Liquid Nightclub Demolition - Almost Done!

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And when it is all cleared away, they can start building this bag of shite....





http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/oxford-tiffanys-studio-ritzy-ikon.html
http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/the-oxford-tiffanys-studio-ritzy-ikon.html
http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/end-of-era-for-newcastle-city-night-spot.html

I, Daniel Blake: Portland House Makeover for Ken Loach film

I have noticed film crews and lighting equipment around the city centre over the last couple of weeks: at the Central Library, Portland House and Broadacre house (Market Street). Apparently, Ken Loach is making a film called "I, Daniel Blake".

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/award-winning-director-ken-loach-10407775

They are out there filming today.  Spoiler alert!  They have constructed a fake wall on the outside of the building I presume to give the appearance that some windows have been smashed and replaced by temporary wooden boards, on which the main character of the film daubs graffiti.

What a clart on!  I can't believe how much time and effort, and how many people are involved in shooting a short scene for a film.

Jeavons Music Store - Percy Street

Jeavons was on Percy Street!  The shop I remember is the one with the piano-keys shop facia (as above) rather than when the shop was located next door (see below).
http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/jeavons-music-store.html

The Oxford, Tiffanys, Studio, Ritzy, Ikon, Liquid etc Demolition has begun

Woohoo - another demolition I can get a bonk-on about.

Plans have been approved and work has commenced on demolishing the non-listed parts of the Ikon night club on New Bridge Street, Newcastle.  The listed parts - the entrance portico and the adjacent John Dobson House - will be preserved, enhanced and used for a cafe / retail outlet.

http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/end-of-era-for-newcastle-city-night-spot.html

Is it just me, or was someone having a laugh when they designed Portland House?

Bun Stop Worswick Street

Aah, I see what they did there! I'm a bit slow on the uptake. It's taken me twenty odd years to "get" the reference: Bus Stop / Bun Stop - the former sandwich shop located next to the old Worswick Street Bus shelter, which has a sign with the typeface and colours of the old Northern Buses livery.

Now that was a great sandwich shop. It was a pity it closed. I used to love their cheese savoury baps and the all-day gut-buster breakfast sandwiches (not a menu item - just my name for them) I used to get from there.  I can't remember when it closed, possibly 10-15 years ago, and I had almost forgotten about it until I spotted that some continuing renovations to the building had revealed the old shop sign.

Newcastle Winter sun - John Dobson Street

Fenwick's Christmas Window display

21 years cannot erase the emotional scars from the last time Alice in Wonderland was the theme for Fenwick's  Christmas display. Is it too soon? I think so. It seems like only yesterday that I recoiled at the ugly contorted face of Alice as she falls through the rabbit hole.  The soundtrack was no better - what with the Queen of Hearts exhortations to "chop off his head" followed by musical refrains of "chop chop chop off his head".  It wasn't well received by the people of the North East either, judging by the bad press it received at the time.

All last week, the windows of Fenwick's Newcastle store were the shrouded in black plastic, as the final tweaks were made to this year's Xmas display which was unveiled on Friday evening.   This annual event in Newcastle, for over forty years now, is hotly anticipated and draws more crowds each year.  This year's theme is Alice in wonderland - AGAIN.  I caught a glimpse of the display this week and was horrified. From 50 yards away, I immediately recognised the vortex representing Alice falling down the rabbit hole - surely not the same display?  On closer inspection, I could see that Alice was not quite as disturbing as the one years ago. Phew!

Trainspotting: Metro No. 4001 still in service

I would recognise that dirty battered livery anywhere, and the old Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority logo is a dead giveaway. I'm waiting at Monument Metro station in the centre of Newcatle, for the first time in a long time, counting down the Metro-time minutes till my train arrives. Metro-Time (the displayed minutes between trains) feels like the ratio of dog years to human years .  A metro pulls into the station and I look up to see if it's mine; it's not, but a cursory glance at the rear carriage in the set (yes, the metro comprises two carriages known as a set) and I get an immediate sense of familiarity and recognition, a certain frisson perhaps.

I checked the number on the side of the carriage, just to be sure, even though deep on my heart I didn't need to. It was indeed the 4001. One of the first metro carriages if not the first one in operation. 35 year old and still going strong. Woohoo!  I was slightly taken aback that I knew this fact and recognised the train, but disturbed at the obvious pleasure it brought me - it was like seeing an old friend. It cheered me up. I think I must be a closet train spotter. Such a perfect day!

Swing bridge getting a lick of paint

This is just the undercoat but I think I prefer the lam posts to be grey rather than red. 

Now back to its normal colours - a little bid of red and white in the heart of the Toon. 

Smokey Joe second hand shop

I like this shop on Pilgrim Street, pass it most days, but have never bought anything though. I'm amazed at all the stuff that's crammed in there.

I took this photo a while back - quite like it. 

Kung Hey Fat Choy - Chinese New Year, Stowell Street, Newcastle

It was the first time in ages that I have been  to see the Chinese New Year celebrations in Newcastle for about twenty years. It was very busy, with crowds thronging the square around the Chinese Arch at the St James's end of Stowell Street.   I couldn't see exactly what was going on, but it was the Chinese dragon / lion dance with the accompanying noise of drums, cymbals and lots of firecrackers. The multi-storey car park behind the Gate on Stowell street evidently provides the best vantage point from which to watch the proceedings.  After parading around the square,  the lion / dragon procession heads along Stowell Street- visiting each premises in turn, bestowing good luck on those who have left a red envelope and cabbage dangling outside their door for the lion.

Another Worswick Street drain pipe

It was raining all day in Newcastle today; it was generally a dark and miserable day, but I do love the effect the wet and damp has on making colours more vibrant - especially mosses and lichens. Here is a  couple of photos I took with my iPhone of the old Worswick Street bus station.

Grainger Market: The pizza that sells like hot cakes

Grainger Market: The pizza that sells like hot cakes: While big chain restaurants invest huge amounts of money on improving their brand name it seems that the word of mouth still serves well for...

LS Lowry Sailor's Bethel Newcastle

A new exhibition of paintings by Manchester artist LS Lowry will beheld at the Tate Britain, London, from 26th June 2013 to 20th October 2013.  I'm not sure if this picture is included, but it was one of the paintings that Lowry painted when visiting the North East. 

This picture of an old chapel is the Sailor's Bethel in Newcastle which is located on Horatio Street, just off City Road directly opposite Hotel Du Vin. Its one of my favourite Lowry paintings, probably because the building still exists and I run past it very frequently, as it lies on one of my usual Quayside-Ouseburn- Byker running routes.

Below, is how it looks today.