Geordies reminisce as O2 Academy Newcastle goodbye post leaves emotions high

Emotional Geordies were caught off-guard and forced into some nostalgic reminiscing by a post on the O2 Academy Newcastle Instagram earlier this week.

The longstanding music venue on Westgate Road has been closed for several months as a new owner called NX Newcastle takes over the space.

Plans have been well publicised and the closure of the O2 Academy has been coming for a while.

Nonetheless, when the venue posted a short and sharp goodbye message on its old Instagram account, it hit Geordies right in the feels.

The account wrote: "We'll be closing this page very soon. Please follow us over at @o2cityhallnewcastle to keep updated with shows happening in Newcastle."

It prompted an outpour of love for the venue which has seen the biggest names in music from The Arctic Monkeys to Katy Perry and Amy Winehouse to Dua Lipa perform in its hallowed walls.

The O2 Academy Newcastle also hosted club nights including Dirty Pop, Ikon Live and Alpha.

Followers flocked to the comment section to share their memories and messages of thanks to the venue's old operators.

One wrote: "Got some great memories from over the years! Thank you for bringing some of my favourite artists to the city!"

Another said: "This makes me so sad, all the gigs and memories over the years."

Others wrote "RIP", "getting me emosh" and "all the mems".

Some followers did comment and share excitement for NX Newcastle to open its doors in September this year.

The £1.75 million rebranding is set to bring 100 jobs to the city and work is underway to add mezzanine platforms to the main hall.

The building first opened as a cinema in 1927 before becoming the Majestic Ballroom in 1959 and then the O2 Academy in 2005.

O2 will have one less venue on Tyneside, but will still run the O2 City Hall in the city centre.

Already on the calendar for NX Newcastle are Beabadoobee, local lad Andrew Cushin, James Bay and Holly Humberstone - tickets available here.