Ouseburn, to me, is the heart of the cultural hub in Newcastle. I’d compare it to the likes of Shoreditch and Brick Lane if pressed for a London comparison.
The excitement of finding a piece in a vintage shop that you’ve been wanting, and fits perfectly can never be matched.
Vintage fashion shopping in Ouseburn is my favourite weekend activity. Malarkey is now housed along the river and the blend of modern, raw, exposed and vintage is incredibly well done. Students nowadays are moving away from fast fashion brands, well aware of the impact they have on the climate, and are moving closer towards sustainable clothing. The excitement of finding a piece in a vintage shop that you’ve been wanting, and fits perfectly can never be matched.
Effie’s recent opening has also drawn many to Stepney Road being the love child of three local businesses housed in a tiny shipping container. Friday Vintage, Mars Vintage, and Milk No Sugar collaborated to create Ouseburn’s newest vintage stop, with slightly more affordable prices when you’re factoring in a student budget.
The food is also a big draw for students! Come 7pm on a Tuesday The Tyne Bar is packed, with a line curving out of the door to get to the bar for your drinks. ‘Free Food Tuesdays’ are a big hit with students – spend £7 and you can hand your receipt in and get shawarma, hotdogs, or red Thai curry and rice (the menu changes every week!). Just around the corner and you’ve hit the Slab Shop, which is easily the best pizza I have ever had, and you definitely get your moneys worth.
... Ouseburn brings out a different side that holds a sweet spot in my university memories.
For date night, or a slightly fancier catch up with friends, Kiln has the best evening atmosphere with low lighting and dishes you can share with friends. Everywhere in Ouseburn feels more intentional than a stop off at Grainger Street McDonalds after a night out. Both are bonding moments, but Ouseburn brings out a different side that holds a sweet spot in my university memories.
The music scene is incredible too, with The Cluny having hosted bands like Artic Monkeys (2005), Mumford and Sons (2009) and more recently, North Shields’ very own Sam Fender. Societies such as Newcastle University Theatre Society (NUTS) host their student written and directed plays there, and the atmosphere is electric. Contributing to young creative talent in the North East is a pastime I would highly endorse, especially as many students up North do not have the same access to opportunities as they would in the South.
Little Buildings also hosts many local and touring artists, and with their live room holding 55-60 people, they provide an intimate setting for new musicians or artists that want a more exclusive atmosphere for their fans. Billy Bootleggers is another venue that offers specialty drinks, a heated outside seating area and a stage where live music is often played. Sunday nights at Billy’s are a big hit with students that want a laid-back atmosphere, the chance to listen to the classics, with a side of dancing and moonshine.
When summer rolls around, Ouseburn Markets will be back, celebrating many small businesses that are based in Newcastle and the surrounding areas. For one weekend a month, they gather in Ouseburn and set up stalls selling everything from clothes, to jewellery and food. The Christmas markets this year are on the weekend of the 13th and 14th of December, just after term finishes, which will be a lovely way to round out this calendar year.
There’s something for everyone in Ouseburn, and I guess that’s the crux of why we’re so drawn to it. As a third year, making intentional memories with my friends has become a priority, and an evening wander into the cultural hub of the city we call home feels like the perfect way to do it.