Dig out the Guinness hats anything emerald green to wear as St Patrick’s Day approaches at pace and Newcastle is ready to party.
The annual celebrations around March 17, the day which commemorates the patron saint of Ireland, have certainly caught on over here in recent years and the city is again set to join in the atmosphere. As previously reported, the annual PaddyFest will be back in Times Square, running from March 13-17, although this year it will be sharing the spotlight with the eagerly-awaited Carabao Cup final.
Its Sunday leg is to incorporate a fan zone for the live screening of Newcastle United’s big match against Liverpool – and this date is now sold out – but its Festival of Guinness-theme day on Saturday will temporarily swap the sea of green decorations for black and white to set the mood for the build-up to the big match. And then the focus will switch back to Ireland.
Aside from that there will be various pubs, bars and restaurants planning to join in the celebrations, no doubt with special deals on offer. And many people will be keen to know about the Irish pubs among them where they can celebrate St Patrick’s Day in a traditional way.
Here is a round-up of pubs in the city where people can go to enjoy a thoroughly Irish atmosphere with Irish music, food and drink plus plenty of craic. Sports tend to have a good showing at them too, with the focus this weekend upon both the football and Six Nations rugby. To find out more about the reason we celebrate St Patrick’s Day, see here for the story behind it and why we wear green.
The Dubliner
The Irish pub which opened on the quayside in 2023 – taking over the old Julie’s nightclub – has delivered upon its aim to create the traditional look and feel of the Dublin’s famed Temple Bar area. Catching the eye with its external flowers and fairylights, it is currently building up for its ‘biggest Paddy’s ever’ with extended opening hours and back-to-back live music.
(Image: The Dubliner/Facebook)
It now has a second bar in York and across the two it will be hosting 50 gigs across what it calls ‘best weekend of the year’ – which actually will extend to four days, with extended opening hours and live music performances back-to-back from Friday afternoon until 2am on the Monday. Keep an eye out here for the line-up.
Katie O’Brien’s
Expect another good old knees-up at this Collingwood Street pub which also opened in 2023 with a similar aim of bringing the Temple Bar vibe to the city. Billed as a home for great craic, live music and the perfect pint, it says it offers ‘a taste of Ireland right on your doorstep’.
During this St Patrick’s Day celebrations it is inviting customers to ‘come paint the town green with Katie’. On its music line-up for March 17 will be James Berry; Matt Besford; Andy G and Kimberley Hero. See here.
Tyneside Irish Centre
For many, the go-to place to for St Patrick’s Day celebrations has to be this old free-flowing city favourite at Gallowgate. As the club’s website says: “There’s usually something happening every day of the week and there’s something for everyone.”
So expect something special on the big day itself. Is St Patrick’s Day celebration on March 17 will get under way at noon across three floors of the building. During the day-to-night event, the music line-up will feature Tony Corcoran and band then Dermot Hegarty; the Rose Tattoo Band and Liam Turner followed by an Irish disco and traditional music session.
Entry will be free to club members and £6 for non-members. Places can be reserved here.
Other events which will playing a part in the celebrations include the Healy O’Donnell annual ceilidh on the previous Saturday, March 15, and a St Patrick’s family fun day on March 23. Find out more here.
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
The Points
This New York-inspired Irish bar promises a kickback vibe and old-world atmosphere where drinks can be enjoyed against a backdrop of Irish collectables, cosy fireplace and and retro photos on the walls. The basement Bigg Market bar, which opened in 2019, has a popular sister venue in Belfast and they take their name from The Points area in Manhattan, New York, whose famous Irish bars are the inspiration behind the brand.
It is open just two days a week – Fridays and Saturdays – so those St Patrick’s Day celebrations will have to take place early. But in those days it packs in plenty of live music during its 7pm to 3am operating hours.
The events programme can include the likes of folk and rock songs, Irish dancing and whiskey-tastings: see here.
The Canny Lad
This trebles pub opened in the former home of Sinners bar in the city’s Newgate Street in December, reviving the name of a previous pub which was on the site in the 1970s. And its new look conjures up the vibe of the Emerald Isle.
(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
Behind stylish exterior features of green tiles and decorated columns, the inside captures a neighbourhood pub feel with lots of wood, brick walls, beer barrels and beer signs. Billed as a premium Irish tavern, it also offers pool and darts upstairs and shows daily live sport, including horse racing. Find out more here.
Filthy’s
Also in the Bigg Market is this bar and live music club which marked a first North East outlet for Irish bar operator Hathor Inns when it launched in 2015, following the popularity of other Filthy McNasty’s in the likes of Belfast and London. It boasts talented performers seven nights a week ‘in a lively and quirky setting’ so expect plenty shenanigans to come for St Patrick’s Day.
Keep an eye out for news on its Facebook page. And see here for early bird £1 tickets to a day-long St Patrick’s Day takeover party there by Voodoo Events starting at 3pm which is advertising ‘live Irish bands, face paint, dancers, leprechauns and loads of giveaways’.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/irish-pubs-newcastle-paddys-day-31173543
