Reviews of Utilita Arena Newcastle. (Sports Complex) in Newcastle upon Tyne (Tyne and Wear).

Utilita Arena Newcastle

4678 Reviews

339 Comments

Sports Complex

Arena

Events Venue

Arena Way, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7NA

Description

Information of Utilita Arena Newcastle, Sports Complex in Newcastle upon Tyne (Tyne and Wear)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Reviews of Utilita Arena Newcastle

J.

Great experience, friendly and helpful floor staff. Easy to find my seat and a great view of the stage. Food and drinks were slightly expensive £2.50 for a 60p, 500ml bottle of water. Nevertheless I didn't have to queue anytime during my visit. The arena acoustics were spot on as well. Great visit and I'll definitely be back.

W. S.

Iv seen a lot of shows at this place tickets are reasonably price but you will need a bank loan to get you or your children a hot dog and a pop Facilities are clean staff are friendly always will to help you get to your seats etc Canny day out if you eat before you enter

C. F.

Efficient security procedure, friendly and helpful staff. Well run parking, didn't take long to at all to exit afterwards. Could just do with more variety in food options.

J. L.

Amazing place with great concerts to watch but was disappointed that it was all card payments for the food and drinks everywhere I looked as I only had cash on me apart from that was a amazing night and James Arthur smashed it ❤❤❤

G. J.

Bill Bailey one of the finest musicians I've ever seen and one of the funniest comedians too.

M. W.

A few years since we had visited this Arena. Everything getting a bit past its best.Outside lighting on approach very poor and drinks and food over the top prices. Our main concern was the seating which isn't meant for the size of some of the people who attended the concert.I had one of the aforementioned next to me and had to move as I am a regular sized male and felt claustrophobic and uncomfortable. On a plus side the staff inside the Arena were helpful and friendly as were the security staff on the doors and outside.

s. p.

Was at the Arena on the 10th of April to see Simple Minds We thoroughly enjoyed the experience The Band were great and We had been waiting for 2 years to see them and it was well worth the wait!!👍👍😍

J. M.

The great thing about the arena to watch the wrestling is that you see everything no matter how high up you are, a great venue

P. M.

Been to the arena lots of times. Always a good experience, lots of choice for drinks and snacks. Plenty of space when sat and good views of stage.

c. k.

Great experience, we went to see Disney on ice on Saturday 11th December, 6.30 performance. no hassle at all entering or moving around building inside. Friendly staff throughout. I had down loaded my covid pass but didn't actually need it.

L. F.

After finding out I'd missed our booking for disney on ice the night before I'd just like to say a big huge thank you to staff at Utilita Arena for a quick reply to my email and giving me hope we could still attend, to then turn up and 3 tickets were ready for us at no extra cost, I couldn't be more grateful for this, from what was a nightmare day turned into a magical night with our daughter thank you again

D. K.

Visited the arena last night to watch “Strictly The Professionals” which was amazing and thoroughly enjoyable. Their performance was excellent and the band the same. The staff at the arena were friendly, helpful and professional. There were plenty of catering opportunities and hardly any queues. I had read about the prices being expensive, therefore we opted for a coffee at £3.50 which I thought was reasonable. There was also four donuts being sold for £5 again reasonable and looked very tasty. This stall was very popular. The arena seating was comfortable and the stage with two large to screens were great. The acoustics were fantastic. I would definitely visit again when I come back to Newcastle.

H. T.

Lovely staff, very well organised and safety was paramount at all times. Will definitely return to see a concert another time.

T. B.

A wonderful evening watching and listening to Ball and Boe. Queues were long to get in, but once the doors opened, went down very quickly - there were lots of security and customer care staff. It was such a shame that the place was only half full, but we were moved forward to better seats because of this, but we felt very safe. It was strange that they filled the rows but there were empty rows around us. With so many empty seats, they could have spaced us out more. Having said that, we all felt safe. Ball and Boe were FABULOUS. Such wonderful singers and entertainers. They had a lovely rapport with each other and worth the audience. I wasn't too keen on the warm up act, Megan McKee(?) but she was OK. I'd definitely feel happy going to the Arena again, and certainly will go to see Ba and Boe again.

J. G.

I don't know why its asking meet to review this. I didn't actually go in. I went to pick up someone from a Madness concert. He said it was the best night of his life,!

S. T.

Great venue only thing I can say is the price of the drinks far too expensive £7.60 for a pint of beer/lager is extreme

J. G.

Staff are brilliant and friendly. Very accessible however only 1 very small lift so little bit of waiting around to go up floors but not a big issue.

d. j.

Very over priced beverages and food . The venue itself is good , staff are helpful

A. M.

Used utilita car park for 1st time. Loads of space. Was able to use mobility access no queue which was fab as I am unable to stand around for any length of time due to back condition.

K. E.

Nice big arena with a spacious standing area, many seats, but the organisers and staff were quite rude sometimes and shouting at the fans

A. B.

Well organised for entry with controls in place, but fairly quick. Arena is good for big events with sound and sight being good 👍

P. B.

Brilliant place for venues just a tip take a bank etc card to pay for drinks and food as all is no cash at all we got stuck but sorted it out so Visa or whatever card you use take it here when you go

i. t.

Stereophonics were amazing and a great venue to see any gig. Well organised and great facilities. I will be back. Disabled access is available . And for any one who needs the box office it opens at 4pm on an event day only

C. H.

Overpriced food and drinks and strictly no bringing your own food or drinks but aside from that spacious arena, friendly staff and a high quality of performers on a regular basis, I would recommend the venue and recommend that you don't go on an empty stomach.

L. T.

Great views but the most uncomfortable seats ever for a gig. Not enough legroom for a hobbit.

D. R.

Although this was my first visit to the arena I do think it may be showing its age when compared to more modern venues of a similar type. Had to collect tickets in the afternoon and having driven from the north of Scotland I followed the signs for the arena car park. BIG mistake. Signs were totally inaccurate however ten minutes or so later did arrive at the front of the arena and got the tickets for the Mark Knopfler concert. Went and had a meal and then went back to the venue to find the road to the car park shut, presumably because it was already full, so parked in the multi storey next to the arena. Actually much cheaper! Entry to the arena was very well organised with only short queues to go through the airport style metal detectors. Into the arena and expected expensive drinks but this was on another level so went straight to our seats. As per usual somewhat short on legroom for someone 6' 2" and seats very hard on the backside but that's quite common. The concert itself was absolutely fantastic. Mark Knopfler and the wonderful band were on top form. Sound was excellent and the lighting only added to the atmosphere. Getting out was long winded as you would expect given thousands leaving at the same time but was very well organised by the events team. All in all a brilliant night and if we should ever go again I will know not to follow the official road signs.

D. B.

I regularly visit the arena and it's always a good atmosphere always good events always well managed and the staff are always helpful. My latest visit was to see Jess glynne who played on Saturday the 24th of November 2018 and prepare before that to see The Courteeners who played at the first arena tour both look fantastic gigs.

R. B.

Staff all happy to help, everything was organised well. Toilets were absolutely rank though that was our only complaint.

H. J.

Decent music venue. Sound can sometimes be off but that’s typical in a large venue like this. Sound was excellent for the Snow Patrol gig - not sure if this was due to being near the front or the crowd being a bit older!! Food and drinks are very expensive which again is to be expected at places like this.

J. S.

The show was fantastic!! Bar staff friendly, bar prices are astronomical!, security staff are 30/70....70% act like they're police or the sas protecting the crown jewels or some other national treasure. The other 30% really nice and helpful👍 On the whole i had a fantastic night 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A. H.

Had a great night at Utilita Arena,Andre Rieu was there with his orchestra they were great and everyone joined in fantastic night.

J. G.

Gate needs to be open sooner to get people in, lots of people missed the first band on Saturday 14.05.2022 because there was not enough time.

S. K. (.

Great helpful staff.Speedy service and always tidy.One issue was that a lot of people commented on the difficulty in locating their seats.Clearer markings on the rows would help 😁

B.

