Make a Night of it With NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week
Keep the Restaurant Week fun going with some pre- or post-meal drinks, a show or a fun activity
NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week is almost here, but fantastic dining deals aren’t the only amazing offers available in the city.
Restaurant Week is the perfect excuse to enjoy a drink or two before or after your meal, take in a theatre show or film or enjoy a fun activity, so we’ve rounded up some of the best things to do in the city to help you make a proper night of it!
Enjoy some friendly (or not-so-friendly!) competition
If all that delicious food has left you hungry for some competition, then you’re in luck! The Toon is jam-packed with venues to help you unleash those hidden talents… or just make for a good story once the night is over.
First up, we’re heading over to Hatchet Harry’s sharpish for a crazy game of axe throwing. You’ll be guided through the basics by one of their friendly experts, before putting your skills to the test. They’re based down in Forth Goods Yard, making it the ideal pre-dinner spot if you’ve got bookings at the likes of nearby restaurants The French Quarter or Mantra Thai.
If you’ve got a table booked further up into town though, then Game of Throwing in The Gate has you covered, since The WonderBar is downstairs, and My Delhi is just a stones throw away.
Or, for something a little more retro, take a trip down Dean Street to Four Quarters. Nostalgia’s the name of the game here, with two floors full of pixelated goodness to explore, and the likes of Marco Polo and Kaltur over the road. That’s not forgetting that the Toon is also lucky enough to play host to fellow arcade bar NQ64 over on Pilgrim Street, with legends like Zucchini and Gaucho nearby.
Nowhere does bowling quite like Lane7, with their neon graffiti covered walls, and even a karaoke booth if you fancy yourself the diva of the evening! You’ll find this lovely lot down St. James’ Boulevard, just a short walk away from Shark Club and Turtle Bay. Alternatively, shoot your shot over at Point Blank on Newgate Street – a simulation shooting range that’ll end the night with a bang after your meal at the nearby Grain & Grill restaurant in Maldron Hotel Newcastle!
Get in on the latest stage sensation
With so many incredible historic and contemporary theatres in the city centre, you’d be missing out by not booking a show or two this Restaurant Week!
On Grey Street, nearby The Botanist and Café Andaluz, you’ll find Theatre Royal – the grandiose venue that’s full of character and talented performers, entertaining audiences night after night. This Restaurant Week, you’ll be able to catch The Book of Mormon, an outrageous musical comedy that practically guarantees to give you something to talk about over dinner!
Elsewhere in town, there’s Alphabetti Theatre. This understated venue is not to be underestimated, playing host to a huge range of theatre, comedy, music and arts. Book tickets to Mohit Mathur’s hilarious and poignant one-man play Dial 1 for UK, or spot the camp swampland fantasia Snoligoster.
Regardless, restaurants including St Sushi, Blackfriars and Social Bird are a short walk away, so good grub is guaranteed!
Grab a seat in front of the silver screen
If big-budget summer blockbusters are more to your taste, then Newcastle’s cinemas will definitely have you covered!
A quick walk from The Muddler and Banyan will find you at Everyman Cinema – a boutique venue that’s beloved for its plush sofa seats and pre-film table service. Talk about luxury!
Inside entertainment hub The Gate, you’ll also find Cineworld. You’ll be spoilt for choice here, watching the latest and greatest flicks in the likes of 4DX, Superscreen, and more. Plus, Twenty Twenty and Kafeneon are just down the road in Bigg Market for any pre- or post-movie munchies you might have.
And of course, how could we not mention Tyneside Cinema too? This Pilgrim Street indie institution is guaranteed to be screening something for everyone, whether it’s the latest chick-flick or action-packed blockbuster, and what’s even better, The Alchemist and Fat Hippo are nearby too.
Top the night off with a gorgeous cocktail
What better way to complete your Restaurant Week experience than with a delicious cocktail… or two!
Renowned for its elegant interior and excellent cocktails, Tiger Hornsby is the perfect stop-off for a couple of drinks if you’re dining at a participating Quayside venue like Lui's or DOOD this Restaurant Week. They host a Cocktail Hour all night Tuesday to Thursday that offers a hand-picked selection of their classic and signature cocktails at a reduced price – but if you’re eating out on the weekend their Fizz Friday deal offers great savings on their seasonal spritz menu and bottles of Prosecco and Veuve Cliquot.
Elsewhere, Grainger Street staple Slug & Lettuce bring the party to Restaurant Week with their 2-4-1 cocktail offer, valid all day every day and great for drinks after dining their next door neighbour Dakwala. Whether you’re after a peach paloma or a pina colada, there’s plenty to pick from – and the deal includes their mocktails too so no one has to miss out on the fun!
Situated in a beautifully re-purposed space that was once a Victorian public toilet, you won’t find a more interesting location for pre- or post-Restaurant Week drinks than WC Newcastle. They’ve got some great weekday deals running from Monday to Thursday between 2pm and 7pm too. For cocktail lovers, there’s a two for £15 deal and fans of vino can take advantage of two glasses of fizz for £12.50, or a bottle of house wine for £20 - ideal after dining at fellow Bigg Market venues like Meat:Stack or Hibou Blanc.
Boasting good vibes and one of the biggest cocktail menus in town, Westgate Road bar Be At One is a fine option for cocktails fans looking to kick off their Restaurant Week meal out with some tasty drinks with eateries including Super Natural and Manahatta just a short walk away. They’ve got daily Happy Hour offers running from mid-afternoon to early evening (until 6pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and a whole host of 2-4-1 cocktails to choose from.
Or, If you’re dining out at any Restaurant Week venues around Grey Street - Pizza Punks or Barluga - then classy cocktail bar Grey Owl is a must-do for pre- or post-meal drinks. Their Happy Hour runs on weekdays between 12pm and 7pm (4pm on Friday) and offers two of the same cocktail for just £14. With mojitos, martinis and Cosmopolitans to choose from, there’s a cocktail to suit everybody too.
Vibey Dean Street haunt Colonel Porter’s has a whole host of offers running throughout the week, making it the perfect pit stop for a Restaurant Week drink or two after meals at neighbouring venues like El Torero and Cilantro. On Mondays, guests can enjoy margaritas for just £7 a pop and Tuesdays is ideal for rum fans with three 20ml measures and a 200ml mixer bottles for just £15. Their Wine Down Wednesday deal offers bottles of house wine for £17 and Fizz Fridays feature £18 bottles of prosecco. All that alongside their two for £14 cocktail offer available from Sunday to Thursday until 9pm (Fridays until 5pm) too!
There’s so many ways to make the most of Restaurant Week this August, so whether you’ve booked up for the week, or you’re going with the flow, why not take advantage of all the other brilliant venues in the city too!
NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week, in association with Tyne and Wear Metro, takes place from Monday 4th August 2025 to Sunday 10th August 2025. For more information visit: www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/ne1-events/restaurant-week.
Main image: NQ64
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