The Cluny
Music venue in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
The Cluny
Exterior of venue (c.2007)
Interactive map of The Cluny
AddressLime Street
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8SF England
Coordinates54°58′31″N 1°35′30″W / 54.97517°N 1.59175°W / 54.97517; -1.59175
TypeConcert hall
Capacity300
Construction
Opened1999 (1999)
Website
Venue Website
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameCluny Warehouse
Designated30 March 1987
Reference no.1355264

The Cluny is a 300-capacity live music venue, pub and café, on Lime Street, in the Ouseburn Valley area of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Based in a former flax spinning mill,[1] The Cluny occupies part of the wider building at 36 Lime Street, sharing the space with artists, offices and recording studios. The Cluny is a regular fixture in the top 100 list of World's Best Bars.[2]

History

The building of 36 Lime Street was completed in 1848, when it was opened as a flax spinning mill. The building was commissioned by Messrs Plummer & Cooke and designed by John Dobson.[3][4] Lasting just 12 years, it was re-opened in 1860 as a steam-powered flour mill by Henry Proctor & Co.[1]

At some point in its history, the building became a Scotch whisky bottling plant called the Cluny, hence the current name.[5] In 1982, Bruvvers Theatre Company purchased the building and it became an artists' space.[6]

A section of the building was opened as The Cluny Bar in 1999, and the same space was taken over by The Head Of Steam Limited in November 2002,[7] when its current incarnation came about. The Cluny now operates as a bar and live music venue, with food service provided by The Cluny Kitchen,[8] and 36 Lime Street itself is a Grade 2 listed building.[9]

In May 2009, it was announced that The Cluny would be taking over the running of the adjacent former Round Theatre, which went into liquidation in 2008.[10]

Location

The Cluny is located in Newcastle upon Tyne's Ouseburn Valley, an area of intense regeneration in the 21st century.[11]

Bar

The Cluny's bar is renowned for its huge selection of real ales and world lagers,[12] and strives to use local and independent breweries wherever possible.[12] The Cluny was one of only two pubs in Newcastle to make it into the 2004 Good Pub Guide.[13]

Venue

The Cluny has a live music venue that has been described as "one of the most important venues for breaking bands in the region".[14]

From 1999 to 2003, Keith Morris and Charlie McGovern ran the influential weekly Schmazz jazz club at The Cluny, bringing radical performers like Gilad Atzmon and Reem Kelani to the city.[15][16]

In 2002, Dannii Minogue played the venue in support of her single "Put The Needle On It".[17]

The Arctic Monkeys performed there as part of a UK tour in August 2005.[18][19]

On 20 January 2007, Maxïmo Park previewed their second album, Our Earthly Pleasures in its entirety at The Cluny.[20]

In January 2008, as part of The JD Set, Peter Hook collaborated with The Wombats on a one-off live performance of their single Backfire at the Disco.[21] A live recording of the song was released in April 2008, as a b-side on the single's re-release.[22]

In February 2008, Duffy played at The Cluny,[23] the gig coinciding with the Welsh singer's second week at number one with her single Mercy.[24]

In November 2008, Solange Knowles, younger sister of Beyoncé Knowles, played at The Cluny as part of her first UK tour.[25]

The folk rock band, Mumford & Sons, performed there as part of a UK tour in September 2009.[26]

The New York Dolls, the pioneering punk rock band, performer at the Cluny in September 2013.[27]

The rock band from Sunderland, Field Music, performed there in January 2020.[28][29]

Best Live Music Venue award

The Cluny was voted Best Live Music Venue by music development agency Generator North East in May 2009.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Ouseburn - Regeneration - Ouseburn's Industrial past". ouseburnnewcastle.org. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Top 100 Bars". Worldsbestbars.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  3. ^ "SINE Project". Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  4. ^ Thomson, Daniel (5 July 2007). "Round comes full circle". The Journal. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  5. ^ Tierney-Jones, Adrian (15 May 2009). "Newcastle Pub Guide: The Cluny, Ouseburn". The Daily Telegraph.
  6. ^ "Ouseburn - Regeneration - Regeneration 1930's to the Present". ouseburnnewcastle.org. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  7. ^ "About The Cluny". Theheadofsteam.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Head of Steam". Theheadofsteam.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  9. ^ "SINE Project". Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  10. ^ Quinn, Michael (27 May 2008). "Round Theatre goes into liquidation, eight months after opening". The Stage. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  11. ^ "Ouseburn Regeneration Plan 2012–2020" (PDF). Ouseburn Futures and Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  12. ^ a b "View - Your Guide for Pubs and Bars, Restaurants, Clubs, Cinemas and Whats On View - Your Guide for Pubs and Bars, Restaurants, Clubs, Cinemas and What's On". View.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Head of Steam Cluny What's On NE". Whatsonne.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  14. ^ Jeffery, Sarah (16 May 2016). "Evolution Emerging 2016: A guide to the music festival's ten Newcastle venues". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  15. ^ "Original music to jazz up Christmas". Chroniclelive.co.uk. 2003-12-13. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  16. ^ "Schmazz - Keith Morris Links". jazznortheast.com. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  17. ^ "Sunday Sun - North East news, sport and what's on". Chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Arctic Monkeys – Cluny, Newcastle". Penny Black Music. 1 August 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Arctic Monkeys – Live at The Cluny, Newcastle". YouTube. 1 August 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  20. ^ "Maximo Park announce tiny Tyneside tour". Nme.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  21. ^ "The domain www.the-fly.co.uk is registered by NetNames". www.the-fly.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  22. ^ "The Wombats - Backfire At The Disco/ Lets Dance To Joy Division". Normanrecords.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  23. ^ "JournalLive". Journallive.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  24. ^ "No mercy for Duffy's chart rivals". BBC News. 16 March 2008.
  25. ^ "Solange Knowles' first UK tour". Music-news.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Mumford And Sons announce UK tour". NME. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  27. ^ "Must see: New York Dolls, The Cluny". The Chronicle. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Camerons Brewery invests in the Cluny and the Cluny 2 in Newcastle's Ouseburn". 18 January 2017.
  29. ^ "Live review: Field Music at The Cluny, Newcastle". Narc Magazine. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  30. ^ "The Cluny". Newscastle.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  • The Cluny website
  • Jumpin Hot Club
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