Was seeing Barry Manilow here....really good and easy place to get to and staff really helpful.......had a brilliant night....!! He was just so good. Go Barry go !!+ lol xx

M. A.

Fantastic night out with the pet shop boys.

d. n.

Another great night at the arena. Easy parking, straight in. Refreshments a bit pricey but ok.

A. A.

Was wonderful till we tried to leave. We where halted and our car was refused to leave for over 25 minutes, there was no clear reason for this, and we where not explained to why we where being made to wait to leave.

K. B.

Very well organised and an excellent venue

j. c.

It was fantastic would really recommend it just don't use taxis yo get home it took me 1 hour and 30 minutes other than that fab

K. M.

Great Arena, great night of Boxing, here again to watch our Pro Michael Webster.

F. B.

Good, plenty of staff to assist you if needed,easy to park,plenty of different food and drink options

V. B.

Easy to get in. Good seats. Didn’t have good food options. Quality of food they did have wasn’t good.

c. k.

Been here hundreds of times over the years, it's not a bad venue for music but the price of food and drink is ridiculous

K. M.

Loved John Bishop shame the venue was over priced like massively £7.50 for a pint an seats at venue are kid sized

H. C.

Great show at Disney on Ice. Car park fee £7 which didn't seem too unreadable. Queues not too bad even though it was busy. All staff really friendly and helpful. Toilets very clean. Shoes sticking to the floor when going to seats was a bit gross. Leaving was a bit of a hassle with crowds being directed in only two directions, irrespective of where you actually needed to go, think that could've been organised better but am in all would recommend.

P. W.

Ball and Now, brilliant show. Lots of help offered to me as a disabled person. Would have been 5 stars but there was a lot of people not wearing masks even when coughing.

D. S.

Went to see a concert in March, very good evening and instructions were very clear from start to finish on what to do

T. S.

Have been to the Arena many times over the years. Acoustically it is not the best for me. The seating is very uncomfortable also. The toilet area is dangerous, such is the level of water on the walkways. Despite all that, where else are you going to see the best bands. Slipknot were awesome on my latest visit. Thank goodness the music is up to the task.

A. T.

Very easy to enter into the arena. Lots of space in the concourse. The only negative is £3.50 for a bottle of pop £7 a pint. Can't wait to visit an arena venue where the seating is designed for people that are above a gents 30 inch waist..

m. m.

What a fantastic show river dance was. The dancers were incredible. The band were something else. The young ladies playing violin and soprano sax were outstanding. Don't have enough words for the beautiful haunting Irish pipes. Only downside were the green plastic seats at the venue. Pushed the boat out there lads, well done !

W. L.

Wonderful experience, brilliant and very helpful and very accommodating staff. But the building could do with at least another lift!

L. A.

Good venue, staff were lovely and very helpful

i. d.

Went to see " The Script" on a friday night, supported by tom Walker, he was an excellent support act. The Script put on a fantastic show/performance, atmosphere was amazing, I will miss this when arena closes and new one is opened elsewhere.

a. O.

Good arena 10 minutes from train station

C. N.

The Bowes Museum is a lovely selfless gift from the Bowes family. A treasure trove of colectable items. The grounds are beautiful and there is something for everyone!

J. B.

Went to see The Script, queues obviously but everyone was moving smoothly through the security checkpoints, the staff/security very professional and helpful. Drinks, snacks and merch VERY expensive so bring lots of cash or be prepared for your credit cards to take a hit

n. h.

Well organised, the queues went down quickly, the drinks as always are expensive and our diet cokes were completely flat

N. B.

Seen KISS last night (that on its own was amazing!!) The venue was really well laid out. We were in block 300 and I was thinking cause of how cheep the tickets were it would be harder to see but actually I think we had one of the better views beside the people right at the front. Drinks where fairly expensive but to be expected. When checking in and checking the bags they were very understanding of my need to carry a bottle of water due to my medication as usually take any food or drink (we did buy drinks so I only used it when taking my medication) loos where clean. Staff I spoke to where friendly and polite. Overall was a good night and run very well.

J. D.

Very well organized events Good security Drinks and snacks were expensive.

M. R.

Looking a bit tired these days the Metro Radio Arena is still the biggest venue on Tyneside for stadium shows, acts and attractions. Additional security in place following recent events but staff friendly and fairly efficient. The interior is in need of a makeover as it's aircraft hangar ambience is somewhat monolithic and chilly. The venue has good sounds, visuals and seating, although fairly basic. Lines of sight to the stage / arena are all good and facilities for food, drink and toilets all reasonable. It's fairly overpriced but perhaps to be expected for this nature of venue.

j. g.

Over £7 for a drink, your having a laugh, food selection not great, other than that OK venue.

G.

Went to see Rick Astley here.The only thing I would be negative about is the choice of food. Very expensive and only nachos, chicken nuggets and hot dogs. Would have been nice to have had more choice and cheaper deals. £11.20 for some nachos, couple of dips and a beer. You understand people have to make a living but a bit of a rip off. Other than that the arena was great and only a 10 minute walk from our hotel.

A. W.

Great venue, very organised staff. Dua Lipa was amazing x

t. r.

Bryan Adams was amazing. But only 3 stars for the venue.

A. W.

Good night at Arena last night for Steps. An early Christmas present from my daughter. I did wonder why plastic bottle tops are removed,but glass bottles of wine are allowed into the seating area.

N. D.

The place is showing it's age, it's clear it's a well used venue in need of TLC.. We ended up keeping coats on awaiting the show to start, the place was freezing! Toilets not easy to find, poorly marked. Ordered a cider, i looked and tasted nothing like! I'd definitely visit again for a show I want to see, but would make sure I'm prepared next time!

R. T.

Went to see Rick Astley on his 'Best Of Me' tour. Great concert...Great artist... Supported by KT Tunstall. The Arena could do with a few extra table tops or bar type areas to eat your food. You seem to be juggling/holding food and/or drink when you buy from inside the Arena but no tables are available . Apart from that......it's a great venue .

J. D.

Easy enough to get in and find our seats. Seats are very uncomfortable, and leg room is pants. Bar prices are extortionate, as they usually are in these types of venues. Queues at the bar moved impressively slowly, I didn't think it was possible to take as long as it did. Took almost 45 minutes to go and get a beer and get back to my seat.

D. B.

I have never been a big fan of the arena. They have put on extra security checks which is no problem as the the security staff are pleasant while doing this very important job. The price of the drinks and food inside is a complete rip off.£7.50 for a hot dog and a coke and £6.00 for a packet of crisps and a coke , these are classed a deals the seating is to tight for anyone to sit comfortably without knocking the person next door , and there are always people that arrive late at their seats with drinks in their hands. The one good thing about the arena is the atmosphere when the show gets going the place can rock.

I. W.

The venue is easy enough to find, shame parking wasn't. Obviously in these covid and security conscious times, precautions were taken, and it was recommended that we had our vaccination passport to hand. It was never asked for. Tickets were collected and random tickets given to those heading to the bar or for a cigarette excursion as a pass out and handed back on re-entering. I would hate to think potentially how many hands a ticket passed through. Fortunately I carry sanitiser! The acoustics were pretty good, but not worth paying for cheap seats. However, I am sure a monopolies commission investigation into drink prices would have a field day. I imagine you could get a cheaper bottle of water in the middle of the Sahara desert. £2.40 for a 250ml bottle of water? It is cheaper to fill my car with diesel! Take your own if you can

J. S.

Great little arena, east to get to and park

D. -. -. P.

Seen Heaton and Abbott, and the boxing. Easy wheelchair access. Friendly helpful staff.

D. C. A. C.

Ok venue for concerts and events ... It's a nice place but the seating could be improved

S. V.

Went to the Strictly tour with my wife for her birthday, the show was great but the prices for dinks and snacks at the arena are ridiculous.

s. C.

