Newcastle’s Newest Neighbourhood: Freight Island to Open This June
Freight Island Newcastle is delighted to announce its highly anticipated opening in June 2026. Smack bang in the middle of the Toon, this will mark the UK’s biggest hospitality opening this year. Transforming the former Debenhams department store, Freight Island Newcastle boasts 60,000 sq ft in a standalone rooftop setting, offering an unparalleled entertainment experience unlike anything in the country.
Alongside the opening announcement, Freight Island has unveiled the first CGI visuals of the venue, offering a glimpse into the scale and ambition of the project. Designed to transition seamlessly from open-air daytime dining to an intimate late-night setting, the venue will cater for everything from family lunches and after-work drinks to live performances and large-scale events. Central to the design is The Plant Room, a dramatic space set beneath a vast retractable roof, the largest of its kind in UK hospitality.
Food sits at the heart of Freight Island Newcastle. Twelve kitchens will make up the line-up, combining respected local names with standout national talent to celebrate both the city’s character and the wider UK food scene.
Leading the local line-up are Newcastle favourites I Scream for Pizza, Miso and Meat:Stack, Gosforth’s FAB Bakery serving signature desserts and patisserie.
Joining them are more independent traders from the North, including Asian fusion FUKU, hearty pies from V.Goode Pies, vibrant Greek live-fire cooking from Pita, authentic Caribbean food from Jerk Junction, and desserts from Churro Kingdom.
Sam Grainger, chef patron at the critically acclaimed Belzan and Madre, will head up the corporate and events kitchen, delivering large-scale hospitality and private dining, and supporting the venue’s wider food and events programme.
Freight Island will also feature a diverse drinks programme across four bars throughout the venue. The offering champions a UK-leading sustainable wine programme, working with sustainable vineyards to transport whole tankers of single producer wine to Newcastle, which reduces the carbon footprint by 60%. Alongside this, there will be local breweries including Two by Two Brewing, as well as a dedicated cocktail bar.
Freight Island Newcastle features a curated mix of DJs, selectors and live performances that shape the feel of the venue, spanning daytime sets, evening sessions and special events. The venue will also launch Freight Island’s signature spring/summer series, a season-long programme of music blending festival-scale energy with a strong focus on artists, collectives and local talents.
At the heart of the programme, Luke Una will bring his all-day, festival-inspired É Soul Cultura, known for its soulful selections, global rhythms and open-ended atmosphere that moves from daytime dancing into late-night moments. Alongside this, Paul Stewart will curate a programme of DJ collectives, giving space to the community already shaping the city’s sound while opening the venue to new audiences.
Paul Stewart, DJ and music curator, said: “We’ll bring a range of local collectives together, back the people already shaping the city’s sound, and open the door to new audiences at the same time. For me, that means giving different crews the space to shape the nights and build a programme people want to come back to again and again.”
Alongside its music-led programme, the venue will also host major live sports screenings kicking off with a Festival of Football for this Summer's Men's World Cup. With multiple screens across the venue and Freight Island’s distinctive food and drink offer, it will create a new social way to experience live sport in the city.
Later in 2026, the site will launch its dedicated, purpose-built music and events space, further cementing its position as a flagship destination for hospitality and live entertainment in the North East. The 1,200-capacity indoor rooftop venue will provide a new home for both touring and local artists, strengthening and adding to Newcastle’s already thriving music scene.
Freight Island is committed to making a positive impact in the North East, with the project expected to create more than 300 jobs across hospitality, events, production and the creative industries. The venue will work closely with emerging artists, traders and cultural organisations to ensure the space reflects and supports Newcastle’s diverse creative community. Partnerships with organisations including Newcastle United Foundation, Newcastle College and music development agency Generator will deliver opportunities for young people and support skills development across the region.
Dan Morris, Managing Director of Freight Island, said: “We’re building Freight Island Newcastle to be one of the most exciting hospitality and entertainment spaces in the country. The scale and flexibility of the venue allow us to host everything from relaxed daytime dining to major live events and late‑night programming within a single destination.”
“Food will sit at the heart of the venue, focusing on talent‑led traders, alongside a wide‑ranging programme of music, live events and cultural activity. The scale of the space enables us to support emerging talent, welcome touring acts, and collaborate with brands and organisations, while still creating a place that feels open, inclusive, and rooted in the city and its neighbourhood.”
“We’re excited to work closely with local partners, artists and operators to build a destination that creates jobs, nurtures creative careers and delivers long‑term value for Newcastle.”
For further details and future announcements, visit www.freightislandnewcastle.com.
Follow @freightislandnewcastle for the latest update.
