The Common Room of the Great North

12/06/2026

Welcome to part four of our 'Our Spaces' series. This week, we are looking inside our 5|Quarter Café Bar.

5|Quarter is the perfect spot to relax, work, or catch up with friends. We serve fresh coffee, cakes and snacks throughout the day, and the space transforms into a lively bar for our evening gigs and events.

The room beautifully blends modern comfort with our unique heritage details. Drop by during your next visit to grab a drink and see it for yourself.

5|Quarter

09/06/2026

Join us tomorrow for our monthly General Admission Day.

These days guarantee access to our heritage building and provides an opportunity to chat with our friendly room guides to learn about the history of the venue, our archives and collections on display. Our café bar also provides fresh cakes and coffee on the day.

Upcoming planned General Admission Days:

Wednesday 10th June
Wednesday 1st July
Wednesday 26th August

10am to 3pm
No booking required.

05/06/2026

We’re back with episode three of our series taking you behind the doors of The Common Room. We are wrapping up our tour of Level 1 with our most intimate space: the Meeting Room.

Did you know the stunning wooden table in the centre of this room is entirely bespoke? It was crafted specifically for the building in 1872 by local mining engineer and cabinet maker, Thomas Sopwith - meaning it has hosted discussions and decisions for over 150 years.

Today, it remains the room's centrepiece, perfectly blending 19th-century craftsmanship with 21st-century convenience.

Fully equipped with Wi-Fi and modern AV technology, it’s the ideal spot for board meetings, smaller gatherings, or breakout sessions.

Swipe across to see the incredible 1872 table and modern setup.

📍 Level 1

📧 Looking for an inspiring space for your next meeting? Email [email protected]

04/06/2026

The FREE lecture later today with Fraser Gardiner, will outline the Arthrath Project and demonstrate the latest deposit models, research collaborations and exploration technology.
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Reserve your free ticket via our What's On link in bio or NY searching The Common Room Newcastle What's On.

04/06/2026

Join us on Wednesday 17th June for an evening in conversation with Wyl Menmuir, as we turn our attention to the landscapes beneath our feet. Hosted by

From ancient monuments and drystone walls to caves, quarries and rugged coastlines, Wyl explores the ways stone shapes not only the world around us, but our histories, identities and sense of belonging. Bringing together travel writing, memoir, folklore and social history, it is a thoughtful meditation on our relationship with place and a fitting conclusion to a remarkable trilogy that has taken readers from sea, to woodland, and now to stone.

We can’t wait to talk with Wyl about the book and the questions it asks about how we live with, understand and care for the landscapes that surround us.

7pm

Tick link in bio.

04/06/2026

June at The Common Room. Swipe through to see what we have on this month.

​Here is the full line-up:

​4th June: Free NEIMME Lecture covering UK Critical Metal Exploration, starting at 5:30 pm.

​10th June: General Admission Day. Drop in between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm to explore the building and grab a coffee. Free entry.

17th June: Opt Indie Books: The Spirit of Stone with Wyl Menmuir

​26th June: Whisky Tasting – An evening with Mark Watt. A event.

​27th June: Northern Chords Festival, presenting a night of Nature & Folk music.

​27th June: Newcastle Poetry Festival featuring Deryn Rees-Jones & Denise Riley, in partnership with the Lit & Phil.

​Tickets and further details for all events can be found via the link in our bio.

04/06/2026

Join us on Wednesday 17th June for an evening in conversation with Wyl Menmuir, as we turn our attention to the landscapes beneath our feet - hosted by Opt Indie Books

From ancient monuments and drystone walls to caves, quarries and rugged coastlines, Wyl explores the ways stone shapes not only the world around us, but our histories, identities and sense of belonging. Bringing together travel writing, memoir, folklore and social history, it is a thoughtful meditation on our relationship with place and a fitting conclusion to a remarkable trilogy that has taken readers from sea, to woodland, and now to stone.

We can’t wait to talk with Wyl about the book and the questions it asks about how we live with, understand and care for the landscapes that surround us.

7pm.

Join us on Wednesday 17th June for an evening in conversation with Wyl Menmuir, as we turn our attention...

24/05/2026

Our summer events survey is still open for feedback. Check the link below to let us know what you would like to see at The Common Room this summer.

https://forms.gle/Wt4KxPo642GjoQVS8

20/05/2026

Our Spaces: Part 2 – Map Room 🧭
We’re back with the next instalment of our series that puts the spotlight on our wonderful spaces at The Common Room. This time, we’re staying on Level 1 to explore the Map Room...

​Did you know the incredible wallpaper in this room is actually a reproduction of the historic Bell Maps? It features a set of six maps detailing the entire region from the top of Northumberland down to Hartlepool and Bishop Auckland, dating back to 1830–1840. Plus, that impressive display cabinet, full of examples of rocks and minerals, that you you see? It was originally housed in our Strongroom and has been beautifully repurposed for this education space.

This room is available for hire and used for educational event sessions and as additional breakout spaces for events happening in the building. (Capacity 40)

​📍 Level 1, The Common Room

📧 Interested in booking? Email [email protected]