Disney on ice is absolutely amazing. would recommend for any age, as there is something for everyone. sing, dance, shop,eat,drink a thoroughly enjoyable experience

F. S.

Decent place. Sound was good and easy in and out. Don’t believe it’s right your not allowed take your own drinks in for security and then get charge you heaven and earth for drinks when your in.

K. T.

Thanks to Garry at customer services my son and I had a lovely time at Disney on ice, my son has autism and hyper mobility, the first half of the show we were close to the front but unfortunately a few people moved their seats in front of us and the seats we were on were hurting my sons back and legs so Garry on the front desk moved us to the comfortable seats with an unrestricted view for second half and it changed the whole experience, my son really loved it and we are so grateful that Garry went above and beyond to ensure that Kieran enjoyed his experience, thanks so much!

S.

Lots of car parking. Slightly shabby on the inside. Plenty of staff, who were very nice. Clear signage. Good stage area and seating but not luxurious. Main problem I had was that audience are required to wear a mask. However, although everyone had a mask, the majority took off or lowered their mask in their seat and nothing was done. I understand it's difficult for staff to approach people but they could have done a tannoy announcement or similar to remind people. Despite covid requirements the arena made no effort to uphold them which was uncomfortable for me.

b. m.

Great place. Easy to get in and out of even when busy. The interval bar staff were thin on the ground. It's easier to get a drink in the Sahara than there. Lawless queueing combined with slow staff meant I missed 15 mins of second half. There wasnt a warning either. We exceptionally good seats. Was a treat for my 40th and I really enjoyed it.

m. E.

Went to see pet shop boys. Great evening. Easy to get to. Easy access.

M. C.

Visited to see Genesis gig which was absolutely brilliant. The venue itself is well laid out and the staff very organised and friendly. The seating is a little cramped and not the most comfy, especially for a long show.

A. S. M.

Good venue. Well organised. Good Covid security policy, but I didn't see the mask wearing in lobby being enforced when I was at the Genesis concert on 30/9/21 - most people weren't wearing one in the lobby and I didn't see staff challenge anyone on it.

C. O.

Great night at the Strictly come dancing live tour, fabulous performances, amazing costumes and wonderful live music.

V. B.

Awesome night watching Madness and Squeeze xx

l. r.

Went here to see strictly. The downside is the seats. Hard plastic and feel like your sitting on your neighbours knee.

M. S.

Not a very nice venue, feels like a big sports hall. But concert good.

S. M.

Well organised for events, rip off bar prices £25 for a bottle of wine.

J. K.

Went here with my mam and Lisa 😊 to see westlife, the security checks were very formal and the staff doing the checks were very good, the arena itself is clean and tidy, staff at the bar very friendly, prices are abit pricy but overall of my night watching westlife was AMAZING and we just had the best time ever 😊💕

M. M.

I wouldn't say it is nice place, but this venue is dedicated for sport or performance so in my opinion not need to be beautiful ;). I visited it for music show, and cannot say bad word about this place. Conveniently located, car parks nearby. All facilities inside accessible and clean, friendly staff. All I need to enjoy the show!

T. N.

Went here to seen Liam Gallagher on the 17th of November. Liam was fantastic. Good security, good sound system, brilliant on screen effects and camera angles, nightmare getting served at the bars, and £6 a pint is a rip off. Will be visiting again though, had a fantastic night.

L. M.

Venue was quick and easy to get in when we recently came to see little mix. Clean toilets and never had to queue to long. Seats were easy to find and enough staff to ask if u needed help.

S. F.

Excellent atmosphere. Very well staffed. Very expensive drinks so make sure you have plenty of money. The concert was out of this world. The best I've ever seen at this venue and well worth every penny.

P. S.

Fabulous show strickly come dancing .staff were very helpful and well organised, carpark was well worth booking straight in and out

P. E.

Went to see mcfly,got the v.i.p. package. Excellent service highly recommended

P. S.

Left out of the Central Station, passed the center for life and across a couple roads and you're at the Arena. Parking is available at the venue, but I think you pay through the nose for it, and you'll have be there early to get a space. Security is high on the agenda nowadays so be mindful of what you take (basically nothing metal) with you on the night you go (phones are OK). Plenty of toilet inside, food is available (though nothing special), as are alcoholic beverage's, but be prepared to pay for them, two pints will set you back £10.

B. N.

Whitesnake live - awesome. £7 a pint - not so awesome.

S. C.

Great venue a tad expensive

S. S.

A great venue. I always enjoy coming along to the Utilita Arena. The only thing I would recommend is: if possible, try to get standing tickets at gigs if they offer it, just the seats are tiny and you're always uncomfortably squashed against the person next to you! Oh, and make sure you save some money as the drinks are expensive.

K. T.

Hassle free getting into the venue, didn't have to queue too long for drinks. We saw Sam Fender who was amazing, had a brilliant night!!

D. M.

Long queues to get in, although it did keep moving quite quickly. Drink prices were scandalously expensive, nearly £10 for a pint of poor lager and a bottle of coke. Massive queues at most of the food and drink outlets, if you can be bothered a tip is to go upstairs to bars on the balcony and they had zero queue. Staff all seemed friendly. Eat and drink elsewhere if visiting.

C. M.

Brian Adams in Concert. We have seen Westlife, Mrs Brown's Boys, Olly Murs and m Any more. Excellent Venue. Cracking Atmosphere.

R. T.

Great venue. All the staff are very friendly. Had a couple of visits to the bar area 😉and although overpriced was efficiently ran so the queues went down quite fast

J. D.

Ideally located on Town centre . Easy access with public transport. Staff friendly and efficient especially with tightened security and bag/body scans . Drinks overly expensive as is food . Captive market as you can't take your own in . Toilets good but obviously queues form for everything when sold out gigs . Seating area good views everywhere ( unless you're short and on the floor with people standing ). Seats a bit small so nearly sat on neighbours lap if you're a bit 'big'.

L. J.

Went to see steps, steps were fantastic for what I heard as the sound quality wasn't great. Couldn't see much as there were loads of tall me in front who blocked the tv screens. But still enjoyed steps x

T. W.

Been to sons amazing concerts here kylie riverdance Bryan Adams to name a few

S. M.

It is what you'd expect an arena to look like. Quite nice on the outside, well guarded. It is a little confusing to find your way around but everyone there is friendly and happy to help.

T. C.

Easily accessible, good links for transport. Attracts top artists. Good night out.

E. B.

Me and my sister went to see Demi Lovato. Our seats were great. We had a blast! 🤗

A. W.

Security was really good. My smallish handbag was well checked by very polite security lady. Staff checking tickets were also very polite. Paul Heaton and Jaqui Abbot were excellent. First time I have seen them singing live.

G. B. C.

All very efficient from going in coming out, would recommend this venue,

R. T.

Decent venue handy for city centre maybe a bit dated now when you see the venues that have been built in Glasgow Liverpool and Leeds . Acoustics in venue are superior to SECC which is similar in size

J. C.

Visited for the Pet Shop Boys May 2022 Post Covid. Staff very helpful with our temporary disability needs. Very supportive and looked after us. Venue helpful, lifts to seating on a raised platform with an elevated view. Hot Dogs tasty Excellent venue and thanks gor a great night.

A. T.

Brilliant place for concerts great sound and atmosphere

A. S.

Good location, parking good and nearby. Toilets could do with a bit of an update. On the whole good venue concert amazing. Cheers Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, well worth the wait !

L. R.

Amazing venue seats not too cramped good acoustics from bands and all seats not too far from performers

P. C.

Loved it! Great gig. Keston cobblers club were a great support band and Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbot were amazing. The venue staff were all good natured and helpful.

K. F.

Great view, could be less expensive for food and drink. Overall a super venue for Newcastle!!

K. M.

Easy to get to driving - although sat nav helps because it wasn't particularly well signed from the west! Friendly, efficient assistants at car park & arena generally. Altogether a positive first time visit!!

