One of the city’s most important historic buildings has just opened Newcastle’s newest café bar.
5 Quarter café bar has opened within The Common Room on Westgate Road – formerly known as the Mining Institute which recently opened its doors after a two-year refurbishment.
Liz Mayes, Chief Executive of The Common Room, explains: “5 Quarter is packed with features that give clues as to the story of The Common Room, which was originally built in the 1800s as the headquarters of The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers.
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“So as you look around, you’ll spot golden pineapple chandeliers inspired by those which once hung in The Wood Hall and beer mats featuring one of the Northern coalfields, and you will be walking in the footsteps of some of our region’s engineering greats, who spearheaded innovations that changed the world. We’re proud of our region’s heritage and wanted to create a space that showcases that – as well as offering a fabulous array of food and drinks!”
5 Quarter takes its name from a seam of coal which was worked by miners in North East pits and is located on the ground floor of The Common Room, not far from Newcastle Central station.
Assistant Food and Beverage Manager, PJ Pearcy, who has previously won numerous cocktail competitions including two North East Bartender Awards and also a Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Contribution to the North East LGBT Community, said: “Joining this inclusive team means the world to me and new ventures are always so exciting. To see 5|Quarter grow into the vision we had at the planning stages in such a short space of time makes you proud of the team’s achievements.”
As well as 5 Quarter, spaces within The Common Room include the Victorian Wood Hall with a vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows.
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