NATIONAL NEWS: Newcastle is painting 'the toon' pink 99% match; Financial Times ; 04-Apr-2000 12:00:00 am ; 346 words

Newcastle upon Tyne, a city known for its strong brown ale and macho man culture, is relaunching itself as a gay destination to attract more revellers for a "night on the toon".

North-east England's biggest city is already ranked one of the world's top 10 party cities by a US travel information company, with revellers choking the streets around Grey's Monument, Bigg Market and Quayside every weekend.

Now the city council is putting some of its urban regeneration effort behind expanding the small gay village to the west of Central Station, and has lined up more than 5m of private sector investment to back it.

Like many commercial organisations, it believes a vibrant gay scene will not only attract more high-spending gay consumers but also add to Newcastle's attractions for "mainstream" consumers.

Simon Brooks, the city's tourism officer, said: "This will benefit gay people locally and nationally, helping position us as a modern, inclusive and trend-setting place to live and work."

Newcastle's decision reflects a growing recognition of the social and commercial benefits of reaching out to gay consumers, said Steve Marinker, director of Countrywide Porter Novelli, the public relations agency. He has just launched Scene, a consultancy service for companies and organisations that want to tap into the gay market, and is advising Newcastle on its plans.

Most gay people, he says, are not part of "the scene" - centred on clubs, pubs and other leisure businesses. But those that are have high disposable incomes and often set trends that are taken up by mainstream consumer markets.

"Gay people are now much more prominent in the media, and feed mainstream perceptions of what is stylish," he said.

Newcastle is joining companies such as Calvin Klein, Virgin and Body Shop in seeing a gay-friendly approach as part of its marketing strategy. Scene will start by taking opinion-formers from the flourishing gay press to see the city's attractions in the hope of positive coverage. Other possibilities include sponsorship, special events and advertising.

It will also help Newcastle handle any issues that arise from its new approach. "It's a very fine line between patronising gay audiences and alienating mainstream consumers," said Mr Marinker.

But Mr Brooks is unconcerned about any revolt among the Geordies: "So far there has been more comment from outside the city than inside. People don't see it as a problem."

Copyright ) The Financial Times Limited

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Answers

Hehehehehe.

Seriously, I can't believe the Toon is one of the worlds top 10 party cities.

On making the city the gay friendly, do overtly gay people still get bashed in england/toon.

In our media we haven't had an article on gay bashing in ages. Mind you the latest minority copping it is the cops. It's become the latest thing for our thugs to beat up a cop.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

So you're moving back home are ya Sting ;))

Tre, what's wrong with Newcastle being one of the top 10 party cities in the world? it beats the pants off any city I've ever been in, it's just such a shame that there aren't enough decent dance clubs and that everywhere is still closing at 2-3-4am!!

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

That's what I was sorta thinking when I made that comment. Places close early, not exactly a wide range of styles catered for etc. That said I haven't been there so I jack about the city and it's atmosphere, it's just that I believe there are easily 10 cities around the world that would beat Newcastle for being a party town. That said Brisbane isn't one of them, but I'd say Sydney and Melbourne are.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

I found the article quite offensive, not in any politcally correct or incorret way, but in the way that there was there was no attempt to disguise the fact that the motive is purely profit based! Talk about money rules! Sometimes I am lost for words...........! (not often though!) (:o)

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Tre,

Never been to either so I couldn't really comment, however I have been to:-

Amsterdam, Edinburgh, London, Paris, Zurich, Florence, Barcelona, Dublin

and none of these places are as good...mind you London comes close when we're in town ;))

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Galaxy

Why?

It's a well known fact that the Gay community is a major spending comunity with a fair bit of power commercially.

The Sydney G&L Mardi Gras has turned from a protest march, into a week long festivel that pumps millions into the Sydney economy. In Brisbane we have a number of industries that conciously and openly court the Gay community. It's not just about underground Gay nightclubs any more.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

I am certainly not a hom ; - ) The funny thing is i ended up in one of their boozers by accident last time i was home . Two lads walked up to me in school uniform ... little grey shorts , caps , the lot . I couldnt get out quick enough . I actually think thats side of the city is a bit isolated and wont transgress into the Quayside ( not that it really matters anyway ) , but i agree the guiling thing is the #5m being hoyed at them .. howay their must be some deprived area and education that could really do with that money , like Jesmond or Darras Hall perhaps ??? : - )

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Gav

Oi take those blake and white glasses off. I won't argue with you about Newcastle in regards to atmosphere. I mean you're a city (some argue large town) whose population, almost in it's entirity, passionately support a common "thing" which helps define Geordies as who they are. The city itself can buzz (especially on a saturday evening following a win over the makems or manure) with atmosphere. Most nightclubs, pubs, etc can not unless they have an attraction that is uniting people in their happiness. A rave or concert can generate this atmosphere.