S. F.

Absolutely Mega always good for a night of heavy metal 🤘🤘🤘

N. B.

What the arena does well it does well, the getting people through security check and into the arena and likewise the exiting of the arena. However the serving of people drinks and food is just rubbish. To stand in a que for 40 minutes to get 2 slices of pizza and 3 drinks is bound a joke. Serving staff did not have a clue and there didn’t even seem to be any management of these staff either I understand will be agency or temp employees but the prices you pay you want better service.

B. D. (.

Love coming here for events but the food and drink are pricey and the quality is mediocre

S. B.

Went to see Andre Rieu fantastic performance ...staff pleasent and helpful

C. M. Y.

The Utilita Arena was the venue for the Andre Rieu Johann Strauss Orchestra. Unfortunately, all vehicles were blocked from unloading close to the arena, resulting in many people with walking aids, to walk a distance and climb stairs, then have to endure a rather long queue to just get in the building! The Concert was outstanding, the venue needs work! 😔

S. R.

Never been to an arena before where there were enough ladies toilets that you did not have to queue.

P. K.

Best gig ever seeing Iron Maiden, not to big of an arena so atmosphere is amazing, great choice of drinks, easy to get, friendly staff

P. T.

Great night watching genesis seats were good seach at door was a bit hit and miss

B. O.

Staff couldn't have been more helpful, very friendly. Excellent, keep up the good work

S. R.

Great arena with good facilities. Access by car or taxi is difficult - if you have difficulty walking it could be a problem.

S. D.

Here to see Steps.. Amazing gig. Amazing venue.. Only issue is the crazy prices... £24 for a plastic bottle of wine 🤷😢

G. B.

Had a great night. Will return again getting parked is a bit of a rough

A. G.

Food is a rip off and so are drinks, though its what you expect from a place like this..£9.30 for a plain hot dog and a soft drink or £11.20 for a pint with it is ridiculous..toilets were cleanish..enjoyed the concert and would definitely go back to that venue

m. s.

Great arena Security checks in place makes you feel.very safe . Bar prices not to bad either .

P. S.

Excellent sound quality, great shows, very cramped

H. A.

went to see Brian Adams he was good 👍 downside from where we were he looked about 3lns tall and the side screens weren't on

p. w.

Had a great night watching Barry Manilow

L. R.

Had a really good night but those green chairs need replacing ASAP. Hubby is 6ft 5 and was squashed.

L. H.

Thanks for the great Dua Lipa Concert!

F. K.

All seats have a great view and very helpful staff

G. W.

The Riverdance show was Excellent. The organisation going into the arena was chaotic. Lacked organisation. Drinks prices were extortionate. Didn't allow liquids to be taken in. So they had a captive audience. Shame!

F. H.

Brian Adams amazing as always. Great show

P. S.

Great show not very cumfy fab night

A. B.

Good value place to park, 15 mins walk to the monument.

a. f.

Staff were professional and polite facilities good but cafes and bars very expensive.

G. H.

Great band's but £7 A Pint is a disgrace.

s. r.

Drinks and food hideously overpriced even for a music venue. The whole place is looking it's age and is tired and dated. However, the Staff were fabulous and the toilets were clean and queues were minimal. The show was fantastic and lighting, sound and visuals were absolutely top class. Eat and drink before you visit and you won't be disappointed.

g. S.

Very well organised, no problems at all apart from expensive food and drinks

Z. Q.

Good venue. Seating and standing areas available with lots of choice of drinks and snacks. High security which is always a reassurance

L. Z.

The venue itself was amazing. There isn't a bad seat. My only gripe is that the air conditioning could be a little stronger.

G. M.

Accommodating and canny staff, great concert ambiance, there are drinks for everyone, have seen Iron Maiden here on May 14, 2017...best night ever! :)

J. P.

Very good venue for big events. Felt secure as backpacks aren't allowed and other bags were checked. You also had to go through metal detectors.

I. C.

Looking a bit tired these days. And 7.10 a pint really hurts 😕

M. S.

We attended the Disney on Ice show, it was magical, I felt like a baby again. My kids absolutely loved it.

S.

Great venue. Nice staff

j. “. C.

Whitesnake foreigner and europ brilliant night in the vip section

J. T.

Went to see Rick Astley and Strictly come dancing amazing.

P. F.

Great night watching Stereophonics, food and drink overpriced but they are at any event. All in all was a good experience

G. F.

Went here for Mark Knopfler May 2019 and loved it...Venue staff super friendly, great sound quality and brilliant view from block 101

W. S.

I recently visited the arena for a performance of Les Miserables, the reason for 3 stars is the price of food & drink was extortionate, I don't see any justification for greed, the toilets were clean, the performance was amazing, I was fortunate to attend when Alfie Boe and Michael Ball were the main leads...

C. B.

Doors opened late, resulting in lots of people not getting in in time to see the first act!

W. L.

This is a great venue easy to get too from train bus etc. Lots of toilets and bars so ticks all the boxes. Great for concerts.

s. m.

Queueing & search procedures need improvement , took nearly a hour to get to seats .

A. J.

Great venue, really expensive for drinks

N. S.

Well organized friendly and helpful staff, be aware at large gigs etc it takes a little longer to get in through security. Iron maiden gig Aces High

P.

Good place but feels like ya sitting in a factory.

K. P.

Little mix were amazing and the venue staff were great

T. H.

Nice place but drinks and food are very expensive. Everyone has to go through security checks and bags are also searched. Didn't mind as it's for our safety

L. G.

Had a great experience at the arena thanks to Natalie (Rudd I think was her surname sorry!) But Natalie went above and beyond to help my group with our seats and even came back to offer us closer seats so that the children could see better. Amazing service and a credit to your team. Thank you so much the children were so happy..

4. M. A. R. F.

Great arena staff were really helpful price of food and drink little expensive, but what you'd expect. Micky Flanagan was fantsstic great night great venue

A.

Great show, spoilt by people who can't hold their bladder for more than an hour so continuously walking backwards and forwards! Lots of nice hotels, bars and restaurants within walking distance.

L. R.

Ten minutes from trains station easy to find bars and restaurants nearby well organised entrance for very busy audience and very helpful gate ushers who helped us when our phone died and couldn't retrieve ticket had a great night

j. m.

First time their everything was spot on apart from the lift which only held four people at one time.

P. G.

Great concert venue. With friendly stewards.

H. H.

Went to see Rick Astley and had a great night. He was fantastic, what a voice!! Great atmosphere.

N. W.

Good venue. Adaptable for audience sizes. Take your own drinks & snacks or take a very fat wallet.

A. H.

Good size venue, covid rules adhered to, safe after multiple security checks.

G. C.

Pretty good although they seem to be poor at checking bags enough and seats are ever so slightly uncomfortable. The in venue food/drink is way to expensive too

G. L.

Excellent experience. Well organised and helpful friendly staff.

S. O.

Fantastic Arena hosting top artists from around the world. Most recent visit was to watch the Strictly Come Dancing arena tour. The show was brilliant with a superb finale. This is a go to place if you like being entertained in a warm and enthusiastic environment where audience participation is actively encouraged.

C. b.

As always my experience at the Arena is great,the only thing i have as a negative is that i downloaded the covid pass as instructed on the website and wasn't asked to produce it as evidence of my jabs!!

N. P.

Slightly dated arena but a great concert

p. k.

Great venue for music, could do with a bottle bar down the bottom end

S. I.

Saw Chris and Rosemarie Ramsey here and it was a perfect location. It is very tired and run down but does the trick. The seats are really packed in and small.

a. l.

Went to see slipknot here and have to say the venue is fantastic. Staff were a bit flaky when asked to sit a couple that insisted on standing in the seated area and they refused to get involved. Prices for drinks and food are pure daylight robbery (captive audience) as £8.50 for a drink!!! Other than that had an amazing time.

J. A.

The arena was fine but if your disabled its harder to get in and your not allowed to drop out side arena for safety reasons. Prices are high for drinks and i didn't even know of lift in the place till manage get up stairs seat are cramped together and not much room for your legs. But on the bright side the show was good & it was nice to be out for few hours.

