10 ways to Escape the Everyday (at home) in NewcastleGateshead and Northumberland

While we wait to welcome you back to our beautiful region in person, we’ve pulled together a list of truly North East experiences that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home in the run up to Christmas. Treat yourself to an escape from the everyday with our offerings from some of the region’s hottest cultural gems, be transported by theatre and music, learn something new, or embrace fine dining while wearing your sweatpants!

10 ways to Escape the Everyday (at home) in NewcastleGateshead and Northumberland...

Winner of the 2020 Taste of The North East Award, Quayside restaurant Dobson & Parnell now has its festive menu, featuring ethically-sourced local and seasonal produce, available to take home (both collection and delivery service available). Treat yourself and bring a touch of class to your kitchen by ordering from the three-course Dobson & Parnell at Home Christmas menu, which will be available chilled with instructions for you to heat and serve in your own home.

Part of Newcastle Quayside-based Live Theatre’s new digital programme, 10 Minutes To... Call Home is a captivating mix of online ten-minute plays by promising new writers. Although the doors to the theatre are closed, that has not stopped the talent development of new scripts going on behind the scenes. Nine plays were selected from an open call out, with over 300 scripts submitted, that were then rehearsed, performed and recorded behind Live Theatre’s closed doors throughout September and are now released online for free viewing.

In partnership with Pedestal VR, Great North Museum: Hancock has brought to life six immersive virtual tours of the museum, which have been captured in 3D and are compatible with smart phones and virtual reality headsets. The exhibitions include Other Worlds: The Art of Atomhawk, which showcases the creations of Gateshead design studio Atomhawk, and a British Museum Touring Exhibition, Ancient Iraq: New Discoveries.

Missing live music? Iconic music venue, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, has you covered with its series of live concerts streamed from the world-renowned venue. Sage Live 2020 is a seven-week series of performances ending in December, with two concerts still to come. Lose yourself in the enchanting sounds of The Glasshouse International Centre for Music’s own Royal Northern Sinfonia performing Louise Farrenc’s Symphony No.3 (Friday 4 December), or for those who favour the contemporary, North East post-punk band, The Futureheads, will perform a special acoustic set (Saturday 5 December).

A collection of seven short-stories set in the county of Northumberland, Lost Found and Told: New Audio Tales for Northumberland takes you on a journey through the landscape that inspired the narratives and characters. Created by Northumberland-based performing arts company November Club, they feature original music composed by Katie Doherty and traditional tunes are woven throughout. Explore the tales with themes of losing and finding, courage, love, finding kindness in unexpected places, and of the strength and resilience of Northumberland.

Northumberland’s The Corbridge Larder is a premium food hall that stocks a huge range of high quality and locally sourced products. This year, it’s selling a range of exciting hampers and party bags that will bring some sophisticated fun to your next Zoom get-together with friends. The Gin Hamper contains three local gins, luxury tonics and bar snacks and includes tasting notes, as well as the option to add on gin trivia questions. Delivery is free within 12 miles of Corbridge (contact for delivery further afield).

Wood-fired pizza van, Box Pizza, has created build your own pizza kits that are delivered for you to construct and cook in your own home. Get the whole family involved in following the step by step guide with all the ingredients to make four pizzas. You’ll experience the authentic taste of the 48-hour proven sourdough, using a secret family recipe.

Work your way through a range of Northumbrian beers with The First & Last Brewery’s Northumberland Breweries Beer Box, a mixed box of 12 cans or bottles featuring craft beers from right across the beautiful county. Newcastle’s iconic Wylam Brewery also has an exciting range of its uniquely-named beers available on its online store, which are brewed at its 30 barrel micro-brewery at the Palace of Arts in Exhibition Park. Best of all, there’s no 10pm last orders in your living room!

Turn out the lights and delve underground to take a virtual tour of the Victoria Tunnel on 6 December. Built in 1842 to transport coal from Leazes Main Colliery to riverside staithes ready for loading onto ships, the Victoria Tunnel runs through the city from the Town Moor to the River Tyne. On this interactive subterranean adventure, you’ll be joined live by one of Victoria Tunnel's award-winning tour guides who’ll use video and images to take you through the Tunnel and share the many stories it lives to tell.

Stephen Tomlin brings to life The Canterville Ghost in this reading which first appeared on Hexhamtv, a news and events channel based in Hexham. Now available for viewing at home, you’ll be absorbed in this 50-minute journey that will take you through Wilde’s masterful tale, one of his earliest works, blending gothic horror with comedy and romance. A spooky story that's not one for the faint-hearted!

To discover more ways to Escape the Everyday at home in NewcastleGateshead, visit our virtual events section.