Boiler Shop: rock and roll in the birthplace of the railway age

There are not many gig venues where the walls can claim a part in changing the world. The Boiler Shop on South Street, just behind Newcastle Central Station, is one of them.

The building was part of the famous locomotive works founded by George and Robert Stephenson in the Forth Banks area of Newcastle in 1823. Robert became managing partner at just 20. Locomotion No.1, the first steam locomotive to haul a passenger train, ran on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, and in 1829 the Rocket won the Rainhill Trials. Around 3,000 locomotives were built at the works during the 19th century before the company moved its main works to Darlington in 1901.

The surviving Boiler Shop, a Grade II listed building, was restored by Clouston's and reopened as a venue, keeping its industrial character and visible railway heritage. The venue sums up its journey neatly: "Once the crucible of the Industrial Revolution, now a much-loved venue in the heart of Newcastle."

Live music has been part of the Boiler Shop since 2017. The main space holds 1,000 standing, with a Shop Floor and Mezzanine, and the BBC has named it one of Britain's most beautiful venues. It has also played host to food and drink festivals, club nights, exhibitions and conferences, including Aardman's Wallace and Gromit exhibition during the 2018 Great Exhibition of the North.

Its programme is as varied as ever this autumn. Hayseed Dixie play on Thursday 22 October, followed by The Wedding Present on Friday 23 October and the daytime party Day Fever on Saturday 24 October. Bongo's Bingo brings its Halloween specials at the end of the month, and November features The Skids with Theatre of Hate, Teenage Fanclub, and The Orb with Ozric Tentacles. Many of these dates are already listed as sold out.

It is a place where history and a great night out meet. Standing under the old industrial roof with a band on stage, it is easy to feel a connection to the engineers who once worked here, and to the city's knack for reinventing its landmarks.

Upcoming gigs, accessibility information and the venue's own history pages are on the Boiler Shop website.