Big news for Manchester’s hospitality pedigree as Freight Island is soon to expand beyond 0161, swapping the North West for the North East for their second venture in none other than Newcastle.
Mayfield’s shipping container village packed with food, drink, entertainment and more has become a go-to destination all of its own over the past couple of years.
First opening back in 2020 and undergoing somewhat of a rebrand in 2023, Freight Island welcomes thousands of visitors every week, serving up stunning selections from independent traders based in and around the city, the North West and beyond.
Now a well-known regional attraction beyond just us Greater Mancunians, Freight’s reputation has now grown large enough for the owners to expand into fellow Northern city Newcastle later this year.
Credit: Eldon Square’s last major redevelopment was in 2008. (Credit: Newcastle City Council/Andrew Tryon via Geograph)
Hopoing to take further inspiration from the likes of waterside amusements like Coney Island in New York and Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen (though this location will be a good 15 minutes from the Tyne River), the second Freight Island venue is due to open this autumn.
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The reported £16 million investment is part of a Newcastle City Council’s wider £50m City Centre Transformation Programme, including an extensive redevelopment of the Pilgrim Street district.
Set to span an impressive 60,000 square feet, the new site will see the top floor of the former Debenhams unit reclaimed along with an additional roof-top space, where local food and drinks vendors will be able to set up shop.
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Beyond your standard burgers, beers and other popular scran, Freight Island Newcastle will also host the UK’s first wine tanks as part of a new sustainability-focused single-producer-led wine programme, as well as specialist Aperitivo cocktail bar with expertly crafted drinks.
They’re promising everything “from kids’ raves and Michelin-star level dining to live performances, late-night parties” and more.
For instance, right now Freight Island has transformed a good chunk of its indoor space into the biggest Six Nations fan zone in the country.
Speaking via the Council, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Freight Island, Dan Morris, said: “This venue has been designed with scale, prominence, and long-term investment in mind and we’re delighted to have worked with Pradera Lateral, XPE Group plc and Newcastle City Council to bring it to Newcastle.
“We hope to replicate the huge success of Freight Island in Manchester, where it has already contributed over £30 million to the local economy. This incredible venue in the heart of a very special city offers a truly exciting opportunity to create a cultural space that could become a focal point of Newcastle for years to come.
Cllr Dan Greenhough, Newcastle City Council Cabinet Member for Economy, Jobs and Skills, added “The launch of Freight Island at Eldon Square marks an important moment in the transformation of Newcastle city centre and is something that I’m sure our residents will be incredibly excited about.
Featured Images — CGIs (via Newcastle City Council)/The Manc Group
Eats
This new app tells you the best sunny pub spots in Manchester
Thomas Melia
A brand new app has launched, which tracks the sun and tells you where the best sunny pub spots in Manchester are throughout the day.
No, you’re not dreaming: this is what heaven feels like. This all-new app, initially trialled in London and now covering Manchester, allows users to identify the best sun traps in our stunning city centre.
Designed and created by architect Mo Dawod, Sunseekr aims to show you the best pub, cafe and restaurant locations where you can take advantage of and soak up all the sun in real time.
As well as being a handy tool to use throughout the day, you can use this sun-centric app to pre-plan your day, as it lets you know all the sunny spots in advance for anyone who fancies chasing the sun.
The app shows you the best pubs, cafes and restaurants to catch some rays.You can easily chase the sun around Manchester city centre with this handy new app.Credit: Screenshots via Sunseeker
Of course, we don’t need an app to tell us all the best sunny pub spots in Manchester as locals and visitors alike know about our pride and joy, Stevenson Square.
However, this new technology will come in handy for organising your next beer garden trip and locating exactly where you’re guaranteed to sit down and possibly catch a tan.
Sunseekr had a trial run in London first, catching the attention of reputable publications like Timeout London and even got itself featured on BBC London.
It makes perfect sense why Dawod made this app; being a Battersea resident, his area of London is packed with plenty of amenities such as pubs and bars, perfect for sitting out and relaxing in the sun.
Now the sunny app has spread nationwide, including Manchester, meaning we Northerners can make the most of the precious sun while we have it.
Safe to say, here at The Manc, we know a lot of good places to soak up the sun while sipping on a class pint.Nothing beats a crisp pint and some gorgeous Manchester sunshine.Credit: The Manc Eats
The arrival of this sun-tracking pub-spotting app gives us the perfect excuse to drop everything and make our way to the nearest beer garden to put this to the test ourselves, it’s not like we needed any encouragement…
Sunseekr is available to download NOW and allows users to live-track the sun to see if any pubs, cafes or restaurants near you have been blessed by the sun.
We’re in the business of knowing about beer gardens galore, so this long-overdue app just made our lives a whole lot easier.
Stunning Ancoats favourite Street Urchin closes after ‘heartbreaking’ health emergency
Danny Jones
The stunning Ancoats restaurant and Manchester favourite, Street Urchin, has announced its sudden closure following a serious health emergency.
Opened by partners Kevin and Rachel Choudhary back in 2019, the inventive dining room has been a firm favourite among local foodies and those visiting Manchester for some time.
However, following the awful news that co-founder and head chef Kevin has recently suffered a heart attack, the city centre food spot has sadly had to close its doors, seemingly for good.
Informing diners and longtime fans online, Rachel confirmed, “We are unable to continue as a business”, adding that they are simply “heartbroken” by the turns of events.
Known for endless creativity and famous experimental dishes over the years, including a viral squirrel dish, Street Urchin has been one of the most envelope-pushing kitchens in the area for some time.
Writing in the caption, Rachel said: Thank you to our amazing team who supported us over all the years and continued to do so in these dark times. Thank you also to our suppliers, we never thought this would happen. We’re so sorry x”
Reacting to the news, local artist Painted By Courtney replied: “This is so sad, I’m so sorry to you both. Forever one of my favourite dining experiences in Manchester.”
Various names from across the Greater Manchester hospitality scene, including the likes of Tameside’s Cafe Continental, have joined in sharing their sadness and heartfelt support, with the Stalybridge spot simply adding: “Sending love. A remarkable place!”
Their menus boasted all the style, quality and flavour of a fine dining establishment without any of the haute cuisine pomp and traditional culinary trappings.
Put simply, they delivered great food served in an efficient market diner fashion. We, along with countless other Greater Mancunian foodies, absolutely loved this place.
It goes without saying that everyone at The Manc Group is shocked and deeply saddened to hear this news; we hope Kev makes a full and fast recovery, and our thoughts are with his friends and family during this difficult time.
Danny Jones -
6th February 2025 
