New Beer Festival Brings a Taste of Past and Present to Newcastle
A taste of history is brewing in Newcastle as Blackfriars Restaurant and Brewery, located in a former 13th-century Dominican friary, announces a charity ale festival this spring.
The three-day event from May 23-25 will showcase modern and traditional brewing and will feature beers from some of the region’s finest local breweries, alongside street food and live music - all centred around the restaurant’s newly-refurbished, all weather, dog-friendly Cloister Garden.
Blackfriars has been at the heart of Newcastle’s food and drink scene for centuries, hosting markets and festivals that brought together brewers, merchants, and revellers. This revival of the medieval beer festival pays homage to the centuries-old tradition of ‘Church Ales’—community fundraising events where town brewers gathered to sell their wares amidst feasting and merriment.
Brewing has long been a cornerstone of life at Blackfriars. The Dominican friars once crafted their own ales, using herbs instead of hops, and were succeeded by nine town guilds including the Brewers’ Guild, which met at the friary to regulate and refine the trade. Ale was a staple drink in medieval England, valued for its safety over water and enjoyed by all classes of society. Women “brewsters” played a vital role in brewing within households and local taverns, while Newcastle’s many alehouses and inns were closely tied to the city’s trade guilds and bustling markets.
Blackfriars is now home to its own craft brewery, St Dominic’s, launched in 2024, which will be pouring its core range of modern-traditional brews including an IPA, Pale Ale, Pilsner and Blond. They will be joined by a stellar line-up of local breweries, including Two By Two, Hadrian Border, Wear Beer, Vaux, Almasty, Twice Brewed and Barney’s Beer. Blackfriars will be firing-up its Cloister Garden BBQ with entertainment from singer-guitarist, David Stoker.
Rebecca Armstrong, general manager at Blackfriars and organiser at the event, said: “We’re thrilled to launch Blackfriars Beer Festival and bring back a tradition from the medieval period. This is set to be a fantastic celebration of beer, brewing, and community, welcoming both beer enthusiasts and those looking for a great day out. We also get to raise funds for a charity close to our hearts.”
The Blackfriars Beer Festival will take place in the Cloister Garden at Blackfriars Restaurant on Friars Street, Newcastle. Tickets cost just £9.50 per person and include a brochure, commemorative St Dominic’s-branded schooner together with a first beer, and are available now via Blackfriars website https://blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk/events-overview/bespoke-events/ £1 from each ticket sale will be donated to Newcastle United Foundation who use the power of football to connect, motivate and inspire people in our region.
