Newcastle's Newest STACK in a 19th Century Building! Pre Opening Tour

[@paulekstorm-hughes1894]

What a fantastic transformation of a beautiful old building. The years before we're not kind to it. Glad to see some positive re-use in the city.

[@alandinsdale3599]

Another gem hidden in plain sight, but without this video, I doubt I'd have known anything about it. Thanks. 👍

[@steviesteve9778]

Wow, what a fabulous transformation of Pilgrim Street. Amazing how the Bowmer & Kirkland have managed to restore the grade two buildings to their original status. Well done guys what an amazing job! 👏🏼

[@bernadettemurray8260]

What an amazing building so much potential! I love the balcony & staircase. Wonderful!

[@bobstirling6885]

Great to see so much development going on in the city centre and the retention of historic buildings.

[@johnd3352]

Eddie, the number of HMRC staff accredited to Benton Park View may be around 9000 but the Regional Centre concept only provides seating for around 4 out of 10 staff, the rest working from home, so although it increases city centre footfall in part ( don't forget they are locked in their office apart from lunch breaks) it will benothing like that headline number. .

[@TynesideLife]

I know John. I’ve mentioned this very thing in a comment below this one and in a previous video I did a while ago. Let’s not get hung up on semantics though John, enjoy the new STACK 👍🏻

[@angelavasey5083]

Not just HMRC though so yes around 9000 staff in there think they are keeping the hybrid working an underground car park for around 100 cars ( that includes there pool cars ) not sure where everyone is going to park

[@ilcorvo9559]

It’ll probably end up a regional hub with more Depts for this reason.

[@happinesstan]

I used to work on the corner opposite. Can't remember what was on the corner at Worswick St. But I remember it was Oliver's Newsagents [lovely guy, sometimes] then it was the entrance to John Gerrard's, upstairs. Followed by Ed Hunter's barber shop. Pawnbroker then Porto Finos, rstaurant. There was a Chinese Restaurant, and that craft shop.

[@ClaggyPants]

I work just outside of the city centre but haven’t been up into town since covid. Think I need to go for a walk tomorrow lunchtime to see how things have changed.

[@richiewong1]

I remember as a kid going to the old Blue Sky Chinese restaurant down there.

[@Flukey_1970]

That’s great news mate thanks for the update! Yeah all good for the city centre

[@OrijinaruBTC]

I look forward to seeing it when I come up for my birthday on November 24th so if you're free would be awesome to chat over a pint :)

[@Leehow80]

Fantastic video!! Thanks for such a great update about the area. I don't live in the area so nice to see these updates.

[@rgray83z]

Nice to see some good development work going on. Don’t make it ‘home’ from up down south as much as I’d like, but try and do a pilgrimage to a NUFC game once a year. Back up for Brighton game and looking forward to seeing the new changes in the city. #HWTL

[@ryon1976]

Im impressed and money well spent. Looks like a good day/ night out when all is finished. Great video as always mate.

[@daverich3352]

Nice to see what going on in the toon.

[@janinebrown9067]

It’ll be all lovely when it’s opened, can’t wait. How lucky are we to live up here!!!

[@TynesideLife]

It’ll be amazing Jan

[@thathairyguy]

Wish they'd never knocked down the old Paramount/Odeon cinema. It's a crime that it wasn't a listed building. Pilgrim Street lost a lot of character when that went.

[@seansmith445]

It was a listed building at one point but for some reason it got de listed.

[@stephenvarty191]

Very interesting Eddie.....thought I was on a 55° North vid at first lol! Back in the eighties when I was a BT engineer, I was sent to Worswick Chambers to do a job when it housed a Ladbrokes, and I was amazed to find that balconied area at the back of the betting shop. Apparently, the balcony was for spectators to watch cock fighting!

[@TynesideLife]

Oh wow!

[@blackadder1966]

Cock fighting was banned 40 years before this building was built. I'd guess if this was a place of auction, the balcony was to observe the goods and place bids.

[@stephenvarty191]

​@blackaddemr1966 maybe illegal cockfighting?

[@stephenvarty191]

​@blackadder1966 Perhaps illegal?

