This weeks column...

Newcastle should be popular as its basically the capital of the north east so there should be alot of people it could tap into.

What about running a bus to and from the clubs from sunderland/ durham etc so it means theres easier access

later public transport would be a massive boost to the city. Even just a metro every hour or so, or on major bus routes. Last time I was down at Pacha I came out about 4:30am and got the bus to my mates house. For £1.50! as opposed to £25 for a taxi. That could make a massive difference on clubbers finances.

has anyone been to the 24hr cafe/restraunt near munchies in town? does it get a lot of business?

i went a lot in the summer! its good it doesnt serve alcohol late but they make nice food and somtimes have live accoustic performers!!

nah, it doesnt get busy at all really....

one of the main problems in this city is there isnt enough of a scene for new nights to get established either.
the only 2 really are promise and shindig, but only cos they were given time to get a reputation and a following.
ive been at uni up here since sept 2000, and ive seen countless nights come and go, reverb going to one offs, that night pull at rockshots, traveller, fractured, to die for.......
the list goes on and on.
even nice is pretty shite these days, always moving venues etc, people bemoan about the lack of club nights, then they dont bother going to any of them do they.
we are never gonna be able to compete with leeds, manchester are we, with a seriously outdated council as well.
where are all the late bars, the after hours clubs? for a city of this size, with the amount of students it has, it takes the piss really.

which is worrying really, cos as much as i love promise and shindig, admittedly shindig slightly more since promise started booking harder dj's, i do wish we had more options.
i had a great night last year at traveller, alex gopjer and etienne de crecy, but nights like that are pretty much non existent.
even satelite, which has had stanton warriors, meat katie etc is struggling, and why?
because people in this city have no desire to try anything different!

Very good point. If the Metro ran throughout the night, even just every hour it'd make a lot of difference to when people go home.

I think late licences for bars and pubs should be looked at first before clubs are. I'm not sure how many bars/pubs have late licences but if people were out til 2/3 drinking, it'd give the city a 'later feel' to it (if that makes sense) which is a great thing IMO. Going to somewhere like Manchester and there's still 100s of people walking around at 3am compared to walking back from Promise and seeing maybe 10 if ur lucky, it needs to be sorted out.

good work

yeah gud work

Where do i sign?

When I first moved up here i wrote an email (along similar lines to this) bemoaning the state of Newcastle nightlife to the city council and i never even recieved a reply. That was four years ago and the situation has hardly improved. The parochial attitude of the council towards licencing of venues stinks it's 2003!

I wonder if anything can be done, but i'm prepared to give it one last go before i finally make my mind up to leave this town for a city with a council who have a more progressive attitude towards the nightclub/music scene.

That Etienne de crecy/Alex Gopher night at reds was fooking mint just shows that the people who enjoy that kind of vibe are out there, it's just we don't have anywhere to go on a regular basis.

PS Anyone know whats happening to the old WHQ?

It's being turned into a road mate.

Think I will put together some kind of petition, even if it's just to try and establish some sort of contact at the council for us to voice our opinions. Will do it with a cover letter in full Chronicle headed paper stylee so we should at least get a response, or they'll feel my wrath!

tis well a shame the old whq was one of my fav clubs very small but they was always a mint atompshere in they!

No way they're buldozing it! No doubt to make way for some plastic, sanitized imitation complete with corporate sponorship. That sucks big time

by all accounts, the new place is still very much in keeping with the vibe.

Went last night for the final weekend and got trashed. Really gonna miss the place, the decor was fantastic too!

Newcastle

I agree
something has to be done. I don,t know what this new Sage centre will be about but the council are puting shit loads of money into that & we need to get something sorted . I am starting a new night @ the Baltic every sat starting 29th March. The first night has Barry Gilby(Mara/ Choo Choo records) myself michael & Anton are ressy,s. That has a 2 AM finish, I would Love it to go on longer so i could use more local talent. But I i cant becauce time is limited.