Also the English pub culture is very different to what you'll find in other parts of the world. Brisbane is Nightclub orientated. I live right near the first pub north of the city/valley (5 kilometres out) and have never been in it once in seven years.

On weekednds hundreds of thousands of people head to the city and Valley to party, so the city rocks. I'm sure Gus will say some of our clubs/pubs have a decent atmosphere, especially after half a dozen guiness.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Gav

Just how often does the Toon beat the pants off you?

;)

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

It was rated in some book a few years ago as being in the top ten party spots in th eworld. I'vw not been out in that many places but all of my mates from University always enjoyed a night out on the toon, more so than in the other places we went to.
Having said that, everything does close a tad early, as I said on the Christmas party thread on the other BBS, went out at 5pm and got home at 12 lunch time the next day. Unfortunately you can't do that on the toon. Maybe ifg these new laws come in to effect for 24 hour licenses it'll improve and I may even come home!

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Tre: I suppose I was offended because the article was couched purely in financial terms. (and I suppose I am being stupid to think that there should be any other sort of slant, in view of the source of the article, FT and all that.) I am may be being altruistic to think that a financed based newspaper might pay any attention to any of the other contributions to society that the gay community can make, besides hard cash. I should have thought harder before making my posting.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

"some argue large town"

Que? Half a million inhabitants, TWO cathedrals, been on the World map since Roman times...what more do you want?

Behave yourself Tre, as you've said yourself, you've never been here, so what are you using as a framework for comparison? Hmm? A World panel put us in the top 10 and they'd been everywhere. I can see the Geordie though police stripping you of your black and white shirt if you keep this nonsesnse up ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Sorry about leaving the bold on...

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

I think if the "pink pound" can do for regenerating parts of Newcastle what it did for Manchester, it's got to be a good thing. Manchester is fairly renowned for its 'Gay Village', and the inhabitants of that area, but the village also houses some of the best bars/clubs in the City. Where else can you find QVC in the men's bogs and stairs made of goldfish tanks ? Less aggro too. I actually went for a few nights out on the Toon recently when I was visiting relatives. Stayed on the quayside, and that part of town is already looking much better than it used to... When they finish the Baltics and the footbridge opposite it'll be dead smart. One thing I was surprised at was the LACK of bad vibes about. Granted everyone was pissed out of their heads by 11 but from the haymarket all the way down to the Quayside it all seemed a lot less threatening than Manc Piccadilly at any time of night or day... Also, bear in mind that drinking hours across the country are shortly to be relaxed to allow 24 hr. drinking... so early closing isn't really an issue.

-- http://welcome.to/toonarmy

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

There was something on the radio this morning about the licensing laws within the city, apparently it may get the sought after 24 hr license. Trouble is there is a section which feels the City may become a no-go area for families after dark. Meanwhile on the other side of the River Tyne work has already begun on the 55 million pound face lift - I've seen the plans and it looks quite exciting, particularly the new Tyne Bridge Hilton housing an underground car park. If it was not internationally renowned before, just wait until works are complete treemendous

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Half a million residents? That would be a city by US standards. That's the permanent population of Boston(numbers go way up from Sept-May due to the student invasion). Interesting, because Newcastle doesn't feel quite as big to me as Boston. But then most people, myself included, tend to consider "Boston" as being the Boston/Cambridge area which is in fact 2 neighboring cities. Or as residents of Cambridge would tell you they aren't a city, but a "republic"(demmed hippies ;-))

Anyway, other than New Year's I really haven't done the night on the town thing in Newcastle, but there is a very definite buzz about the place no matter the time of day. People just know how to have a good time. There's a passion for life. So I can how it's got the party reputation. As far as better/worse than anywhere else, it's a subjective thing. I consider Newcastle among the best places I've ever been. But others with different tastes might come up with 10 or 20 places they like better. Or not. :-))

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

I know Tre is big and ugly enough to fight his own battles, but, you have to remember he is self confessed Aussie, who has never been to the UK, and a bandwaggon jumper to boot! His enquiries are made from this viewpoint, although occassionally he does try and take the p*$$. He is close enough to here, Perth, to know of its reputation as the most isolated capital city in the world, however we have over 1.2 million people, does that make it a big city? Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, NY,NY, Sydney, the list could go on. I think he wanted to know how things stand with this opinion of the Toon.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

No battle to fight gus, just slightly riled that anyone who has never been here could scoff at the idea that:
a) We are a city
b) We have been recommended by an international committee as one of the 10 best places to have a night out.

This is bound to get the hackles up. Perhaps it isn't easy to appreciate that for most of us Newcastle and Newcastle United are indistinguishable. The old adage that, "What's good for Newcastle is good for United" has not lost any of its truth over time and even an adopted Geordie like myself gets very protective over the City and Club's reputation.

