://www.northern-pride.com/
Great North Run
Across Newcastle and Gateshead
11 September
The Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon. It has become an iconic feature of NewcastleGateshead's cultural and sporting programme and welcomes 57,000 runners to the North East from all over the world.
https://www.greatrun.org/events/great-north-run/
Rugby League World Cup – England v Samoa and Opening Ceremony
St James' Park
15 October
In 2022, Newcastle will take centre stage as the host city for the opening ceremony of the postponed Rugby League World Cup 2021. Newcastle's iconic city-centre stadium, St James' Park, will host the opening men's group game including the men's opening ceremony. The opening game will see England's men's team take on Samoa to kick start the Rugby League World Cup tournament. Nearby Kingston Park will host games on 16, 22 and 29 October.
https://newcastle.rlwc2021.com/
Calendar of events for 2022
January
NE1 Restaurant Week
January 2022 TBC
The incredibly popular NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week is due to return in 2022 with over 100 restaurants involved! Enjoy fantastic food in Newcastle's finest restaurants for only £10 or £15pp.
https://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/ne1-events/restaurant-week
February
Chinese New Year
Stowell Street, Newcastle
1 February 2022 (Date of Newcastle's celebrations TBC)
In 2022, Chinese New Year will begin on Tuesday 1 February. Celebrate the year of the Tiger, expect a vibrant parade including dragon, lion and unicorn dances. In addition to floats and various performances like drumming by a female troupe, Chinese folk dances and children's dragon dance, colourful flags and banners will be displayed. The festivities will also see venues open their doors with activities such as Chinese arts and crafts, and restaurants will celebrate with special menus.
April
Sam Fender
Utilita Arena
5-6 April
Local lad turned international superstar, Sam Fender, will be back in the region on his biggest UK headline tour to date. The Seventeen Going Under 2022 Tour finale for the UK leg will be ending with two homecoming shows at Newcastle's Utilita Arena in April.
https://www.utilitaarena.co.uk/events/sam-fender-2022/
The Vasseur BALTIC Artists' Award 2022
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
9 April – 2 October
BALTIC's biennial award was established to recognise artists deserving of an international platform and offers a step-change moment in their career, each receiving an exhibition at BALTIC, £25,000 to realise new work and a £5,000 artist fee. Three established international artists are invited to nominate an artist in the early stages of their career. For the 2022 iteration, Otobong Nkanga has nominated Ima-Abasi Okon, Mika Rottenberg has nominated Laleh Khorramian and Hito Steyerl has nominated Fernando García-Dory.
https://baltic.art/whats-on/exhibitions/the-vasseur-baltic-artists-award-2022
World Heritage Site Day 2022: Durham
Durham World Heritage Site
16-18 April (Easter Weekend)
Celebrate World Heritage Site Day with a weekend of events on the Durham World Heritage Site, which includes Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle and the buildings located between them. The celebration will see the return of 'Crown of Light' projection onto the façade of Durham Cathedral which features illuminated manuscripts from the Lindisfarne Gospels and other treasures from the North East. There will also be music and drama performances, lectures, a family fun day (18 April), food market, a celebration marking 950 years of Durham Castle, a 'Living Library' where visitors can meet and talk to the significant historical personalities of the World Heritage Site, and community (countywide) responses to the Gospels.
https://laingartgallery.org.uk/lindisfarne-gospels-2022
LEGO Trail
WWT Washington Wetland Centre
April 2022 TBC
The LEGO® brick animal trail is expected to return in April 2022 at WWT Washington Wetland Centre. Showcasing giant animal Lego models, up to twelve-times life-size.
https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/washington/
May
The Late Shows
Across NewcastleGateshead
13 – 14 May
The Late Shows will return to Ouseburn, Newcastle and Gateshead on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 May 2022. A firm favourite in the NewcastleGateshead calendar, The Late Shows – organised by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums – is a free, late-night culture crawl. Experience an after-hours festival of culture and events across Ouseburn on the Friday and in central Newcastle and Gateshead on the Saturday.
June
Wall in Motion
Great North Museum: Hancock
1 June – 1 September
A spectacular and immersive digital projection mapping experience on a monumental scale, by NOVAK. Responding to the geographical and cultural narratives resonating from the Roman collections in the museum, this site-specific work will explore a variety of themes celebrating the movement and motion of people, objects and stories associated with this grand frontier. NOVAK is a creative studio based in Newcastle which has presented work throughout the world and at some of the most highly regarded arts festivals. Their work has been commissioned by the likes of Bloomberg, Google and MTV.
