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There are so many things that make Newcastle one of the UK’s great cities. Its uni experience is second to none, having been crowned the best place in the UK for student life in 2025. Plus, according to a Time Out survey, Newcastle is home to some of the best looking people in the whole country. Sexy and smart? That’s a combo we can get behind.
The Toon is also a hotbed of cracking pubs, stellar restaurants and great nightlife. And a massive new hospitality venue is about to add another tick to Newcastle’s long list of positive attributes.
Opening in June 2026, Freight Island Newcastle is positioning itself as the city’s newest neighbourhood. At 60,000 square feet – almost the size of a typical football pitch – the rooftop venue definitely has the floorspace for such a claim.
Located smack bang in the middle of the city, Freight Island has transformed the former Debenhams in Eldon Square, which closed in 2021. The open-air space aims to offer all-day dining, catering to everything from family lunches and an afterwork bev to large-scale events and live music.
Its main space, called The Plant Room, sits below what will be the largest retractable roof of any UK hospitality venue, making it a great spot to catch some rays in the summer months.
When it comes to food, 12 kitchens will make up the roster. Leading the local line-up are Newcastle favourites I Scream for Pizza, Miso and Meat:Stack, as well Gosforth’s FAB Bakery for desserts and patisserie. Independent traders from the north of England also include Asian fusion FUKU, V.Goode Pies, Greek live-fire cooking from Pita, Caribbean food from Jerk Junction and desserts from Churro Kingdom.
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to drinks. Freight Island Newcastle will be decked out with four bars, with one spotlighting local breweries including Two by Two Brewing and another dedicated to cocktails. A sustainable wine programme will also be integrated into the new venue, transporting tankers of wine fresh from the producers straight to Newcastle, reducing the vino’s carbon footprint by around 60 percent.
Music will help set the vibe, with a line-up of DJs and live performances already scheduled for the summer season. Expect daytime sets, evening sessions and special events, including Freight Island’s signature season-long music programme throughout the hotter months. Luke Una will bring his all-day, festival-inspired É Soul Cultura and Paul Stewart will curate a programme of DJ collectives.
The Newcastle project will open its doors just weeks after the launch of another Freight Island venture down south. The hospitality group, which already owns an entertainment centre in Manchester, is opening Freight Brixton in London this May. The construction of Freight Island Leeds, which will cost a whopping £15 million, is scheduled to begin in late spring 2026.
The exact opening date of Freight Island Newcastle is yet to be revealed, but we do know it plans to open in time to show the Men's World Cup matches, which kick off on June 11.
An events and music venue will be added later in 2026, complete with a 1,200-capacity indoor space.
Did you see all the British restaurants that were added to the Michelin Guide in March 2026?
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