Alnwick Treehouse | As You Like It | Baltic | Centre for Life | Dating | December | High Bridge Quarter | Lane 7 | Newcastle | Six Baltic | Tynemouth | Tyneside Cinema | Vermont Hotel
December Dating in Newcastle
With Newcastle recently voted the Best City in the UK by Guardian readers, it goes without saying that there’s no shortage of date venues perfectly suited to the army of singles here looking for love. Boasting a large variety of bars and restaurants in areas such as Ouseburn, Jesmond and the Quayside, with the Coast and stunning Northumberland just on the doorstep, both city and outdoorsy types probably have too many options! This is where you need to get creative, so I’ve suggested some out of the box ideas to make your date unforgettable.
1. Lane 7 – Bored of bar/dinner dates? Go bowling! Showcase your strike action and fist pumping prowess (sorry). They even have cool shoes! And if you really need to eat and drink, the food and cocktails are amazing. They’ve also got glow in the dark ping pong (Glowpong) for a limited time only!
2. Tynemouth – Sometimes you need fresh air in your lungs, even when it’s freezing. Pop on the metro to the Coast (avoid a parking nightmare), eat comfort food in a nice cafe and hold hands walking along the beach. Dog optional.
3. Tyneside Cinema – Ok, it’s cliched and you can’t really have a conversation, but the there’s been big changes at the Tyneside recently and it’s really quite nice to check them out with a date Arty types/film lovers will enjoy the new Gallery, where you can hang out, during the day there’s moving image work by artists on show and feature films to snuggle up in front of in the cold winter evenings.
4. Cocktails at the Baltic – Get the best views in the city by taking the lift to the top of the Baltic, our major centre of contemporary art. You might have to figure out what’s making you feel lightheaded though – is it the fabulous cocktails or your date?
5. Alnwick Treehouse – Drive for fifty minutes north of Newcastle and you’ll find a unique restaurant and bar which will take you back to your childhood! With wobbly rope bridges and wooden walkways, your date is bound to need to grab on to you whilst you’re exploring. The roaring log fire and local produce is bound to impress that special someone.
6. Skating at the Centre for Life – the ice rink has become an annual fixture at the Centre for Life, and there’s nothing like showing your vulnerable side to your date, when you’re flat on your back with a possible injury. Of course it’s fun, too!
7. Medieval Christmas at Newcastle Castle (12th to 14th September) – Singing some carols and tucking into delicious street food is a nice way to cosy up to the new person in your life. Also, you may have lived in the city for years and never visited the ancient heritage attraction after which the city is named. You can also kill two birds with one stone and get some stocking fillers from the arts and craft stalls.
8. High Bridge Quarter Christmas Market (Saturday 13th December) – Head to High Bridge this Saturday – you can get over your initial shyness by drinking copious amounts of mulled cider and shelter from the cold in Baltic 39 Gallery and The Stand Comedy Club, which are conveniently situated on the same street.
9. Christmas Comedy Nights, As You Like It (3rd December/17th December) – Most people like a laugh, especially in the winter when the natural behavioural tendency can be hibernation. At As You Like It you combine comedy and food, a two course Christmas dinner is included in the ticket price (£24.95)
10. The Sky Lounge Wine Dinner, Vermont Hotel (16th December) – If you really want to push the boat out, book in quick for the Vermont’s four course banquet. You can also impress your date with recently crammed knowledge when the wine pairings start. It’s £49 per person, or if you’re feeling lucky £99 each including bed and a full English breakfast.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy 2015, which may or may not heavily feature your Christmas date!
*I was asked to write this post by match.com – check it out on their blog and remember to get online to find your Christmas date!