I spent 6 weeks in Perth over the Bicentenary celebrations (which I thoroughly enjoyed by the way) but everyone kept going on about how much better it had been around Fremantle during the Americas Cup. Newcastle isn't like that - it doesn't come and go in seasons. The suggestion that it might be ok after beating Man Utd or the Mackems but is otherwise dead is simply ignorant b*llocks.

The comparison of it being an isolated capital is a fair one, but in the same way that Perth includes a huge suburban sector which doesn't really feel like part of the city, Newcastle has the whole of North Tyneside to draw on as well which must bring the total population within 15 miles to something like 1,5 to 2 million.

Bottom line is: dis the England cricket team all you like, jeer at the England Rugby team, make unflattering comparisions between the English Football Team and the Socceroos, but don't write off Newcastle as some provincial town or question its right to be considered one of the world's party-capitals, or you might find yourself picking up your teeth with broken fingers :-)

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Come on Tre, there's more action in Blackpool than Brisbane, Sydney's a great place for night-life but is very cliquey (and yes, gay), so is Melbourne, I enjoy Perth (& esp. Fremantle) but, none of these places compare with the "Toon", (I'm sure gus & Loony will agree?).

As for the rest of the world, I've been there, done that and, got LOTS of T-shirts - Kuala Lumpur tomorrow, for inst.

Newcastle definitely top ten, and not just because I'm a Geordie.

My top ten, not in any particular order:

NYC, Hong Kong (before the take over), Havana, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Berlin, Shanghai, Cape Town, Vancouver, Rio, Paris (if you know the right people!) & the Toon (I know that's 11!).

Having said that, people make places and, wherever I go I normally meet Geordies, which makes it even better!

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

My reply is that I never rerally went out doon the toon until I was in me' twenties (due to last trains etc) but discovered it when i was about 22 and skint. I would say though that London is not as good to party in (with the possible exception of the blob shop in Shepherds Bush)and Sydney was never anywhere near it. The big difference is that Newcastle parties all week and its compactness makes it easy and almost like a big village.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Not much to add really - so much of course comes down to personal taste and what you look for in a night out, thereby exposing all these "Top 10 such-and-such" or "100 Best Ways To ....." type surveys as nowt more than chip-wrapping material.

My tuppence-worth: I love Sydney to death - hell I've been here out of choice 6 of the past 11 years - but for me it's a pants place for a night out (clubbing. Unrivalled choice & value for eating out). Contrary to popular belief, the dance music scene here has been very variable over the years & certainly IMHO has been fairly piss poor and very parochial since the Dance parties at the Hordern ended >10 years ago (8-12,000 ragers; nee alcohol; mixed scene). There again, I'm caught in a bit of a happy house/garage time warp and the rest of the world has moved on ;-)))

For that reason I've never gone out in the Toon expecting anything more than an excellent crack with me mates in the pubs. Sure I'd go to the Staggy Door, Julies etc. but sure as hell not for the music. Or to pull ...... !! Doesn't stop it being the best freakin' city in the world though.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

Loony, you know I love Sydney but, Sydney does not want me!

You know anyone who wants to buy / rent my brand new, 4-bedroom house in North Ryde? It's been standing empty now for almost 18 months, during which time the Oz govt. have chopped & changed their immigration laws!

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2000

No offence taken, Tre and I'm sure none meant. It's just not a great idea to state certain things about Newcastle (or anywhere else)....without ever having been there !!

Bud....just out of interest, why did you qualify Hong Kong as being a great city with "before the handover" ? I find very few changes here since '97....apart from the pollution factor.

But Newcastle still beats anywhere into a cocked hat...for me and many others.

AND I'LL BE THERE NEXT WEEK....I can't WAIT :-)))

val.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

I hadn't realised that was what the drama was Bud. Bliddy bureaucrats. But why would the hoose be sitting empty all that time? Surely you could get some tenants in to at least help with the mortgage.....?

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

City populations, hmm. Well, just in case somebody looks the figures up...

The last time the Newcastle city boundaries were significantly changed was in 1974, when the misbegotten horror called Tyne and Wear was created. Its constituent parts were Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. There were all sorts of discussions between the consituent Local Authorities, and Northumberland, about who was in which bit - a cynic could be forgiven for thinking that the main aim was to ensure that the non-Labour voting population was split up so that it wouldn't have a majority anywhere (but I couldn't possibly comment).

The result was that Newcastle took in the small populations of Gosforth and the sparsely populated northwest (both used to be Northumberland), but not Longbenton or Wallsend (which went to, er, offset the Whitley Bay and Tynemouth populations in North Tyneside). The population of Newcastle itself stayed quite small, and has remained so since. In contrast, Sunderland was "given" the expanding population of Washington, which is actually more logically a part of either Gateshead or Co Durham.

