Newcastle… No, It Is Ouseburn!

Even before flying to Newcastle, while scouting locations for the photoshoot of our new collection, I came across a place that had already won me over on Google Maps. A revitalised neighbourhood with an artistic soul, great food, iconic bars and a winding river with a weir… My Katowice spider-sense immediately told me that we had to spend at least a day there.

It turned out to be a bullseye. Ouseburn, much like my hometown, is making the transition from heavy industry to a cultural hideaway. Join me for a little trip and a short photo walk through the most interesting spot in Newcastle!

Base camp: Hotel du Vin

Our base was the Victorian Hotel du Vin, perched somewhere between the city centre and Ouseburn. A great starting point to explore the area. It was also where we mastered the art of splitting the G over a pint of Guinness — but that’s a story for another post.

Let’s start with a little history. The name Ouseburn comes directly from its geography and literally means “Ouse stream” (Ouse burn), which runs through the valley before flowing into the River Tyne. In the 19th century, it was one of the most heavily industrialised and polluted areas in the whole of north-east England. The small stream was a key transport artery for ironworks, engineering works and textile mills, including The Ouseburn Linen Works. Linen yarn was produced here and used to make clothing, sailcloth and ropes.

An oasis in the heart of industry: Ouseburn Farm

When talking about the neighbourhood, it’s impossible to leave out Ouseburn Farm. This charitable urban farm was founded by local residents on the site of a former industrial waste dump. Today, it’s a green enclave with free admission, offering children and adults the chance to get up close to farm animals. It’s somewhat reminiscent of Poland’s allotment gardens — who knows, perhaps with a similar original idea in mind: “providing the working masses with an affordable source of vitamins and healthy relaxation after work.” ;)

Folk culture and the Beer Act: The Cumberland Arms

Moving on, we arrive at our first lookbook location — The Cumberland Arms. The history of this pub goes back to the 1830s, when the British Parliament passed the so-called Beer House Act, legislation intended to steer the working classes away from spirits and towards beer. Ordinary citizens could, after paying a small fee, brew and sell beer from their own homes.

That’s exactly what happened in the former home of working man John Lightfoot, who sold beer straight from his living room. The business grew so quickly that by the end of the 19th century it had obtained a full licence, becoming an official pub. Today, The Cumberland Arms is a true hub of folk music and traditional Rapper dance. Its dark wood-panelled interior, fireplace and jukebox have barely changed in decades. From the pub’s large terrace, you can take in the panorama of the entire valley over a pint of local cider or craft beer.

The smell of petrol is British craftsmanship too

Making our way around the neighbourhood, we came across a workshop that has specialised in repairing Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars for more than 40 years. Eight hundred square metres packed to the brim with automotive history. From the very beginning, the shop has worked exclusively on cars from these two manufacturers. On the lifts, we passed rare models from the 1930s, such as the pre-war 20/25 HP, post-war Silver Clouds and Silver Shadows, as well as the iconic Arnage and Mulsanne, plus a few modern Continentals. A wonderfully friendly team of older gentlemen, armed with a distinctly British sense of humour, happily spent a good while with us, talking about their work and letting us freely look for shots. An extraordinary, deeply craft-oriented place with an unmistakable photography background!

Finishing at the tap: The Tyne Bar

Finally, we made our way to The Tyne Bar. Its history dates back to the mid-19th century and perfectly reflects the transformation of the entire neighbourhood — from a dark, rough port corner for sailors and dockers into the artistic heart of Newcastle. A substantial part of our lookbook was shot there, while we selected and edited the photos over pints of Augustiner Brau on tap.

[Editor’s note: it’s not that we didn’t try the local beers, but Tomek insisted on his favourite…]