Student suburbs: Then and now
Take a walk with us down memory lane as we explore how some of the most popular suburbs with Newcastle students have changed over the decades.
31 March 2025
How have thriving student neighbourhoods across Newcastle changed over the years?
Jesmond
Jesmond has been a popular choice for generations of Newcastle University students. Just a short walk from campus and the city centre, and with a host of restaurants, bars and shops to enjoy, it’s little wonder why students flock to this leafy suburb.
Newcastle students began populating the area in the late 1950s, when the Students’ Union rented several flats on Osborne Road (quickly named “wor hoos” by the student community) to meet the post-war demand for student dwellings. Construction of Aldis House on the same road in the 1960s expanded the university-ran provision in Jesmond, alongside Deneway for postgraduates and Easton Hall (which is still a privately-owned student accommodation today). Today, many students flock to Jesmond in their second and third year to take up private rented accommodation.
Image credit: Newcastle Libraries
Despite being so close to the city centre, Jesmond isn’t lacking in green open spaces: the stunning Jesmond Dene is a go-to on a sunny day. Students from the past three decades may have picked up a picnic from Dene’s Deli on the way (as well as some refreshments from Rehill’s to wash it down with!) to enjoy at the stepping stones or waterfall (pictured above in 1972). And our sportier students have been jogging along the Dene – and up the treacherous slopes to Paddy Freeman’s field! – for generations. Today, there is an active Parkrun community that soaks in the views on a 5k run every Saturday morning.
Graduates from the 1990s may have been a part of protests against the Cradlewell Bypass, where Rehill’s and Dene’s Deli are located. The roadworks (pictured above) saw 170 mature trees in parkland in Jesmond Dene cut down to make way for the road connecting the Coast Road and Central Motorway.
The area is also home to Peace and Loaf, where many students in recent years have celebrated their graduations with a fancy meal. Graduates pre-2013 may have enjoyed similar special treats at the Fisherman’s Lodge in Jesmond Dene, which has sadly fallen into disrepair since a fire in 2016. Jesmond in general is a haven of independent restaurants and cafes. Students today can enjoy a tasty brunch at Arlo or Burds Café, an Indian feast at Dabbawal or a slice of Italy at Francesca’s. And previous generations may salivate at the mention of Cal’s Own or Santana’s.
Image credit: NewcastleGateshead Initiative
Jesmond is renowned for its nightlife, so much so the first series of Geordie Shore was filmed there back in 2013! Students from across the decades will fondly remember quiz nights at The Lonsdale in West Jesmond (pictured below), which is still open and now owned by Greene King; more mature alumni may recall a swift pint in Ye Old Cradlewell Hotel (pictured below) and The Punch Bowl, or a classier evening in Trotters Wine Bar; and current students and recent graduates have spent many St. Paddy’s Days outside Bar Blanc or Spy Bar on Osborne Road.
Newcastle students between the 1960s and 1990s also may have enjoyed a night out at the flicks, seeing the latest movies at the “West Jezzie” Picture House. As well as being a stone’s throw away from their maisonettes, the cinema was popular with students for its cheap tickets in comparison to city centre rivals! The Jesmond Picture House closed on 1st October 1993 after a new Warner multiplex opened nearby in Manors. It stood empty and unused until it was demolished in Autumn 2009 and a Sainsbury’s now occupies the site.
Heaton
Approximately 2 miles east of the city centre, Heaton has always been a cheaper alternative to Jesmond for student living. The two suburbs are connected by Heaton and Armstrong Parks, with its distinctive ruins of Heaton Windmill and grand pavilion (pictured below), now a Sambuca’s restaurant.
Students of yesteryear may have first stumbled into Heaton from nearby Henderson Hall (pictured below), a university-owned student accommodation since 1932. The suburb is also popular with sporty students, whether they enjoy rugby at Heaton Sports Ground on Cartington Terrace or for a game of football at Cochrane Park.
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Image credit: Geograph
Alumni from yesteryear fondly remember nights at The Corner House (pictured below), just over the road from the rugby ground. The pub is still open today and is runby Greene King as a pub and hotel (for any graduates looking to return to the Toon!) Other notable drinking holes in the area include The Northumberland Hussar, The Lochside in High Heaton and The Chillingham Arms (pictured below), just over the road from the Metro station and railway depot. A Keepmoat new build housing estate is currently in construction next to the depot.
The People’s Theatre, a few doors down from The Corner House, has hosted countless productions from the Students’ Union Theatre Society (NUTS) over the years, most recently, a production of ‘Present Laughter’ in March 2025, and is the leading amateur theatre in the region. It underwent a £1.6m renovation in the mid-2010s and now boasts a modern glass-fronted entrance on Heaton Road, a 480-seat main auditorium, rehearsal rooms and more.
Image credit: Newcastle Libraries
In the early 2000s, The Courier described Chillingham Road in Heaton as “every corner is either a takeaway, a mini market or an off licence” but now it’s a bustling hub of independent businesses and restaurants, including Flint Pizza, Nest and Dot Bagels. The most recent addition to the foodie scene on Chillingham Road is Eatflix, occupying the former Grosvenor Dance Studio and found next to Tesco Express.
Rumours have long been passed from ear to ear of Jimi Hendrix busking on Chillingham Road back in the day, and while we can’t comment on the truth of that, music fans may recall the Monkey Junk Blues Club at The Butterfly Cabinet on Heaton Road (also a go-to spot for a banging brunch). The owners of The Butterfly Cabinet now also own Claremont Tearooms on campus (previously known as Quilliam Brothers).