[@Jimmy_Cream]

​@stephenvarty191 doubful

[@GeoduckUK]

If HMRC staff spent money in shops and restaurants, there would be a bustling retail and leisure sector in Longbenton. As it stands, there is a pub and a couple of convenience stores within reasonable walking distance. It's appalling that prime city centre land is being turned into HMRC offices. The road infrastructure and public transport infrastructure has been degraded to the point where it won't be able to cope.

[@TynesideLife]

With respect to Longbenton David, I don’t think you can compare the facilities at Longbenton to the allure of the abundance of facilities in the heart of the city centre, that is literally just outside the front door. Newcastle is also in the development stages to pedestrianise some roads in the city centre and upgrading the Metro system. I’m not suggesting things are perfect, but you paint a grim picture that just doesn’t reflect the reality.

[@oioi5794]

Much respect to the lbab one of the founding fathers of the Newcastle boot boys come see us in the 80s

[@naomiaustin]

@@oioi5794haha! I grew up next to longbenton station but on the DSS side. My parents wouldn’t let me go over the bridge to the shops on my own because of the LBAB!! Me & my best mate defied them & went over one day but we got totally lost in the maze of the flats & ran back crying thinking we were gonna be GOT by the LBAB!! 😂😂😂😂

[@oioi5794]

@@naomiaustin born and bread on stoneleigh av moved over to the estate in Benton side when the knocked out flat down was class growing up there when knocking it all down like the estate was ya whole playground thanks to that estate I live a nice life in Thailand now never forget LB

[@naomiaustin]

@@oioi5794 ​​⁠amazing!!! Well, I loved it too! I’ve lived all over the world but I’m now in South Shields. But my lovely mum and dad still live in the same house next to longbenton station that they’ve been in since 1967!! They’re 80 & 83 now & have seen so many changes! but the innisfree is still there! And I’m sure under the years of paint on the station there’s still an LBAB graffiti tag! 😆😆

[@Stoopgep]

Do you know the right side of the cooperage has been painted recently?

[@TynesideLife]

No I didn't bud. Thanks for sharing

[@calvinlee9252]

Quality video as usual my friend - guess Newcastle would be so different the next time we visit.. stoked for whats to come

[@ChrisTopher-gu8gf]

Quality information and presented in style. Thanks Eddie

[@blackadder1966]

Hopefully, open when I'm back next may, I'd have liked tickets for the last game of the season, but I think that's going to be difficult. Pilgrim st was always a bit down trodden back in the 90s. There was a military surplus shop down there the only reason I'd occasionally go that way.

[@angelavasey5083]

army supplies store still there

[@1davidpeter]

Superb vid again. Great to see these smart new buildings but disgusting that at a time of massive national debt, it’s the government leasing this new top grade office - as they have done in other cites such as Cardiff. The workers should have a good environment, but it looks bad when do many tax payers are working in poor conditions and the hospitals fall apart.

[@TynesideLife]

Cheers David. In the interests of balance however, they’ve moved from land that is currently costing the tax payer a lot of money to a rented facility that is far cheaper, on the tax payer. The government website provides a lot of detail on this if you get a minute to see it 👍🏻

[@Flynn410]

Looks class that Eddy

[@SofiaSurprise98]

I'm so glad you decided to continue with your channel. It's very informative. I live & work in London now, but these videos are a little reminder of home.

[@TynesideLife]

Thank you 🙏

[@mememachine376]

This is a great example of postive modern redevelopment for the city. Lot happening in Newcastle lately!

[@Tezzystiffo]

Don't think I've ever seen Worsick Chambers without scaffholding.

[@MagpieAL]

Don't suppose the 'darts room' is going to be a Flight Club???

[@TynesideLife]

First rule of fight club Alan…

[@gordy3714]

Eddy Is this solely the a Reuben project and do PIF have any development plans for the city centre.

[@TynesideLife]

This is a joint enterprise between the Reuben Brothers and STACK, which includes several development and building companies. It has nothing to do with NUFC. To my knowledge the PIF are not involved in any development projects outside of St James’ Park 👍🏻

[@foulger12345]

been working there for last year

[@ryon1976]

Its all great for the city.

