About Us
We’ve been putting the Castle back into Newcastle as part of the lifeblood of the City since we re-opened in March 2015.
So you want to know a bit more about us?
Following an extensive multi-million pound HLF-funded project Newcastle Castle re-opened to the public in March 2015.
Newcastle Castle is operated by and a trading name of The Heart of the City Partnership. The Heart of the City Partnership is a company limited by guarantee #: 06373460 and a registered charity #1165434.
The Heart of the City Partnership is a joint venture between a number of Newcastle organisations, all of whom have a passionate and vested interest in the Castle’s future preservation.
The Heart Of The City Partnership and Newcastle Castle work hard to uphold several key charitable objectives. These are a cornerstone to all we do and run throughout the organisation at every level.
The advancement of education and promotion of learning. We do this in particular in relation to the history and heritage of the area around St Nicholas’ Cathedral, in particular Newcastle Castle in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The advancement of culture and heritage. This is pushed forward by the encouragement of the local community and visitors to the city to appreciate and enjoy the history and fabric of said buildings.
The preservation and protection of Newcastle Castle. With the Castle being of historical interest and public importance and particularly the Grade 1 listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument known as the Black Gate and Castle Keep.
We have a small but very dedicated, specialist team who offer Newcastle Castle up as a visitor attraction, learning resource, space for venue hire and venue for cultural events. The team is driven by your enjoyment of Newcastle Castle and through delivery of our charitable objectives.
As one of the top visitor attractions in the North East we know that we have a pivotal role to play in ensuring the success and vibrancy of our region. We work extensively with our partners at Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, The North East Chamber of Commerce, NE1 Business Improvement District, The Newcastle Gateshead Heritage Venues Forum and the like. We work closely with travel companies from public transport operators to tour organisations, cruise lines, to experience days operators. We also have established relationships with online travel agents, TripAdvisor and other destintation management portals. One of our goals is to play a pivotal part in stimulating the region’s economy by collectively making the destination offering more attractive and do this in a variety of ways including facilitating familiarisation and advocacy visits.
Equally, we have established a very strong formal education offer that supports the national curriculum. As such we work closely with schools, colleges and universities from around the UK and abroad to support the teaching efforts.
Registered office address: Fernwood House Fernwood Road, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom, NE2 1TJ
Meet the Team at Newcastle Castle
Ben S.
Chief Executive Officer
Ruth S.
Retail Officer
David S.
Learning Manager
Julia S.
Finance Officer
Georgia W.
General Manager
George B.
Outreach Officer and Front of House Team Member
James L.
Venue Hire Officer
Corey L.
Events Officer
Katerina G.
Marketing and Communications Officer
Rebecca B.
Castle Team Supervisor
Daniel F.
Informal Learning and Admin Assistant, and Front Of House Team Member
Amy N.
Front Of House Team Member
Thomas B.
Front Of House Team Member
James H.
Front of House Team Member
Kathy P.
Volunteer
Bill G.
Volunteer
Zoe R.
Front Of House Team Member
Allisdair B.
Front of House Team Member
Pam G.
Volunteer
Peter H.
Volunteer
Molly G.
Front Of House Team Member
Michelle M.
Front of House Team Member
Barbara A.
Volunteer
Steve F.
Volunteer
Declan P.
Front of House Team Member
Ash T.
Front of House Team Member
Pat D.
Volunteer
Connor M.
Volunteer
Meet the Board
The Heart of the City Partnership is a venture overseen by a number of Newcastle organisations, all of whom have a passion and vested interest in the Castle’s future preservation and the vibrancy and understanding of the surrounding Old Newcastle area.
It is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
The board of 12 trustees is formed from 3 member bodies, Newcastle City Council, The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and Newcastle Cathedral who have two representatives each and 6 independent board members with expertise in specific areas of need for the partnership.
Newcastle City Council
Newcastle City Council has long safeguarded the well-being of the Castle, ever since the Society leased the Black Gate from the newly-created City in order to house its museum in 1883. The Keep was administered by the Society on behalf of the City until 2013.
Newcastle City Council website
The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne
The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne is the oldest provincial antiquarian society in the country, founded in 1813. When, in 1847, the Keep was in danger from the development of the railways, the Society successfully campaigned against proposals to demolish both the Norman Castle and surrounding Garth. In the following year the Antiquaries were given a long lease on the building for a nominal rent and the Society celebrated its new acquisition with a Grand Antiquarian Banquet in the Great Hall.
Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne website
Newcastle Cathedral
Newcastle Cathedral is a stunning medieval building, first established in 1091, a few short decades after the Norman invasion of England. Originally the parish church for the small, emerging town, much of the architecture today dates back to the 14th and 18th centuries. The Cathedral and Castle have been constant neighbours, and this contiguous relationship has thrived right through to the present day.