Heaton has always had a thriving independent food business culture, from vegetarian eateries Only Natural (pictured below) and Sky Apple Café, to McGee’s Bakery and Clough’s Confectionary for a sweet treat! Today, the Avenues (pictured below) are teeming with student digs and Chilli Road is lined with many patiently waiting for the Number 1 bus to take them onto campus.
Fenham
Once described by The Courier as ‘student central’, Fenham lies to the west of the city centre and is home to former Halls of Residence, St. Mary’s College (pictured below).
Accessible via bus or a pleasant walk across Nun’s Moor (watch out for the cows!), with cheap rents and a vibrant multicultural community, it’s not hard to understand why Fenham has been so popular with Newcastle students over the decades. As one alumna stated, “every Newcastle student lived on Brighton Grove or knew someone who did”.
Image credit: Newcastle Libraries
With large Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Latin American communities residing in the suburb, Fenham has a diverse range of restaurants and cafes for our students to enjoy. Of note is The Komal curry house, where students since 1992 have enjoyed a curry with alcohol brought in from nearby Booze Busters or Netto; Copper Kettle tea shop just a stone’s throw away from Newcastle General Hospital for those on student placement there; and the Red Herring Café on Studley Terrace (pictured below), hailed as the best vegetarian restaurant in the whole of Newcastle. The café closed in 1999, and the premises were taken over in 2002 by Solomon’s Dhaba – a Punjabi restaurant.
The area has a strong military history, with Fenham Barracks built during the Napoleonic Wars. These were mostly demolished in the 1970s but two blocks remain, as well as the old guard house on (aptly named) Barracks Road and there is still a military presence on the site. Students today can now see the BBC Television Centre in this area too.
While the area didn’t boast many pubs and bars, some students braved the local crowd at the Prince of Wales and the Plaza Tavern Wetherspoons on West Road was popular before it closed down in 2012. The Plaza Tavern was situated in the former Plaza Cinema (pictured below), which was open from 1934 - 1996. Alumni of yesteryear may also fondly recall trips to Fenham Pool before its closure in 2003, or sledging down Cow Hill on snowy days!
Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay, situated 10 miles east of the city centre on the coast, was used to house mainly Freshers from the 1950s to 1970s due to lack of provision by the university.
With the Tyne and Wear Metro System not opening until the 1980s, there were complaints that this suburb was too inaccessible for new students! Many recall being stranded in town on Saturday nights having missed the last train home, and having to scrounge a lift or wait for the ‘milk train’ in the morning. Because of the distance between these student digs and campus, Whitley Bay Students Association was established to help connect the student community on the coast: they organised dances and other social events.
Despite the student community living on the coast dwindling from the 1980s onwards, Whitley Bay was a great alternative for a night out – with ‘Thursbays’ and Bank Holiday Mondays being legendary on South Parade (pictured right). Many alumni may recall enjoying nights at Easy Street, The Fire Station, Havana, Jimmyz Bar, Deep and the Hairy Lemon, to name a few.
Other notable landmarks on the coast are St. Mary’s Lighthouse and the Spanish City (pictured below). The lighthouse stands 46m high, is Grade II listed and is only accessible at certain tide times. At certain times of the year, the island is visited by a colony of seals who can be seen frolicking on the rocks.
Image credit: Newcastle Chronicle
Alumni from the 1980s and earlier may have visited the Spanish City for its ballroom, amusement arcade and permanent funfair Pleasure Gardens, which included a water chute and Big Dipper! Such was its status in the region, the landmark was mentioned in the 1980 Dire Straits single ‘Tunnel of Love’. By the late 1990s, however, the building had fallen into disrepair and was closed to the public in the early 2000s. Following an extensive renovation, the Spanish City reopened as a dining and leisure facility in 2018 and is today home to Trenchers fish takeaway and restaurant, a tearoom and champagne bar.
Spital Tongues
The closest suburb to campus, Spital Tongues has had a bustling student community for generations thanks to the many Halls of Residence that have called Spital Tongues home over the years – including Ricky Road (pictured below), Castle Leazes and Park View.
Students living in the area can get to campus in just a short stroll down Lover’s Lane, and it has been a popular choice for Medics and fitness fanatics thanks to its proximity to the university’s Medical School (pictured below) and Sports Centre.
Exhibition Park and the Town Moor are just a stone’s throw away from Spital Tongues, providing a whole host of entertainment for residents: whether it be the annual Hoppings funfair, Pride, music festivals, or a Bank Holiday food battle at Wylam Brewery in the Palace of Arts. Older alumni may also remember rowing on the boating lake in front of the Palace or visiting the Military Vehicle Museum which called the Palace home from the 1980s until its closure in 2006.
Image credit: Newcastle Libraries
Alumni of yesteryear fondly reminisce of evenings spent at the Belle Grove (pictured below), which sadly closed in 2013, while today’s students enjoy quiz nights and Sunday roasts at nearby pub The Cosy Dove. Trent House and North Terrace (pictured below) are still serving our student community, handily located for a swift pint on the walk home from lectures. Spital Tongues is also a well-placed suburb for football fans, with it being a short walk through Leazes Park to see Newcastle United play at St. James’ Park.
Image credit: Newcastle Libraries
Student suburbs today
Having walked down memory lane, you can now see what these popular student suburbs look like today. Watch the video below to check out Jesmond, Fenham, Heaton, Whitley Bay and Spital Tongues in 2025.
If you have memories of living in these suburbs, or photos of the areas from your student days, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch via email at advancement@ncl.ac.uk
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