St Patrick’s Day celebrations include Paddy Fest and live Six Nations coverage
At the one time of the year that black and white around toon gives way to a sea of green, revellers will be out to claim a spot at a Geordie celebration of an Irish party. As previously reported, the annual St Patrick’s Day excuse – not that we needed one – to don a Guinness hat along with something emerald green and get out and about for a few brews will be back on March 17.
The city once again will be marking it in style, with the return on Paddy Fest to Newcastle set to be one of the main draws for crowds, with its line-up of live music, Irish dancing and plenty food and drink. The festival is included in our round-up below of just a handful of the local events which will be taking place in the name of the Irish patron saint.
The Paddy Fest in Newcastle’s Times Square will be just a day long this year and will take place ahead of St Patrick’s Day, on March 14. Other events in our list also will be taking place in the run-up or on the day itself.
We will be adding to the guide too as more events are confirmed. For instance, The Dubliner on Newcastle quayside, where the Irish-theme pub is out to capture the vibe of Dublin’s Temple Bar, has yet to announce any specific St Patrick’s Day plans and the Tyneside Irish Centre at the other end of town no doubt will be sharing news soon too, although it has already advertised plans on Facebook for its annual ceildh with the Tom Corcoran Band on March 14.
In past years some city pubs, such as The Hancock, and pub chain Wetherspoon have gone all-out with a week-long affair and this time around Stonegate Group pubs – which include the Blagdon Arms in Northumberland and Newcastle’s Old George which is mentioned below – is among those set to offer the likes of St Patrick’s-theme drinks. Last year Guinness, the maker of Ireland’s famous stout, even came up with a top 10 pick of bars ahead of St Patrick’s Day where customers could enjoy a perfect pint and they included one in the North East.
Paddy Fest
The annual celebration of all things Irish will be back inside its giant marquee in the city’s Times Square but for one day only. As previously reported, the festival will be packing its popular programme of live music, Irish dancing, food and drink into just two sessions – an afternoon and an evening one – on the same date: Saturday, March 14.
Read more about it here and for tickets see here.
Bongo’s Bingo St Patrick’s Day Special
Some of the very best in Irish music – and that apparently means the likes of B*Witched; U2; The Corrs and Enya – will set the atmosphere at the madcap bingo event’s annual St Patrick’s outing. Taking place at The Boiler Shop in Newcastle from 6.30pm on March 14, it will mixing all things Irish into its usual winning recipe of prize bingo games, raving, singalongs and dance-offs.
It says the night when it celebrates ‘the beautiful emerald isle Bongo’s style’ is always one of the best of the year and it is promising bonus points for those who come best dressed and go above and beyond the ‘cliche Guinness hat’. For tickets see here.
Paddy’s at Katie’s
Live music is a regular feature at Katie O’Brien’s Irish Tavern in Newcastle and no doubt the pub – where it already seems like being in Ireland every day – will be upping the ante over St Patrick’s Day. The Collingwood Street boozer – known to dress to impress on the big day and to embrace the atmosphere with traditional tunes, Guinness and Six Nations action on screen – is currently advertising folk singer James Berry and also Kev Laws on the evening of March 17, while Ash Tustain will be rocking it up the day before and local talent Matty Fenny will be setting the mood the day after: see here.
The Durham branch of Katie O’Brien’s has Andy G on the line-up on March 17: find out more about that branch here. The Walkergate area where it is based will be the focus of St Paddy’s celebrations on March 14, from 12noon to 5pm, and shiny street characters the ‘Lucky Pot O’Gold Men’ will be continuing what’s become a tradition, by emerging from Katie’s to spread some luck around the restaurants and bars.
St Patrick’s Raceday
Looking for ‘something stereotypically Irish to do this St Patrick’s Day?’ asks Newcastle Racecourse and, if so, then its themed race day at Gosforth Park on March 14 should tick the box. Besides the horse action, it will be offering more sport – in the form of live Six Nations rugby, with the Ireland v Scotland game and the Wales v Italy game to be shown during the day.
And there will be Irish music too. Gates will open at 12noon and various hospitality packages are available, including ‘bottomless Guinness’ options.
Those aged 17 and under generally have free entry to the racecourse when accompanied by an adult. Find ticket details here.
St Pat’s Bottomless Brunch
The Old George Inn in Newcastle will be serving up a ‘St Pat’s Edition’ bottomless brunch as part of its St Patrick’s Day celebrations. The brunch will be on offer from March 15 until the day itself, March 17, and the historic city boozer promises ‘two hours of unlimited drinks and a delicious brunch dish’.
Drink suggestions include having a Baby Mint Shot upon arrival then moving on to cocktails, Shamrock Shandy, Guinness Punch or pints of Guinness: see here. Brunch aside, customers will find the special range of themed cocktails – which also include a Shamrock Shake that mixes up Baileys Chocolate, Menthe liqueur, vanilla syrup and milk – on offer from March 1-17.
And ‘Guinness Food Specials’ will be on offer too, which include a Guinness Burger and 1kg of Guinness Wings. The pub also will be screening the Six Nations Super Saturday – as well as the sporty week’s other treats of Cheltenham Festival and the Carabao Cup Final of course.
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