Newcastle United upgrade given go-ahead after St James’ Park and city concern

Newcastle United’s fan zone will go ahead after Northumbria Police and Newcastle City Council’s licensing authority withdrew their opposition.

‘St James’ STACK, powered by Sela’ will be granted an alcohol licence despite the objection from the police that the impact of a new drinking venue would lead to ‘crime and disorder.’

Last month, Newcastle received planning permission approval for the zone to be built on the Strawberry Place land reacquired by the club earlier this year.

Like the former STACK on Pilgrim Street, the fan zone will consist of repurposed shipping containers which will house six bars and 10 street food vendors.

It will also be able to host 3,000 guests with a main seating plaza, stage and big screen to broadcast Newcastle matches and is due for completion in Spring 2024.

The venue has requested a licence to sell alcohol seven days a week from 10am to midnight which resulted in the opposition.

But STACK has provided assurances to “observe and seek to give effect to any reasonable direction made by Northumbria Police at high risk times.”

Jonathan Bryce, council licensing chief, said the venue’s plans to have 350 seats has provided ‘some reassurance’ and its licence had been ‘built on significantly’ since the original objections. However, Labour councillors Jane Byrne and Shumel Rahman persisted with concerns surrounding excess noise that could impact local residents.

But Newcastle City Council’s environmental health department were satisfied that excess noise from the venue can be limited by its ‘state-of-the-art’ sound system and the similar STACK venue previously on Pilgrim Street caused no such issues.

Newcastle United chief executive Darren Eales previously said: “Our fan zone is aimed at enhancing the experience not just for supporters visiting matches and big events at the stadium, but for people visiting the city centre seven days a week.”

The club claim the fan zone would create around 150 jobs and provide ‘a bustling midweek leisure and social destination’ over the next three years, as per the planning permission agreement.