Gosforth Civic Theatre
BEST FOR
Ages 0-18
ENTRY
from £7
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Newcastle upon Tyne
What it’s like
A community theatre in Gosforth with festive shows, Santa storytimes, drama classes and a dog-friendly cafe.
This is a proper local theatre rather than a big touring venue, and that's the point. Storytime with Santa is the festive draw, a 30-minute session with up to 20 children where they get a story and a meet with the man himself, plus a gift, for £16 covering the child and up to two adults. There's also a run of family theatre through the year, including The Snow Queen of Spitsbergen with puppetry and live music, and Festive Films showing Christmas classics for £7 a ticket.
Outside the shows, the building does a lot of quiet work: contemporary dance classes, drama and singing training with Famous 4.15, a gaming social night for older kids, and monthly workshops from the North East Deaf Youth Theatre. It suits a wide age range because of that, from babes in arms at select events (free under 12 months) right down to teenagers who'd rather be at gaming night than another panto.
The cafe does deli counter food, brunch, toasted sandwiches and cake, though the kitchen shuts by 4pm on some days and evening service is limited, so don't plan a post-show dinner around it. There's a bar in the foyer for evening events instead. Parking is the one genuine faff: the free on-site car park is small and partly reserved for staff and artists, so on a Santa session or a busy show night you're probably better heading for the Metro station multi-storey or one of the nearby side streets they point you towards.
It's a two-minute walk from Regent Centre Metro, which makes it an easy one if you're coming from town without a car. The building itself is single-level and fully accessible, with automatic doors, two Blue Badge bays and baby change in every bathroom, and one carer's ticket goes free per booking if you need it.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- From babes in arms to teens, with Santa storytimes for the little ones and gaming nights for older kids
- Parking
- Small free car park but part reserved for artists and staff
- Food
- Cafe with fresh seasonal food from deli counter, breakfast/brunch menu, sandwiches, salads, baked potatoes, cakes
- Wheelchairs
- Fully accessible, automatic entrances, single-level building, carer's ticket free (one per booking)
- Dogs
- Dog-friendly cafe, four-legged friends always welcome
- Getting there by bus or train
- 2-minute walk from Regent Centre Metro Station
- Show a same-day bus or metro ticket for 10% off in the cafe, though not at the bar during events.
- The car park is genuinely tight on event days, so budget extra time if you're driving.
- Card only, so don't turn up expecting to pay cash.
- The cafe kitchen has shorter hours midweek, closing by 4pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Plan your visit
How much does Storytime with Santa cost?
£16 covers the child, up to two adults and a gift. Sessions run about 30 minutes with 20 children per session, and there's a longer 40-minute session with 10 places for young people with complex needs.
Do we need to book?
The site doesn't list an online booking link, so it's best to go through the venue directly for tickets.
Is there parking?
There's a small free car park on site but part of it's reserved for staff and artists, so it fills fast. They point you towards the Metro station multi-storey, Bulman House, Salters Road or Asda instead.
Can we get there without a car?
Easily. It's a two-minute walk from Regent Centre Metro Station, and there are buses from Newcastle city centre too.
Is it OK for a baby or toddler?
Babes in arms under 12 months go free at select events, and there's baby change in every bathroom. The building is single-level throughout, so a buggy is no bother.
What's there to eat?
The cafe does deli counter food, brunch and toasted sandwiches, cakes too. The kitchen closes by 4pm on some days though, so it's not really set up for an evening meal, and there's a foyer bar running for evening events instead.
Is it dog-friendly?
Yes, the cafe welcomes dogs, with a separate area if you'd rather not sit near one.
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
Fully. All entrances are automatic with single-level access throughout, two Blue Badge parking spaces and an accessible toilet on site.
Do carers get in free?
One carer's ticket per booking is free. You'd need to email the venue directly to arrange it.
Are there discounts for under-18s or other groups?
Concession tickets are available for people with disabilities, OAPs, under-18s and Asylum Seekers.
What can teenagers do here?
There's a gaming social with consoles, plus drama and singing training through Famous 4.15 and monthly workshops from the North East Deaf Youth Theatre.
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