Group That Saved the Historic City Baths Host Two Special Events in October
The Friends of the City Baths, Newcastle for two events to find out more about the group, and how volunteers can get involved to help celebrate the rescued and restored historic building as it approaches its centenary.
On Wednesday 2 October at 7.30pm the Star and Shadow hosts the Newcastle Premieres of two short documentary films featuring the group as the Friends of the City Baths campaign to save the listed pools, and Turkish Baths.
My Beautiful Turkish Baths, directed by Sule Nisancioglu, (2020, 20 mins) follows the group’s campaign to save Newcastle’s Historic City Pool, and Turkish Baths. Sule, originally from Turkey, studied in Newcastle and had an interest in in town planning, community involvement in city renovations, and the history of Turkish baths in the UK. Having interviewed members of the Friends Group, the film, My Beautiful Turkish Baths, was completed in March 2020 and has been screened at film festivals internationally.
The Lost and Saved Pools of Tyneside, directed by Jordan Reeve, (2024, 40 mins) looks at the closure and resistance to closure of some of Tyneside swimming pools, including City Baths, Newcastle, Tynemouth Outdoor Pool and Jesmond Swimming Baths. Jordan is an Urban Planner and film-maker whose documentaries on YouTube cover the built environment, predominantly around Tyneside.
The films will be followed with a Q&A with the Friends of City Baths Newcastle to find out more about their campaign, what the group is up to and how to get involved now the building has been restored and re-opened.
The evening at the Star and Shadow is pay by donation (suggested £7, £5 or £3) and can be reserved in advance via the Star and Shadow website.
The group will also hold a Meet the Friends event at the City Baths, Newcastle between 2pm – 3.30pm on Saturday 5 October for those interested in discovering what the group has achieved since the building has been restored and re-opened, as part of their annual general meeting. Its also an opportunity to get involved in their activities to celebrate and promote the City Baths and Turkish Baths, as the much-loved historic building approaches it’s 100th year in 2028.
The Meet the Friends event is free, open to all, and places can be reserved via Eventbrite.
The Friends of the City Baths, Newcastle are a voluntary group who advocate for accessible, affordable and health use of the facilities provided within The City Baths, Newcastle building for all. They were instrument in saving the building when it was closed by Newcastle City Council in 2013 as part of budget savings across the city. They have worked closely with the building’s operators Fusion Lifestyle in the restoration and re-opening of the Art Deco listed building which contains a gym, swimming pool and one of only 11 operational Turkish Baths remaining in the UK.
The group raises awareness of and cultivates appreciation for the heritage of the building and promotes community involvement in the City Baths. New members interested in joining are invited to come to one of the events to meet the group members and find out more.
Discover more about the Friends of Newcastle City Baths and the events https://friendsofcitybaths.org.uk/events/