Result: city population of Newcastle 270,000, give or take. Don't get into an argument with a mackem over this, as Sunderland (including Washington) has 300,000 or so. However, Newcastle and North Tyneside together have over 450,000 - add in the SouthEast Northumberland conurbation (roughly Blyth to Ashington) and it approaches threquarters of a million - include Gateshead and South Tyneside and it's well over the million.

The figure for the resident population of Newcastle itself is what caused a "city analyst" to conclude last year that we didn't have the population to sustain a Premier league side in the longer term, without appreciating the catchment population that we draw on, but that's the sort of analysis you from people who never stray north of Watford.

None of the above boring statistics have much bearing on the fact that Newcastle is clearly the hub of a significant, vibrant - if disadvantaged - population, and is therefore where I for one am very happy to remain.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

" - Washington, which is actually more logically a part of either Gateshead or Co Durham."

Too bliddy true Bill. Put us back in Durham, ASAP. Worst thing that ever happened to Washington, getting lumped in with that loathsome stinking pile of ordure, which will never be a city as long as my back bottom points downwards.

And I've expressed that opinion with restraint, in the interests of good taste.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

I cannot fault the comments made re the Toon, however Tre initially questioned the situation, he then put forward his beliefs on the situation. As someone else said they have been to some places and thought they were dead, Bud and others went to the same places and apparently both had a ball, although I am woried about what he got up to in Ho Cho Minh!!!! As Tre has said many times he has not been to the Toon, therefore I was abit surprised at the BOLD replies he got. I would have favoured gentle persuasion and cognative argument myself. Then if he did not align his thoughts with yours smack the bejesus out of him with a phone book or two. (A tried and proven interogation technique)

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

Gus, to be fair, that was after coming back with the same view a fourth time after being admonished; at which point would you suggest telephone books be deployed in future?

The bold was as a result of my turning bold on and forgetting to switch it off. It had been intended to last only for the three letter word 'two', but overran a bit. My unreserved apologies.

There's nothing personal in any of this. Tre is welcome to his opinions and earns considerable admiration for the amount of hours he puts into scheming on behalf of NUFC, however, for someone who admits to knowing nothing about Newcastle upon Tyne, he was a stubborn little b*gger, wasn't he? :-)

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

Sorry Val, I love Hong Kong, I've been visiting since '79 and have lived and worked there several times (prob. totalling ~ 4 years).

My comment "before the handover" (almost typed hangover!) is a bit personal in that; it's now extremely difficult for an expat to get a working visa - I'm struggling to at this very minute and most of my mates have had to leave.

I agree that for "quality of life", not much has changed since the handover although, Wanchai and TST are much quieter - also no more "squaddies".

If you can get me a work permit, I'll be back tomorrow!?

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

Result of a Fleet Poll held in 1961 (When we had a fleet), open to all matelots and marines with 4 or more years service.

List the 3 ports you consider the best run`s ashore in the World. 1. Cophenhagen 2. Newcastle, and thats before they had a night -scene 3. Triconmalee (Ceylon). Apparently the hospitality of S and N, the friendlieness of the natives, eespecially those of the female sex , sporting activities arranged, free banyans etc had a bearing on the poll. Jeez Buff you are full of useless information!!!.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2000

To all and Sundry,

My most deepest apologies for taking the mickey out of the Toon. As I said at the top of all this I know jack about Newcastle so my comments meant jack.

I just found it hard to believe that the Toon was regarded as a party town. My only knowledge of Party Cities outside of Oz comes from talking to people who have been or come from different places. And the media of course.

Also my own personal tastes coloured my opinion of what I defined a Party City. And the pub scene has never really been a favourite of mine unless I was well tanked and wasn't looking for a club atmosphere. That said, one of my deepest wishes is to be able to walk into the Strawberry after watching the toon win at St James Park.

Most of my comments were meant as windups, and I am beating a hasty retreat in the face of some rather large telephone directories and a large torch.

P.S. Thanx Gus for the defence. However I don't appreciate the advice on how fellow toonsters should persuade me to change my erstwhile opinions. Let them think of ways to crucify me themselves. Oh and wouldn't Collymore look good in a toon shirt? ;)

P.P.S. Thanx Softie for some recognition.

Hmmm I wonder what would happen if I mentioned I found a rumour linking Wor Bobby making a move for Lebeouf!

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2000

Softie and Tre, I was taught interview techniques by an ex copper, his belief was to hit them as soon as the conversation started and explain to them that that was for the first time they said/did something wrong. If anything else was said or done more of the same will follow. So you see I was being quite patient with Tre from the start.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2000