A MULTI-PURPOSE entertainment venue will open next month.
The Grove will open in Ouseburn on Friday, March 10 with an eclectic opening month of live gigs, DJ takeovers, quizzes and games nights.
With a main music venue with a capacity of 400, a fully-loaded bar, a terrace with city views, a summer courtyard, a corporate space and dining facilities, The Grove will place itself in a firm middle ground between snug venues like The Cluny and larger independent event spaces such as Boiler Shop.
Charlie Dancer and Cole Gilroy founded the new venue.
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“We’re both incredibly passionate about the city, and saw an opportunity to add something to a growing cultural sector of the city,” explains Charlie.
“We’ve both been heavily involved in the North-East’s musical fabric for a number of years as musicians, as gig-goers and as professionals, from putting on gigs in tiny rooms to organising festivals. Personally, I started out-putting gigs on when I was 18, not knowing what I was doing but ultimately falling in love with events and seeing people having a good time."
Cole said: "In the short term, we want to have a positive impact on Newcastle’s cultural scene and the ever-growing culture of the East End. We want to host people’s memorable moments, from first dates to first dances, to winning a quiz or winging it on a craft night.
"I’ve always admired Charlie's work within the North East with Generator and beyond, it was a no brainer when we both shared a similar vision to bring the idea behind The Grove to fruition."
Different food vendors will set up there each weekend, and private and corporate events will be hosted, from wedding receptions to conferences.
Situated within the walls of a historic stable building which housed horses during the 1950s, a roof terrace has been built on the first floor and major structural work has been completed to restore the building.
"We dug out drains, fitted new waterways to water mains, put in three new staircases, used around 20,000 metres of timber, 500 sheets of plasterboard and filled around 65 skips," Charlie said. "It’s been an absolute graft."
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