Assembly Rooms Newcastle launches inaugural Great Geordie Afternoon Chari-Tea this August, as part of NOVUM Festival and the venue's year-long 250th birthday celebrations
In its first-ever year, the Great Geordie Afternoon Chari-Tea sees Newcastle's historic Assembly Rooms partner with Pink Lane Bakery for a charity afternoon tea featuring live music from local favourite Simma, in aid of The King's Trust and Down's Syndrome North East — with the NOVUM Festival's Domino Trail passing right through the Ballroom.
Assembly Rooms Newcastle, the Grade II* listed Georgian venue on Fenkle Street, will host the first-ever Great Geordie Afternoon Chari-Tea on Sunday 9 August 2026, launched specially as part of NOVUM Newcastle Festival and the venue's ongoing celebrations to mark 250 years since it first opened its doors.
Guests will be treated to a sumptuous afternoon tea created in partnership with Pink Lane Bakery, served beneath the original crystal chandeliers of the Assembly Rooms' historic Ballroom — the very room where Charles Dickens himself once performed in 1852.
Adding to the occasion, the event falls on the route of NOVUM's Domino Trail, with a giant domino set to pass directly through the Ballroom as guests enjoy their tea — a playful nod to the festival's citywide trail and a moment unique to this inaugural sitting.
Entertainment comes courtesy of Newcastle's own "Acoustic Hero," Simma — singer, guitarist and performance poet who has been a fixture of the North East folk and pub scene since 1997. Known for blending witty spoken-word poetry with acoustic roots music, Simma will provide live entertainment throughout the afternoon, bringing his warmth and Geordie wit to the historic room.
The event is being held in support of two charities close to the venue's heart: The King's Trust and Down's Syndrome North East, with a donation from proceeds going to each.
Craig Wilde, Founder and Group CEO of Niltoni Group, which operates Assembly Rooms Newcastle, said:
"Two hundred and fifty years ago this building opened its doors to the people of Newcastle for exactly this kind of occasion — good company, good food, and a bit of theatre. Launching the Great Geordie Chari-Tea for the first time, in our anniversary year, with Pink Lane Bakery, Simma, and the Domino Trail rolling straight through the Ballroom, felt like the perfect way to mark the occasion while raising money for two brilliant local charities. We hope it's the first of many."
Tickets:
- Afternoon Tea: £22.50 per person
- Afternoon Tea with a glass of Prosecco: £28.50 per person
- Gluten-free and non-dairy options available
Tickets are available now from the Assembly Rooms Box Office.