[@ryon1976]

Yes im impressed and money well spent. Great video as always

[@oioi5794]

Good drainage systems in this one lads ? Last stack i blocked whole system with a 2ft Nordic log

[@s44bz32]

Fantastic for the sheep.getting them ready for 15m8n citys

[@Leenufc]

Yep

[@davidmalarkey1302]

Informative as always.

[@clivejohnson6972]

Thanks Eddie. I, for one, really appreciate how much work you put into these videos.

[@TynesideLife]

👊🏻👍🏻

[@LeeStewart]

Are they the same people who owned Players in The Gate? Because after Players closed there was rumours they’d bought a building around that area that they were going to convert into another Players bar. Unless I’m thinking of Grey’s Bar on Shakespeare Street.

[@TynesideLife]

Don’t think so Lee

[@LeeStewart]

@@TynesideLife Do you remember when the Italian restaurant Portofino's used to be there? I used to have meals with my family there in the 1990's.

[@LeeStewart]

@@TynesideLife My grandfather was a police officer for Northumbria Police in that old police station.

[@TynesideLife]

@@LeeStewart im trying to get a look inside

[@LeeStewart]

@@TynesideLife I'll look forward to that. Although it'll be unrecognisable to me with the renovation.

[@markmartin541]

Amazing podcast 👏👏👏

[@northeastpyro8796]

Just for a joke I'm kidding you know the one of starwars with the snake in jabbas Palace lol 😅

[@grahammerry7031]

When is the HMRC building going to be completed?

[@TynesideLife]

I think it’s later next year sometime

[@markatkinson167]

HMRC move in March 2027

[@TynesideLife]

@@markatkinson167 cheers bud 👍🏻

[@Thegeordiemonkey]

Ha nebody will have any money by next year to use it unless MP's or Train drivers are going to use it as a local, rest of us trying to stay warm n fed.

[@TynesideLife]

Aye, these places aren’t cheap

[@lew209]

Utterly insane they cant use that interior balcony. What a waste. It was built to work not to be looked at.

[@TynesideLife]

It wasn’t built to withstand dozens of inebriated Geordies jumping up and down 😅

[@lew209]

@@TynesideLife Fair point .🙂Oh and I had visions of people standing watching a recital or debate. I guess everything turns into a drunkan meat market in Town. 😐 I suspect grade 2 builting regs denies the opportunity to reenforce the supports, which could be done with no visual impact whatsoever. Oh but ISO containers are fine...

[@TynesideLife]

@@lew209 the containers are inside 90-103 Pigrim St, not Worsick Chambers itself. They’re separated by the central court yard (explained in the video). The designers and architects will have planned this for a considerable time and obviously know what they’re doing and why. I’m sure there are good reasons for all the decisions made. It’ll be amazing when it’s open 👍🏻

[@steviepee8624]

Saw a sneak look at your cameraman as you entered the building…have you sacked Helen 🤔😂

[@TynesideLife]

Aye, she was charging me too much 😃

[@steviepee8624]

@@TynesideLife 😂😂😂

[@Senna-xi1gr]

Cheers Eddie, have a great weekend 👍🖤🤍🖤🤍

[@StreetRider-iz7tg]

Great info thanks 👍

[@johndoudar6395]

Nice scoop.

[@mauton]

Where does 9000 people park ???

[@TynesideLife]

It’s not realistic to expect all 9000 staff to be at work every day. Around half to 2/3 on any one day is more likely. There is a new car park being built but it is expected that most will use our public transport system, cycle and walk into town. Our transport infrastructure is being improved. See Government website for more details 👍🏻

[@stephenvarty191]

@@mauton public transport better option

[@johnd3352]

No staff parking provided. They are pushing everyone to use public transport. Which is going to be the death knell for people outside the Metro area (unreliable though it may be). HMRC are effectively forcing people out because they cannot access suitable public transport early morning or late evening.

[@angelavasey5083]

@@TynesideLife the car park underneath the building is going to have very limited space They hope most will use public transport but a lot will still use there cars or take cars to near metro station park in & around the streets there like they do now & get metro in Some will still take there cars in & try to find somewhere to park

[@neilmiller6214]

Quality!