J. M. K.

I only used Box office, after getting frustrated trying to buy tickets threw Ticket Master, the security that was being set up impressed me with Metal Scanners, bag searching, separate Entrance Q for wheelchair Users, restrictions on bag size also in force was told no bag bigger then A4 size alowed, Disabled parking Avalible, but there is a parking Charge for Blue Badge Holders. Box office Staff where very Helpfull, and solved my problem, & Saved me lott stress, but if you just Take Bare Esentals that u need for time at concert will save u time, in Q when come to security checks, I'd personally have lots checks & be safe at event, it might also be worth arriving in plenty of time in Q, so can go threw Security, and not miss any of your Event, I also hope your Experience with staff as help full as mine

N. P.

Pet Shop Boys, great venue and show

M. B.

Fantastic venue,well organised & friendly staff. 👌

a. m.

Well organized, good view from the seats.

R. F.

Went here to see Madness live . Very Organised safe clean during our visit 🙂

P. E.

This isnthe best venue i know for events. No circle seats, as such, just banked seats all around the stage. Never seems cheap but it is the best venue.

M. M.

Took 3 grandchildren to see Joseph. Loved the show. The children's fruit shoot was taken from them. The only child's drink inside is water.

j. m.

It is was it is old building. Expensive food and drink they have you over a barrel and they know it.

J. P.

Great layout. Good security measures too!

L. B.

Sound was fantastic went to see Phil Collins place was clean beers were bit on the pocket but there again always are at these events

b. b.

Had to queue for a hour to get in £7 per pint RIP OFF

D. G.

Enjoy every minute of my experience at the arena.

M. D.

It was fantastic at the arena seeing GENESIS phil Collins was fantastic me and my Karen loved seeing him and the band xxx

D. W.

The acoustics here make any music event a little more special. Access is decent and security is tight but efficient so no long delays. Food and drink at the venue is a little pricey so beware. But I mainly enjoy it for the bands and the music and that never disappoints.

N. B.

Compared to other Arenas the seats here are really small.

C. R.

The arena staff were fantastic. I have a disability and literally from parking and throughout the gig, all the staff couldn’t have been more helpful. Respectful, kind and caring. I felt at ease and had a thoroughly amazing time.

J. A.

Went to Disney on Ice such a good time and very easy to get through no hastle felt very safe

J.

A great arena! Can get quite warm so I recommend not wearing a jumper!! Security was quick but thorough.

C. M.

Absolutely fabulous it was amazing well done to all the stars

l.

Felt very safe, really enjoyed it!

M. T.

Food and drink expensive. Sam Fender put on a brilliant show well worth the 2 year wait. Come back soon Sam 👍

D. S.

Kings of Leon gig.... Awsome

J. G.

Saw Michael Buble. WOW! We were up a flight of stairs but not too high. Good seats, good view, large screens. We have always been wary of large venues like this through limited viewing but had no need to worry

D. B.

Good venu but expensive once inside and beer not the best

R. C.

Great place, great experience but expensive

P. G.

Amazing music. The Script were amazing

F. B.

Went to see Disney on ice... just amazing. Clean.. but damn expensive.. couldn't believe the prices for drinks. Staff were helpful though, also sanitizer located everywhere which was good!

M. L.

1st time at this arena. Good experience.

S. J.

Came here for trick. What a night the atmosphere was fantastic, sound system was bang on and the security staff were spot on.

N. B.

Nice venue. Main entrance area nice and big. Enough bars but you will wait, and after the wait you will be met with £5.80 pint prices so don't get your hopes up. Main arena is good size and nice acoustics. Well set up for music gigs and other shows.

D. M.

Venue good but disabled parking £8 ...robbing dogs

V. G.

Venue was very comfortable, staff all helpful. Plenty toilets which were clean and functional although pretty outdated. Drinks were as expensive as expected but didn't expect them to run out of certain drinks. The exit from the venue was great with lots of exits leading straight outdoors.

k. d.

I liked it very much I want to go again soon 👍👍 The honest opinion of a 9 year old boy 🙂

S. M.

Staff are really nice and well trained. Decent place to visit and seating is good too. Prices are steep but you'd expect that for venues like the arena. Don't want it to close and move to Gateshead as Newcastle will once again be without an venue.

m. c.

A really great place for concerts, the acoustics are amazing, it’s my favourite place for big entertainment

e. g.

Haven't been for many years but it was good. Efficient. Queues went down quick. Staff friendly and helpful.

G. R.

Went to see Sunday for Sammy and it was all it was cracked up to be. Having watched every DVD, to be there and in the third row in front of the stage with my 93 year old dad was brilliant. My sis and her husband were there also and we all had a fantastic time. Looking forward to two years time!

D. J.

GREAT VENUE FOR THE DARTS BUT DRINKS ND FOOD PRICES WERE ON THE HIGH SIDE. PLUS DARTS MEMORABILIA WAS RIDCOLOUSLY PRICED. BUT GOOD ATMOSPHERE

T. C.

Although getting a little dated still a great venue to attend a concert. Covid restrictions were certainly in place during this visit and the majority of people were adhering to these. Staff were extremely helpful and when we had a slight problem with our seats the staff member in our area came and rectified this straight away. Drinks/ food seemed overpriced but we were aware of this before attending. A real downside was the route everyone had to take on leaving - quite dark, crowded and barriers in the way that were not easy to see! A real bug bear is the attendees who seem to insist on taking their seats a few minutes after the concert started then needing to leave again after a few minutes to go to the bar!!

N. M.

Has some excellent bands, and the arena area is free of pillars so everyone has a great view. Large...but no so large that you feel too distant from the stage. Plenty of bars and catering...at a price.

K. C.

Excellent night 👏 little mix . Security was spot on ! Very pricy when in there ! Block 202 could see fab

M. H.

Small Arena in comparison to some visited. Careful with upper tier seating as you end up very twisted in seat to see. More screens would help. Acoustics could be better. However would visit again, for right type of events.

L. W.

Drinks way way too expensive and not nice

J. C.

Amazing show tonight (Riverdance) but place seems dated and in need of attention. Prices extortionate but overall amazing time.

H. T.

Great arena with lots of shops. Access is great for those in need. Found staff to be very helpful 😊

C. P.

Love this place & I am going back next month for Impractical Jokers live I can not wait. There is always at least one gig a month worth going to see, & i can mention a few up coming gigs i will be going to see. Prices are pretty iffy sometimes but that is not down to the arena i hope lol. It is well worth going for a big gig just for the experience alone, they are fully wheelchair accessible all over the place & has very helpful staff or at least that is my personal experience. All you need to know on website... Enjoy.

H. J.

Decent music venue. Sound can sometimes be off but that’s typical in a large venue like this. Sound was excellent for the Snow Patrol gig - not sure if this was due to being near the front or the crowd being a bit older!! Food and drinks are very expensive which again is to be expected at places like this.

S. H.

They have great entertainment here, but the seating is out of date , it should be teared a lot more. I sat in block c, paid more money for this , but you can't see properly. We had to watch on big screens instead of the stage. The show was great , but I felt as though i as was watching TV, instead of a stage show. PLEASE get some decent teared seats so people can watch the show properly. So they get what they pay for. Thanks.

S. A.

Just had a fabulous night at Arena seeing Michael Buble. Unbelievable night. Liked the stage coming down into audience as usually quite soul less when just the stage at one end. Arena very organised and clean. Staff lovely. But what lets it down is prices for drinks. 2 gin and tonic and one half beer shandy.£25. Crazy.

A. M.

Went to see Chris & Rosie Ramsey, had booked an ambulant seat and seat for my carer but only one seat was out so the lovely fella on staff sorted us another seat after about 20mins of us waiting. Show was great, although drinks expensive, £10 for 2 large soft drinks, no idea on the food as didn't buy any, staff helpful but the seating could of been better organised.

