Freight Island comes to Newcastle

Newcastle city centre is set for “something truly unique” with the arrival of Freight Island, a large-scale entertainment and dining venue opening at Eldon Square in autumn 2025. 

Spanning 60,000sq ft, the venue, which is inspired by the likes of Coney Island in New York and the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, will reclaim the former Debenhams site and rooftop space, with bosses saying it will “become a focal point of Newcastle for years to come”, offering “a mix of cultural and immersive experiences” while creating hundreds of jobs.

Originally launched in Manchester in 2020, Freight Island offers an eclectic mix of global street food, a service-led restaurant, cocktail and wine bars, as well as an immersive event space.

A standout feature will be the purpose-built Music Box, a “state-of-the-art” venue hosting live performances, festivals and cultural events.

With a focus on sustainability, Freight Island will also incorporate on-site food production and support local suppliers. 

Dan Morris, co-founder and managing director of Freight Island, said: “This venue has been designed with scale, prominence and long-term investment in mind. 

“We hope to replicate the huge success of Freight Island in Manchester, where it has already contributed over £30 million to the local economy. 

“Newcastle is the perfect location to take Freight Island to the next level.

“This incredible venue in the heart of a very special city offers a truly exciting opportunity to create a cultural space that could become a focal point of Newcastle for years to come.

“Freight Island Newcastle will take inspiration from some of the world’s leading social and entertainment spaces, and the venue will bring a mix of cultural and immersive experiences to Newcastle, including everything from kids’ raves and Michelin-star level dining to live performances and some late-night parties.”

Kitty Vaughan, head of UK leisure and F&B at Pradera Lateral, Eldon Square’s Asset Management team, added: “Our vision for Eldon Square is to transform it into the beating heart of the city centre and the arrival of Freight Island will create a unique space that goes beyond retail, food and drink, blending music, culture, and community to create something truly unique for Newcastle. 

“Securing this £16 million investment is an important building block in our ambitious growth plans for the centre.”

The venue will also contribute to Newcastle’s city centre regeneration, aligning with wider investment projects such as Newcastle City Council’s £50 million City Centre Transformation and the Pilgrim Street redevelopment.

Councillor Dan Greenhough, Newcastle City Council cabinet member for economy, jobs

and skills, added: “The launch of Freight Island at Eldon Square marks an important moment in the transformation of Newcastle city centre and is something that I’m sure our residents will be incredibly excited about.

“Our city is recognised globally for its leisure offering and nighttime economy, and this strategic investment in the shopping centre will ensure that we continue to be an attractive destination for visitors seeking high-quality experiences.

“The opening of Freight Island comes at a time of significant development and regeneration for Newcastle and will no doubt stand out as prime example of our city’s continued growth and success.”

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