Newcastle’s historic Grainger Market will become centre stage for regular music, food and cultural extravaganzas, created by leading North East businessmen.
Plans for the evening events to boost trade in the market were initially mulled by Newcastle City Council earlier this year, amid moves to breathe fresh life into the much-loved city institution.
Now Let’s Stick Together Events’ directors Dan Monteith and Sean Bullick have confirmed the night-time entertainment events will soon launch, taking over the market once a month.
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The pair said they are poised to bring the city and wider North East together, while increasing footfall at the 19th-century market, showcasing the traders and also the range of musical, artistic and culinary talent on our doorstep.
The pair, who are also looking to branch out into staging business events, said “The Great Market Caper” will bring together the best in the region’s street food and gourmet food, together with drinks, entertainment, music and activities to involve all ages.
Organisers will soon reveal the date for the inaugural event, as well as ticket sale details. Capacity is being finalised but more than 1,000 tickets will go on sale for each event, both online in advance and on the door.
Mr Bullick was the very first CEO of NE1 Ltd, leading the organisation when it become the 90th Business Improvement District (BID) in the UK. During his tenure he spearheaded the company’s launch of the successful Restaurant Week and the Alive after Five programme, and had long viewed the Grainger Market as a city jewel ripe for further development
The Great Market Caper takes its inspiration from the actual opening of Richard Grainger’s market in 1835, which was marked by a party for over 200 guests who paid five shillings to get a “substantial” meal and a pint of wine from one of the 100 innkeepers.
Over the years, the market’s contribution to Newcastle’s economic and social wellbeing has been huge, and the company said its future health and success is now crucial to the city centre’s ongoing vibrancy and unique culture.
Mr Bullick said: “We want to help cement, for future generations, the market’s role as Newcastle’s vital and exciting, must-see, must-go, must-use destination.
“Everybody recognises – the council, traders and the public generally – that it’s got enormous potential and, post-Covid, people are looking at less formal social interaction. They want to get out, get together and do things in a less formal way.
“We’ve looked around the world and seen what goes on everywhere from Amsterdam to Berlin to Barcelona. And what struck us is that we can do it here and we have probably the best building in the world where we could do it.
“It’s a great market. Where it’s happened elsewhere it’s been in places like disused paint factories but we have this beautiful, Grade I-listed building that makes an ideal venue.”
The directors have held discussions with Newcastle City Council officials, which they say have been enormously helpful, as well as market traders to develop the plans.
As a result, the monthly events will have a strong focus on supporting local talent – including upcoming chefs, musicians and entertainers.
Initially, while work is continuing in the market, the event will take place in the four alleys, and will feature involvement from traders who want to remain open for the night. They will be complemented by additional food traders bringing treats into the market that don’t clash with the existing offer. Let’s Stick Together Events will also run a number of bars offering a range of drinks and cocktails.
It is also tapping into upcoming performers and DJs in the area, bringing them in to perform as part of the entertainment programme.
Mr Bullick said: “Importantly, as well as food, drink and music, the Great Market Caper is going to have a strong inclusive focus. We want it to be multi-generational, to attract all audiences, and multi-cultural.
“Crucially we have a rolling programme of entertainment which will have everything from roller discos to circus acts, dancing. We want people to go in and have a brilliant experience each time, and come away with a very different view of the Grainger Market having seen what it has to offer over the rest of the week.
“The events will provide some real excitement and real unexpected pleasure. Every event will be different, with a lot of variety in each one. We may well bring in themes for the likes of Halloween, but they won’t all be themed.
“We can provide a whole range of activities for completely different age ranges, from students and 16-year-olds to 60s.
He added: “It’s going to be brilliant – at least we hope it will! The Great Market Caper will be a fantastic addition to Newcastle’s cultural and commercial offer, attracting new audiences to the city centre and the Grainger Market itself.”
