Platinum jubilee 2022: What events are happening in and around Newcastle to celebrate?

This year marks 70 years since Queen Elizabeth took the throne, and a series of events will be happening across Sunderland this June to commemorate the historic weekend.

Two bank holidays kick off the events with Thursday June 2 and Friday June 3 being used as the extension of the weekend, and there is plenty to enjoy.

Fans of bottomless brunch are in luck as North East icons of the meal, Banyan, will be giving their Sunday brunch deal the Royal treatment on Sunday June 5 from 12:00pm while those looking for a more traditional meal should look no further than the Vermont Hotel.

The city centre site promising an afternoon of delicious food as well as live music on Sunday June 5. The event will be held in the hotel’s Gold Room between 1:00pm and 4:00pm and costs £22.95 per person to attend with booking options available online.

An alternative option can be found at Jesmond Dene House where the site will be hosting a “traditionally British, regal afternoon tea” on the Sunday of the long weekend.

Afternoon tea will be available from 1:00pm in the site’s Great Hall and costs £42 per person. This includes a glass of Pimms on arrival, afternoon tea with refillable tea and coffee as well as live music with bookings available to be made online.

Anyone looking for a free option can head to Saltwell Park where a public Jubilee lunch will be taking place with entertainment including live music and arts and crafts activities. Kids can also take advantage of a bouncy castle and face paint while a dressing up competition will also see prizes for the best dressed King and Queen.

Another park offering a traditional afternoon out comes from St Aidan’s Church in North Gosforth. The group are teaming up with local businesses to take over Brunton Park as a celebration of the Jubilee.

Old school games as well as face painting, a bouncy castle, cake competition and ice cream van are all expected with families able to bring their own picnic.

Back in the city centre, Newcastle Castle are putting on a series of events throughout the weekend including a viewing of 2007 film Stardust while Newcastle City Library have a selection of royal reads on display available across the New Bridge Street West site.

Staying on the topic of books, Ouseburn’s Seven Stories has a couple of events lined up with royal themes books involved. Sessions celebrating Nicholas Allan’s book The Queens Knickers including an interactive story time are available to book online. Families can also take part in bunting making sessions across June 2-5 with three time slots available on each day.

Those looking for a break from the celebrations can head to Newcastle Thunder. The region’s only professional rugby league club are playing two games in three days with fixtures against Featherstone Rovers aand Sheffield Eagles on June 2 and 5 respectively. Tickets for both games at Kingston Park are available from just £20 as part of a special deal.