The Newcastle Drop - May 12, 2025
It's been a lovely weekend in the city - and a good one for Newcastle United fans. We've also got coverage of a major anniversary and a pretty unusual court case
Good morning Newcastle. Here’s today’s Newcastle Drop.
⚽ Newcastle United took a big step towards Champions League football with a 2-0 win over rivals Chelsea. United climb to third in the table with just two games to go. - Jason Burt, Telegraph
🩺A physiotherapist has returned from working in Gaza to say that "nothing prepares you for the devastation." Rachel Moses spent a month working at Nasser Hospital even as it came under daily bombardment. - Owen Younger, ChronicleLive
⛔ Newcastle City Council has brought in restrictions that aim to reduce anti-social behaviour at three tower blocks in the city’s west end. The partial closure orders at Westgate Court, Todds Nook and Vallum Court were introduced after concerns from residents. - Newcastle City Council
🏥 An event has been held to celebrate 40 years of transplants at the Freeman Hospital. Staff and former patients gathered to mark the landmark anniversary. - Sam Volpe, ChronicleLive
⚽ Newcastle United are to consult fans over plans to change the club’s badge. The club says the current badge ‘doesn’t translate well in today’s digital world’. - Louise Taylor, Guardian
🎨 Artwork is to be installed on Pink Lane in an effort to reduce anti-social behaviour in the area. The project is being backed by £300,000 from Newcastle city council. - Daniel Holland, Local Democracy Reporter
🏉 Newcastle Falcons’ director of rugby Steve Diamond said his side’s heavy loss to Saracens shows the need for investment in the club. He said his team were “well beaten” in all areas of the game. - Rugbypass
🐕 A Newbiggin Hall woman has been given a suspended jail sentence after the bodies of five dead animals were found in her home. RSPCA inspectors found ‘mummified’ dogs as well as a dead cat and a dead snake. - Kali Lindsay, ChronicleLive
👩⚕️ A nurse who was falsely accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a mental health patient has won a constructive dismissal claim. Jessica Thorpe took the claim against the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust. - Federica Bedendo, BBC
🎸 It was a big night for music fans in the city last Thursday when both Bryan Adams and The Pogues played in Newcastle. Catch reviews here from Helen Dalby and Darin Hutson
🥜 Two members of staff from an Indian restaurant in Newcastle city centre have been fined after serving peanuts to two customers who went into anaphylactic shock. The workers at Rasika restaurant admitted food safety offences. - Kali Lindsay, Chroniclelive
🎓 A project to help turn research at the North East’s five universities into jobs and economic growth has received multimillion-pound backing from the Government. The North East Strategic Commercialisation project involves Newcastle and Northumbria universities. - Jason Arunn Murugesu, BBC
👷 Plans for a new affordable housing estate in Newcastle’s East End have been unveiled. Keepmoat Homes has submitted proposals for a 42-home development on Pottery Bank, in Walker as part of a wider regeneration scheme in the area. - Daniel Holland, Local Democracy Reporter
⚽ Newcastle United’s Jacob Murphy says he has been inspired by teammate Dan Burn’s England call-up. The long-serving player is having his best season in a black-and-white shirt. - Liam MacDevitt, BBC
🏉 Rugby league’s Magic Weekend is thought to have brought £9m into the city’s economy. The event was held at St James’ Park for the ninth year and attracted its biggest crowds since 2018. - Jason Button, Newcastle World
🖋️ Tattoo enthusiasts came together over the weekend as the Big North Tattoo Show arrived at Utilita Arena. Around 300 international tattoo artists were at the event. - Owen Younger, ChronicleLive
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📌 The annual Late Shows cultural event is returning next week. Venues around the city will be open from 6-10.30pm. More details can be found here.
📌 Volunteers from two McDonald’s restaurants held a community litter pick during the Newcastle-Gateshead Marathon last weekend. The teams worked along the route to collect eight bags of rubbish.
Writer, TV personality and former musician Richard Coles has his first ever Greggs - and is suitably impressed…
Thanks for reading The Newcastle Drop - a new newsletter that aims to bring together all of the news and community events from around our city. It’s brought to you by Graeme Whitfield, editor of The Journal and long-time resident of the city.
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