A. L.

Excellent staff, very security and covid awareness. Bill Bailey was brilliant too

Z. M.

The arena is your average music venue, don't expect anything to be cheap, you'll be looking at a £7-9 price tag if you plan on eating when you're there (but it's easy enough to walk into the city center). Parking isn't too expensive but a limited amount of free parking can be found nearby. The only problem I have ever faced has been in the disabled seating during family shows such as Disney on ice, parents will allow their children to sit in the stand alone seats that are allocated to carers so that they can sit in the wheelchair bay, generally a polite 'excuse me' will solve this though.

C. S.

Just been to see Sunday for Sammy. Totally fantastic event and the Arena is excellent. Only down side which stopped it getting five stars, is the fact the show ran an hour late so everyone was made to leave the same way. The way was a small hall.

S. Y.

Standard arena. Refreshment offerings is OK, as expensive as you would expect £5-6 for a pint

P. W.

Went to see Sir Rod Stewart. Great show with no problems encountered from anyone or anything. Brilliant sound system and acoustics. Security getting in to the Arena was very thorough but easy to negotiate with plenty of pre-warning notices on what is expected and what you need to do before entering the area. Well done to all staff involved.

R. L.

Good transport access. Relatively easy entrance and exit. Unfortunately acoustics are crap for a music venue. Not enough toilets and food/drink is overpriced as usual at these venues. The seating is also very cramp. Staff have always been good thou and the place seems well run.

M. C.

I really feel the stewards at the arena deserve recognition. My daughter had tickets for Little Mix on Thursday. She had to use a wheelchair following surgery on her leg on Wednesday and we were all worried that she wouldn't manage to make the concert and if she did she wouldn't have enjoyed it. The staff at the arena were brilliant. They allowed us to drop her at the venue, found her and her boyfriend seats with wheelchair access and helped them leave the venue at the end of a brilliant show. Thank you so much.

A. W.

This is a nice medium sized arena, as with most places like this food and drink prices are expensive. We had floor seats on our visit which was a bit cramped and made it hard to see the stage well, at the interval we noticed a lot of empty seats on the stands and so moved to the back and high up for a great view! Would visit again!

J. “. C.

Really expensive for drinks nearly £10 a drink

R. O.

Great night seeing Westlife! The actual arena is great but points of for the unbelievably high price of food and drink (your own is taken off you at the door) I know you expect it to be a little high but come on. Also my sister (who has a invisible disability) wanted to use the disabled toilet on the upper level which was being guarded by a member of staff and was told she would have to use the normal ones which were away away which caused her great pain as walking is an issue for her so if you do need a disabled loo I would go before taking your seats in the holding area because they guard the like the crown jewels!

N. B.

Not opening accessible toilets at both sides of the arena as soon as they opened was a down side for me. Other than that was very happy with the accessible seating and the show was fantastic. Travelled almost 3 hrs to see Bryan Adams and definitely wasn't disappointed.

A. G.

Been here recently at the Iron Maiden concert which was amazing. Jam packed with a lot of fans of the band and the venue for this was amazing. Good size, good all around sound no matter where you sat. Staff also very friendly despite the high amount of customers.

L. T.

Expensive for food and drinks with limited choice of food. However the concert was amazing, which is why we were there.

g. b.

Fantastic

L. H.

The venue staff are very professional and place is obviously very well maintained, But! the beer is far too expensive and was mediocre at best. To be fair you’d expect this at this kind of venue. Also Id HATE to discredit the venue security, I know they try really hard and it’s not an easy job, especially with the staff they have ‘and they did seem stretched’, but I thought it was a bit slack, they were just stood round chewing the fat a lot and didn’t really seem to appreciate the importance of their duty, especially with the terror threat the way it is nowadays. I think some team training might benefit. Try and keep the same guys doing the same job they will get better at it, they seemed a bit ‘deer in headlights’ when a couple guys were getting a bit mouthy with eachother, the security didn’t intervene but thankfully it deescalated on its own. I’ve spent 8 years in the security industry and I noticed a few things myself where I would have at LEAST wanted an on the spot bag search, I don’t think the security on really knew how to handle it, It’s an important job guys, especially with a venue like this, the threat is very real unfortunately. A bit training and they’ll be fab. Keep up the good work guys

S. W.

The 'Live Lounge' was a great experience. A quiet lounge and bar to sit and have pre-gig drinks away from the crowds. Also, a place to hang your coat when in the actual arena and no toilet or bar queues at the interval. Brilliant. If only I could use it for every gig.

j. b.

Big arenas are not really my thing as I prefer smaller venues but needs must. ELO, War of the Worlds, Queen and Keane have been fab in past and Genesis were great last night! Security has naturally escalated lately and it's now more like the airport but didn't take too long to get in. Didn't ask for COVID passport even tho told they would.Food and drink are expensive - 2 beers, a wine and a water £21. Toilets surprisingly weren't too busy?🤨

M. C.

Great place to watch a band.

M. B.

Good venue for concerts, seating areas are marked and organisation of entrance and exit excellent! Drinks are very expensive so make sure you have enough cash on you. Would consider going to this venue again

N. D.

Went to see both Noel Gallagher and Arctic Monkeys here and it's a great venue overall. The sound is perfect, and the screens are a great addition for those who are seated far from the front. Food and Drink is extortionate but what else is there to expect from a gig foyer? Venue is a little outdated now but I believe it is being moved in 2019.

s. p. E.

Great night out with Millie watching JLS

D. W.

Nice areana for watching concerts etc. Only negative not a lot of leg room between yours and the seats in front. Choose seats carefully for best views. We were in 103 and this was our view

a. t.

Great night. Nice to feel normal again.

k. h.

Been here a few times for concerts, no complaints, plenty of parking spaces prices inside are the same as most venues £3 for a bottle of coke.... I think if prices were a little lower I would spend more. But other than that no complaints, fab time had by all

M. C.

The arena is very big it has refreshment areas also alcohol is sold there. Good car park area and if that is full another parking area at Times Square a 5 minute walk. There are toilets it is wheelchair friendly and if you inform the arena when booking help us given which you will need as there are lots of stairs but to the side there are ramps. There is lots of staff available to help once inside and I found very pleasant. The seating is moulded plastic and serviceable

J. S.

Great concert venue - plenty of onsite, reasonably priced parking (and other car parks nearby). Friendly entrance staff who don't treat you like a criminal or potential terrorist, plenty of food and drink options inside, reasonably priced. Acoustics aren't the best but certainly not the worst I've ever heard at a concert venue. Most big names tour here, always something worth seeing throughout the year. A much nicer experience than most other venues around the country.

D. B.

Disney on ice today, very busy but well organised

G. B.

Simply Red....stunning 😍

S. B.

It is a fantastic arena. Just waiting to go back!

C. P.

Went to see Impractical Jokers a few month back & it was a decent venue security was all over the place & staff are friendly & helpful, the Price of food & Drink is Astronomical so I highly recommend you Eat before you go. I paid about £9 for a Hot Dog & a Bottle of Fanta I can't remember if I had the tiny portion of chips with that or if I paid separately for some for my GF but either way what you get is not worth the money. The Hot Dog Bun was hard & chewy & there was zero else on it, you should atleast get some fried onions & cheap Tomato sauce that was bitter lol. The venue itself was fine though so like I said eat first & you will be fine whatever you go to see. Enjoy.

P. M.

As a large arena it's a very good but the bar prices are outrageous. I know it's the norm at similar venues elsewhere but it's not right! Security checks are a must these days and its managed well by the staff who are always on hand to help.

E. B.

The place and the event was awesome, but.... staff shouldn't advertise fake information to people. Waited forever in a queue to get the so called buffalo wings and sticky ribs only to get the surprise of both meals vegan and the fake wings were full of burn from all other times the food got cooked, there was nowhere whatsoever written that the food is vegan. I don't mind vegan food but when I eat it by choice! Overall I think the place was overpriced.

D. H.

Band were good crowd drunk and unpleasant, contracted Covid so overall not a positive experience

S. J.

Fantastic concert by Stereophonics and KT Tunstall - great venue and crowd!