Part of Hadrian's Wall 1900 Festival
https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/wall-in-motion
Ed Sheeran at Sunderland Stadium of Light
Stadium of Light
2 June – 4 June
Mega singer-songwriter and UK pop sensation Ed Sheeran will bring his Mathematics Tour to Stadium of Light for the only North East run of his newest tour. The three-date show, coincides with the extra bank holiday to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
https://www.safc.com/concerts/ed-sheeran
Elton John at Sunderland Stadium of Light
Stadium of Light
19 June
Elton John will bring his award-winning Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour to Sunderland next year for an electrifying night of live music and performance. The Stadium of Light show will be the last time Elton ever performs in the North East on tour.
https://safc.com/concerts/elton-john
Northumberland Plate Festival
23-25 June
Newcastle Racecourse, Gosforth Park
Each June Newcastle Racecourse hosts a three-day festival of racing. Historically, the race previously known as the "Pitmen's Derby", formed the centrepiece of the holiday period known locally as "Race Week" for local mine workers. Today's Plate Day (Saturday 25 June) attracts a diverse crowd of racegoers and many ladies treat it as the North-East's version of Royal Ascot, but with a more relaxed and informal atmosphere. The two-mile heritage handicap is worth £150,000, making it the richest two-mile handicap in Europe. This year's festival includes Judge Jules on 24 June and Pete Tong on 25 June.
https://www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk/whats-on/
Diana Ross
The Riverside, Durham
29 June
Global superstar Diana Ross will headline The Riverside, Durham as part of her Thank You Summer 2022 tour. Diana Ross is one of the most successful recording artists and entertainers of all time and has shaped the sound of popular music.
Tour De Moon 2022
Summer 2022 (Dates TBC)
Unboxed: Creativity in the UK 2022 will take you on a mission to the Moon in summer 2022. Tour de Moon is a two-month festival of performances, installations, interactive experiments and immersive experiences - created by a galaxy of nightlife artists, musicians, digital dreamers, writers, scientists, technologists and creative pioneers aged 18-25. Together, they'll consider and challenge our current ways of living - and engage our imagination. Newcastle will be one of only four UK cities to host the Tour de Moon festival and it will be a fully magical, lunar experience!
https://unboxed2022.uk/tour-de-moon
July
Michael Buble
The Riverside
6 July
An Evening with Michael Buble is set to be one of the most vocally and visually stunning concerts of 2022. It marks the first time that Michael will perform open-air concerts and will visit beautiful stately homes, castles and cricket grounds across the country, including The Riverside in Durham.
https://www.durhamcricket.co.uk/events/an-evening-with-michael-buble-2022/
Mouth of Tyne Festival
Tynemouth
7-10 July
Returning for 2022, the Mouth of the Tyne Festival warms up the seaside town of Tynemouth with the perfect summer music festival packed with spectacular live music at Tynemouth Priory & Castle, special shows at Playhouse Whitley Bay, arts activities at Tynemouth Station and free street entertainment.
https://mouthofthetynefestival.com/
Magic Weekend
St James Park
9-10 July
Magic Weekend will return to Newcastle's St James' Park for the 2022 Betfred Super League season. The showpiece rugby league tournament promises to give you a sporting weekend of unforgettable family entertainment once again.
https://www.superleague.co.uk/tickets/magic-weekend
Northern Pride Festival / UK Pride 2022
Town Moor and across NewcastleGateshead
22-24 July
Northern Pride Festival is a celebration of LGBT life on Tyneside and is one of the biggest and most diverse free events in the North East which starts with a Pride march through Newcastle and ends with a day of music, education, fun and celebration. In 2022, Northern Pride is also UK Pride and the events and celebrations promise to be bigger and better than ever.
August
Noughty 90s Festival Newcastle
Leazes Park
27-28 August
The popular Noughty 90s festival returns to Leazes Park. Boasting four huge stages of music, the biggest 00s and 90s bands, artists and DJs from around the world, funfair rides, a 90s arcade, retro bars, an RnB roller disco, street food and more, this is the ultimate throwback festival.
https://www.noughty90sfest.com/
September
Great North Run
Across Newcastle and Gateshead
11 September
The Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon. It has become an iconic feature of NewcastleGateshead's cultural and sporting programme and welcomes 57,000 runners to the North East from all over the world.
https://www.greatrun.org/events/great-north-run/
October
Rugby League World Cup
St James' Park and Kingston Park
15 October – 29 October
The biggest tournament in Rugby League – the Rugby League World Cup – will take place in England spanning 5 weeks from Saturday 15 October 2022 and Newcastle will be one of the host cities for the major sporting event. Newcastle's iconic city-centre stadium, St James' Park will host the opening men's group game (England v Samoa) including the opening ceremony. Nearby Kingston Park will host an additional 3 men's group games on 16 October, 22 October and 29 October.
https://newcastle.rlwc2021.com/
November
Illuminated Sheep
Northumberland
Autumn 2022 (Date TBC)
Working with renowned digital and light artist Deepa Mann-Kler, a flock of 40 life-size illuminated sheep will be created and located across Northumberland. Deepa is a multi-disciplinary artist, primarily working in neon and creating light installations. She explores concepts of belonging and identity by creating artwork that is deeply rooted in the communities surrounding her. The illuminated sheep will be adopted by communities across Northumberland and hosted in towns, villages, heritage sites, businesses and community spaces. A series of trails will be created that can be completed on foot, bike or public transport to see the sheep in their diverse locations.
Part of 'Inspired By' Lindisfarne Gospels
https://laingartgallery.org.uk/lindisfarne-gospels-2022
December
Saturnalia Festival
Across Hadrian's Wall
17-23 December 2022
Communities across the length of the wall will be invited and encouraged to deliver their own Saturnalia festivities in towns and villages along the wall by connecting with one another in this fun, merry-making event.
Part of Hadrian's Wall 1900 Festival
