Five Minutes with: UpSide Down Presents
We chat to Sean, the man behind Newcastle's much-loved gift shop UpSide Down Presents
Whether you’ve enjoyed a lazy Sunday stroll down to the Quayside, or stumbled up that infamous steep Side road on a Friday night, chances are you’ve walked past UpSide Down Presents more than once in your adventures around the Toon.
But if you haven’t had the pleasure of popping inside just yet, then let us introduce you to the lovely Sean. He’s the proud proprietor of this treasure trove of Geordie goodness, so we caught up with him to chat everything from souvenirs to special guests.
Can you tell us a bit more about the shop and its history?
I’ve had this shop about twelve years, and randomly got it without any expectation or knowledge of what I was going to do with it. I ended up going into the gift cards and souvenirs market and about five or six years after taking over 61 Side, we took over 16 Side – just next to Pizza Express at the time, now Prima – and then of course, COVID hit. So we still have both properties, but everything’s now in 61 Side and it’s basically a home for gift cards and souvenirs.
What kind of products do you stock?
Magnets and postcards are our bread and butter – we’d be out of business if we didn’t sell them! But we sell lots of stuff that’s not just Geordie or North East themed. Our ethos is a lot of independent or handmade, and where possible, locally-made products. We’ve also got Feltzagood made in the Himalayas in Nepal, and that’s one of our bestsellers - we’ve been selling them pretty much from day one. Greeting cards are a great expression of the North East, but we also have just funny, naughty, nice things – a good mix of products!
What would you say are your most popular products?
In terms of quantity, it’s going to be the souvenir side of things. The gift cards are a bit more of a passion and a love for me as well. Generally, I buy things that are cute or little because it’s a little shop, so it has to be snug. Anything kind of really cool, really quirky – my mam calls this an Aladdin’s cave, a treasure trove! I think what’s really good is the shop window, it’s a window into the world of Newcastle, a space to display our products and also watch the world go by.
What are your most busy times of year?
We have like a double seasonality, so spring, summer, any time in the sun, bank holidays – they always bring tourists and locals out. But also the classic Christmas and all the occasions… so actually it’s more than two! We’ve got Mother's Day (or Mam’s Day, as we call it!), Father’s Day, all the seasons we tally in with. But to be fair, with us having a souvenir angle, all year round is really good. January naturally sees a dip, it’s a bit of a wet month, especially this year, but we’re happily enjoying the spring bank holiday that’s just gone by and looking forward to the summer.
Have you had any memorable or famous customers over the years?
We’ve had a few actually, yes! In collaboration with NE1 a few years ago, we sold the limited edition Lego Tyne Bridge and Chris Ramsey came in and was a massive Lego collector. And Jackie Charlton came in, bless him, when we were selling Northumberland tea at the time and he was on the box saying “they’re the best cup since the one he won!”, so that was really nice. I’m not massively into football myself, so sometimes I need reminded who it is – Matt Ritchie came in and I didn’t realise who he was until he left!
What do you love most about having a gift shop in Newcastle?
To be honest, it’s Newcastle itself, it’s gotta be. It’s such a great city. It's got so many landmarks, like the River Tyne and especially where we’re located, just a stone’s throw from Newcastle Castle. Dog Leap Stairs are just down the bottom there too and there’s the history, the architecture and the fact that this is a Grade II listed building, just nestled under the massive and magnificent railway that runs in and out of Central Station. It’s so charming and being able to celebrate the city in the products we sell as well is a genuine joy.
But it’s hard work, you know? The last 12 years of trade have been the toughest but we’re still sticking around. We’re going to give it our best. It’s not just survival mode but we’re always looking at ways to thrive and Newcastle is a thriving city, so we’re happy to be part of it.
So whether you’re looking for a slice of Newcastle to send to a friend, or fancy finding a pocket sized pick-me-up, why not pay a visit to UpSide Down Presents the next time you’re in the Toon?
Upside Down Presents is located at 61 Side, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3JE and is open seven days a week. For more information, visit 61side.co.uk.
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