D. J.

Chaotic long queues to get through security checks. Car parking didn't look any better! Uncomfortable seats with no leg room. £7.50 a pint. Poor signing ( non) identifying collection points for VIP packages The good points. It's easy walking distance from town centre. Staff were helpful

J. B.

Been to the strictly live tour at this arena tonight it was packed out but even tho turning up later than I wanted to and was in a massive queue to get in it all ran very quickly and smoothly. I've knocked a star off because my ticket were a Xmas gift from my sister and even tho I was second row in and cud see everything the only issues was the seat were smaller and crammed together and we felt abit squashed together like sardines in a tin but apart from that a brilliant evening well worth going to see 😃

S.

Watched the Michael Ball and Alfie Boe together at Christmas, excellent venue would definitely return here

S. S.

Great place to see some top boxing, particularly if the fighters are locals (also saw Roy Jones Jr, Eubank, Fury, Savannah Marshall and a few other legends!) Go Steve 'USSR' Robinson

P. R.

Venue is awful. The hard plastic seats are about big enough to get one bum cheek on and no leg room. Bill Bailey was superb however. And beer at £8.50 a pint well you’d have to be insane to pay that. Oh and show sec are a complete joke of a security company and very unprofessional

K. C.

Great night with Dua Lipa. Staff great at usual lovely atmosphere always feel safe here.

L. H.

Well organised, good view from most seats excellent facilities for food and drink. Prices £7 for a pint of beer or cider and two 500ml bottles of water £4.50. Seat tiering good providing clear view over row in front. Main complaint seats small and cramped. I am 100 kg and they flexed a lot. Photo is stage view from 209 town m.

M. R.

Not a particularly comfy arena. Great expanses of concrete. No seats, other than those in the arena. The inability to drive nearer to the entrance for people with mobility issues, was not good. The seating was uncomfortable, everyone was packed in like sardines!! I wouldn't like to spend any longer than I did in the uncomfortable seating. Enjoyed the concert, just not the venue.

C. W.

Amazing night atmosphere was electric. So glad Striccame back to the Arena.

C. B.

The parking if you are a foreigner is a headache. Accepts only some cards from specific countries only. Lookup just park app or go somewhere else

D. S.

Saw Whitesnake and Foreigner here. The arena itself is fine, plenty of snacks and drinks, toilets, well organised but not impressed with the sound quality. They never seem to get the balance right. Couldn't hear the singers above the band. Will not be rushing back for a music gig.

M. M.

Good venue..need to do something about seating on the corners of arena..very uncomfortable..

k. g.

The seating at the arena is terrible. Rock hard plastic seats with no space in between. Had a big lad next to me who's arm was across mine cos of the closeness of the seats. Good show by John Bishop tho.

C. W.

Good venue to see a band. Easy access from the west over the A69 into Newcastle. Seen a few bands there and always enjoyable. Used the Utilita car park last time and no problems

M. Y.

Great arena, nice a warm considering it was very cold outside. Went to see Bill Bailey and it was great. 👍🏻👍🏻

T. T.

When we arrived, we didn’t expect the length of time to enter due to extra security, so this would have been worth mentioning when booking to ensure this time was taken into account. Don’t attempt to take in any of your own food & drink as this will 100% get confiscated from you on entry - all bags are searched. Once inside, there were plenty of places to get served for food & drink, so queuing is minimal. Plenty of toilets available and again, queues shorten down quite fast. The show itself was fantastic! Easy to find seats & plenty of staff on hand to help where needed. Forgot how tight of a squeeze the seats are together! The biggest downfall was when the show was over, they had EVERYONE exit the building through the main exit/entry point instead of opening the numerous side exits. This did cause some slight distress as had there of been any fire alarms or emergencies, there would have been an inevitable amount of panic and trampling as a result!!! So this definitely made me nervous when leaving & would make me reconsider going again for a show!

M. Z.

Brilliant show seeing Simply Red. Venue well organised and a great atmosphere.

J. H.

Been to many events here and the atmosphere is brilliant. Takes a while to get through security - which is a must. All staff very friendly and helpful. Drinks and food very expensive.

w. b.

Row W should be sold as restricted view. This row seems to have been added in the aisle.Seats are at virtually same level as row in front. Go here frequently as its local . 1st time in that row and to be honest it should be elevated more or took out.

C. C.

Great venue for Bongo's Bingo the atmosphere was incredible. The security and bar staff were very helpful and friendly. My only gripe would be the prices at the bar...shockingly expensive!

R. P.

At the arena for a concert on 21st April 2022. The place was absolutely freezing. Several people, including me, moved seat to try and get away from what appeared to me to be an aircon blower on full blast. I'm glad that I had a jacket with a hood on to try and keep the chill off my head (and I wasn't the only one to do this). The seats are a hard plastic, which is very uncomfortable for a whole evening, and are designed to seemingly only fit persons of a fairly small stature. I'm only 5' 6"", weighing approx 12 stones, and felt that I was like a sardine when others were on either side of me. Sorry, but I doubt that I'll go back to this venue. Postscript - the concert itself and the acoustics were good, so that was a positive.

T. M.

Have been to this venue quite a few times, as we're local, usually have no bother at all - but last night the queue was so slow, had to walk down the side of the arena, past the queue of people only to walk back up again! Usually you just walk up the steps and through security. This meant we completely missed the first group. Then when inside I realised I hadn't checked our seat numbers - could not get an Internet signal at all to retrieve them - and I wasn't the only one, saw other people frantically trying too. Now that everything is digital and online it is madness to not have WiFi. Set off the experience really badly.

C. B.

Seats are a bit small - not great for a few hours unless you're skinny as a rake. Beer prices are astronomical. Great acts play here though.

A. F.

Amazing show. Love the arena. Clean. Friendly staff. Pricey for drinks etc and card only payments isnt always good idea

K. B.

Smaller than I remember so it's always a good view. It's old but knowing it's getting demolished makes it bearable.

R. H.

Apart from 7.50 a pint the most uncomfortable seats known too man the staff were helpful but oh my god the stereophonics were possibly the best concert I've seen in my life if you get a chance go and see them

J. S.

Excellent arena for a rock concert. We seen Whitesnake, Foreigner and Europe and all 3 were great. £16 for 2x25ml one with lemonade and one with slim tonic was a bit steep, although this was the only gripe it didn't take away the enjoyment of the visit to the arena and the gig.

D. S.

Just an OK venue to at least see your act in the NE. No pre-show heads up given that our concert would start dead on 8pm which left hundreds rushing to their seat and even stopped from doing so until after the first number. Not sure the Hotdog & Pint Mealdeal for £12 is a deal ?!

S. K.

Excellent venue Well organised Food a little expensive though spent £31.00 on 2 hot dogs 2 trays of chips and 2 pints of lager Could be a lot cheaper and people would eat. More All in all excellent trip out

T. K.

Visited it for the WWE Event. Worth the Money . Loved the donuts there.

f.

Great performances but make sure to eat and drink beforehand as the prices are astronomical, takes high end Newcastle prices and turns them up another couple of notches.

D. C.

Dua Lipa concert She was amazing Staff some were rude. Bought a couple of soft drinks, paid for them, they removed the lids and said with a smile You don't get the lids because you may use the drinks as a weapon or projectile! Really? A lot of patrons bemused at this "behaviour " from you. Moreso the conceited attitude because they don't tell you until you have paid £3 for a bottle of water! Why did this annoy me simple, bad attitude of your staff.

O. S.

Perfect for concert of a big star. Not so big and the crowd is way smaller

G. B.

Easy access and felt safe with all the staff being very supportive - only gripe was the seats didn't realise i had booked kiddie size ....joking aside good venue and the atmosphere was electric but that was the sam fender fans

K. B.

The box was great but it was to far away from the main stage ,screens where good but again to far away,had a great night ,staff where excellent and very helpful, atmosphere was unbelievable would go again,hope the new arena has the suites closer to the main stage when your paying thousands for a suite you expect to be able to be right on top of the main stage,

I. B.

Seriously needs some updating! Toilets were smelly and floor was soaking. Expensive drinks and foods. Great experience and atmosphere inside though when the arena is full

E. H.

First aiders were brilliant at the Dua Lipa convert on Saturday; they got me a drink and checked my vitals when I almost passed out from dehydration. They also did an excellent job of keeping my friend and I's spirit's up while I was recovering by making jokes and chatting to us, absolutely first class staff!

