What To Do This Weekend
All the best things to make the most of your weekend
Shopping and Spritzes
On a gloomy weekend, a shopping day is the perfect treat. In Newcastle, head to Ouseburn to brand new opening, Sora Studio, where you can find gorgeous curated jewellery. Whilst you’re there, you should also browse the Valley’s other independent shops such as Flaura Rose, Bibelet Nook and Flea Circus for vintage finds. In the city centre seek out the recently opened Sephora (there’s one in the Metrocentre too) for all the best new beauty buys – we love that they stock big brands such as Glossier and Makeup by Mario and could spend all day testing Kayali’s Dubai-inspired perfumes. In Eldon Square, make sure to check out Søstrene Grene for Scandi-style homeware. After all that shopping, head to Mother Mercy’s brand new home on level one of Fenwick for signature cocktails bespoke to Fenwick (keep the Bergamot Margaritas coming please, bartender!) as well as their afternoon tea with a twist. Over 90 minutes, enjoy free-flowing teapot cocktails with a selection of carefully crafted pink cakes and pastries that are oh-so-Instagrammable.
Cheers to Beers
Good food and even better pints are the foundations of any fun weekend, so head to Spark in York this weekend for Oktoberfest to help celebrate their grand reopening for winter. On Friday 27th, dance the night away with two silent discos before becoming a brew expert with beer tasting sessions Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th. Throughout the weekend, the games room will be open featuring ping pong, and Baby Boy’s Burgers will be serving up a bratwurst-inspired menu. Family-friendly activities will take place on Sunday, including face paint, caricature art and painting classes.
Movie Magic
If you know your Spielberg from your Scorsese and your Kubrick from your Coppola, Bradford’s Science and Media Museum is where you need to be this weekend. Their Widescreen Weekend festival, from Thursday 26th to Monday 30th, showcases the museum’s fantastic projection facilities with a range of 70mm screenings and new restorations. Highlights include an Indiana Jones all-nighter on Saturday, showing the first three films from midnight until 6am, 2005’s beautiful adaption of Pride and Prejudice, and a newly-restored version of Hitchcock’s stylish thriller North by Northwest.
An Apple a Day
It’s the beginning of apple season! Newby Hall are marking the occasion on Sunday 29th with their Apple Day, with everything from cider tasting and apple pressing demonstrations to the annual Apple Throwing Championships, where contestants compete to throw apples the furthest over the River Ure. There’s also an apple cooking contest, where everything from pies to chutneys are pitted against each other before being auctioned off. If you fancy having a go at making your own culinary apple creations, there are plenty of places to pick your own apples across the region, or, you can buy organic apples direct from your local farm shop – we love Hillheads in Backworth and the Farm Shop at Cranswick near Driffield. To make the most of the produce at home, try this twist on an apple pie, with almond and apricot.
Final Farewell
This weekend is your last chance to go to Newcastle’s HWKRLAND. Despite plans for a winter-themed market, the popular al fresco eating and drinking spot is now closing down indefinitely due to Tyne Bridge restoration delays, and the final day of trading will be Sunday 29th. Head down this weekend for cocktails from Pepo, street food from amazing vendors such as Circo and Dabbawal, and one last boogie by the river.
Cool Cafés
As we prepare to head into October, it’s about time that we swap our iced drinks for something steaming hot, with cream and marshmallows on top. Luckily, the region isn’t short of cafés and tearooms to keep us warm and well-caffeinated all autumn long. We love Capheaton Village Tearoom, serving hot drinks and lovingly homemade cakes in the gorgeous countryside – see our full list of the best cafes to visit in Northumberland here. If pumpkin spice isn’t for you, Rise Brunch in York’s cinnamon bun latte is just as spicy and autumnal. Or, to keep celebrating apple season, go to Black Sheep Coffee in Leeds or Newcastle for their delicious Apple Crumble Matcha, made with creamy oat milk.