D. R.

Great venue for music etc .... This time went to see Whitesnake .Europe and Foreigner .. We went early so didn't miss any of the bands ...but a lot of people missed the first act due cues outside.. My advice go early and guarentee to see all the acts also the price for drinks etc is ridiculous...

S. D.

Went to see Barry Manilow last week which was fantastic. During the supporting act there were no large screens on which was very,very disappointing.

S. R.

Went to see The Script with Ella Henderson supporting. Check in was quick, great seats and show was amazing. Great atmosphere 👌

M. D.

Cracking concert with Europe, Foreigner & Whitesnake, but why do these venues need to take advantage with drink pricing..... £3.50 for a bottle of softdrink or a whopping £7.50 a pint !!!! Hence the reason for 4 stars.....

K. B.

Went to see Andre Rieu at the arena last night who was excellent the show very professional singers musicians perfect sound would recommend it and now trying to book for Maastricht

A. K.

Overall the arena is good, but needs a better queuing system rather than it snaking freely to the side of the building and along the road Entry was quick once the doors were open and even getting through security checks was quick but still thurow Once inside the queue for merch was again a free for all and no real order, but staff were good and quick to get through everyone and quickly as they could Bar prices inside are a bit high £7.50 for a pint is a bit steep but there is other alternative drinks that you can take into the main arena with you

E. A.

Andre Rieu was his usual very high standard. Venue was not so good. Food and drinks expensive and not very very varied. Pizza, hotdogs or chicken nuggets, very poor offerings in a large Venue

C. M.

Not very organised, from the queue to door.. no information about card only payments (unfair when waiting for a new card) but kids had an epic time.

h. m.

Omg what a brilliant night watching the main man Barry manilow sang danced had fabulous time atmosphere just the best, great staff ect couldn't fault it, keep up the great work to all the team 👍

J. P.

Great night really enjoyed it. Well run and easy to get seated staff very helpful. Fantastic

J. M.

Finding the Arena the entrance to the Arena was a nightmare as Google Maps was sending us the wrong way and signposts were OK for drivers but not pedestrians. Once in the venue this evening finding our seats was easy and we thoroughly enjoyed Simply Red.

J. k. (.

Went to see WWE, very busy but great atmosphere. Food and drink typically over priced but hey you kinda expect that. Security & stewards were good helping us to find our seats. A good time was had by all 😀

S. K.

Every event we have seen here has been great with a good atmosphere. Bar prices extortionate. Broken lift meant our wheelchair user was unable to get to the seats we had originally booked, but the Customer Service team was very helpful in arranging alternative seating that we could access without needing one.

S.

I would like to say a big thanks to the staff and medics who helped mum and l while attending the Barry concert. Excellent service and much appreciated.

S. L.

Have been here several times but most recently in April to see Sam Fender. It's nice to see the security is more thorough but hassle free.

A. S.

Good venue with a great sound, although £7.10 a pint seems a bit steep and the venue it's self is tired and showing its age.

D. C.

Excellent night considering the Covid restrictions.. drinks were reasonably priced and show was very good. Mind I feel the audience adhering to the use of masks and distancing helped make the evening better.

A. P.

Drinks far too expensive and some of the staff were jobsworths. Credit to the ones that weren't which were excellent.

H. J.

Quite a well used building - Good staff, shame about a minority of the paid guests! The Genesis Show was fantastic! Photo of Earl Grey statue, Newcastle as cameras not allowed at Utilita, despite ipads and mobiles being used in their thousands!

A. B.

Still a great night out. Watch out if you're disabled and want parking they now charge you. So take plenty of change or a card for payment

P. S.

Not content with paying a small fortune for concert tickets, and they've added a load of fees on top, it's 8 quid to park your car for the duration of the event, and then over 9 quid for a bag of Doritos, two dips and a plastic cup of pop. They then charge you 5 quid for four sugared donuts. I know I didn't have to buy them but jeez, talk about highway robbery. Apart from that and the noisy women sat in front who non-stop chatted through the entire event and then had the audacity to blame me and the mrs for spoiling THEIR night out. To be fair the thin lass with the false lashes looked as though she'd taken her larger mate out for a bet, she probably won a tenner for taking her out for the evening.

A. R.

I Went to see Disney on ice with my little boy the staff were all so lovely that i encountered. I am a very anxious person and I don’t cope well attending busy events but the security measures performed on everybody prior to entry meant I felt safe and reassured throughout the performance. I had booked a 8pm performance then worried about attending so booked a 12pm performance in addition but I managed to see both events on the same day due to how relaxed I felt during the 12pm performance. My only gripe was the rinksIde seats were quite small you were sitting on top of each other a lot of people were commenting this.I would definitely use this venue again given this experience

B. S.

Sound quality has never been the best but its not what it was built for. Been here many many times for gigs. From Slipknot to Dire Straits. Always been a brilliant experience. This is from the Whitensake gig the other week. Great security and didnt have to queue for long to get in. Pints are abit steep at £7 but expected.

J. M.

My wife and I have been going to the Arena for many years. But now we're older we found the Arena to be dirty and dangerous. I cannot believe that there was no lighting on the steps leading to our seats. We had to ask a complete stranger to use their phone light and escort us to our seats. The seats have barely enough room to sit on. And the steps leading down to our seats are dangerous enough,but without lighting or some form of rail absolutely dangerous.There were 22 of us in total who attended the Arena. And on meeting everyone after the show all made comments on the depth of the steps and the failure to be helped in any way to their sears . I no doubt there is always an excuse for the lack of lighting etc, but I'm also sure a lot of people would have fallen on route to their cramped seating

A. E.

Getting thru security wasn't to bad & yes full on security like the airport. Plenty of bars & service was good just not sure the seat l was moved to was better than what I was moved from as at a slight angle & paid for front facing

S. T.

Went to see strictly excellent. Door staff security etc brilliant friendly and helpful.. Drink overpriced. But the car park £20 to park the car. Absolute daylight robbery. Cheaper to get a taxi.

S. B.

Went to see Westlife. The main band were great, the event brought back my childhood memories of pop music. Loved the queen part of the concert. Showsec staff were also welcoming and very good. I didn't enjoy how my view had remained blocked during the concert and how drunk some people were and started fighting.

L. S.

Easy to find and parking is there if your willing to pay for it. You do get till the next day for parking which is great if your there for a few hours we went to see JLS got there early so we could have a walk to go grab a bite to eat first. When it was time it was handy having cat already there as parking filled up fast. Dropped off bags etc in car and went into the arena. Its a lovely size and staff where lovely.

A. H.

Great shows easy access and good transport links. The building itself needs a it of a upgrade (which is planned) seat7looks and feels very temporary as when it was a ice rink many years ago but still it works just don't take any food or drink security will conferscate it

C. S.

Went to see madness Corvid passport checks very quick getting in easy. The area well layed out easy to find your seat

C. H.

Excellent venue, long queue around the side of the arena to get in, but it was for bag and body searches, can't put a price on safety. Drinks quite expensive but to be expected. All in as to be expected, great concert venue.

C. C.

Show was great, getting into arena OK but exiting was a nightmare. Corraled to go down steps outside, I am disabled and found this very hard. Made walk to carpark much longer. I struggled with the extended walk.

M. B.

Excellence from getting parked to finding seats.. Staff and security very helpful contributed to excellent, only poor feature was getting out of car park.. Definetly could use staff directing traffic out.

C. D.

Great venue and in current climate covid friendly.. pints pricey but nice not like other venues. Will be back when right band on..

Contact

Photos