Good morning, Newcastle.

Hope you have all had a good start to your week. Just a heads-up: the next two weeks' editions will be a little shorter, covering only the basics, such as events, as I will be in Japan on holiday. I still want to get some content out for you guys, but it will not be very in-depth.

The Prince is one of Newcastle's most loved and popular pubs, always seeming to draw a crowd on the weekend. I have gone quite a few times, safe to say it always delivers. Whether you're going for a casual drink or a sit-down meal, The Prince is a reliable option.

They have a great selection of unique craft beers on tap, as well as the classics, plus great cocktails. The upstairs terrace is a great place for a drink.

Like other pubs I have featured, The Prince also has a really good food menu, I believe it holds up with many restaurants in town. Great pizza, steaks and pub classics aplenty.

Might not be a secret, but The Prince is worth a visit if you haven’t been.

12 tickets left, and once they're gone, they're gone.

The Digest Dinner Club is a curated dinner experience designed for people who want more than small talk. Tables are matched using a personality quiz, so you'll sit down with strangers who actually have something in common with you. Good food, genuine conversation, and a night you'll actually remember. First edition is at Parry Street Garage on the 9th of April.

Newsletter subscribers get first access before this opens up on Instagram. If you're keen, click below to complete the quiz and lock in your spot.

👉 Secure your spot

Glendale City Centre 30th Birthday Celebration – Glendale City Centre | 1 March – 31 March
A month of celebrations including giveaways, family activities and nostalgic moments marking 30 years of the centre. Free event. More info.

Music in the Podium – Warners Bay Foreshore | 20 March 6pm – 9pm
A free Friday evening live music series on the foreshore featuring popular local musicians, hosted by Lake Macquarie City Council. Family-friendly and relaxed by the lake. More info.

Friday Chill – Pacific Park, Newcastle East | 20 March 6:30pm – 8:30pm
A free, family-friendly summer series with chilled local music, food trucks, kids activities and picnic vibes. BYO picnic or grab a bite from local vendors. More info.

Twilight Fridays at MAP mima – Multi-Arts Pavilion, Speers Point | 20 March
A free evening series featuring live music, food pop-ups, creative activities and themed entertainment for all ages. More info.

Newcastle Knights v NZ Warriors – McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmeadow | 21 March 3pm
NRL Telstra Premiership match featuring the Newcastle Knights at home. More info.

The Skin Hour: Reset After Summer – Avery Aesthetics, Newcastle | 19 March
A free in-clinic education session led by aesthetic nurses and dermal clinicians focused on post-summer skin health and personalised treatment guidance. More info.

Coffee and Claytime Workshop – Grounded By Designs, Carrington | 19 March 10am – 12:30pm
A relaxed pottery workshop where participants create hand-built ceramic pieces while enjoying coffee in a supportive studio environment. Tickets $120. More info.

Wine Club Night: Wines Below the Equator – The Press Book House, Newcastle | 20 March
A guided tasting of eight premium wines paired with charcuterie as part of a six-part monthly wine club series. Tickets $70. More info.

Rewind 2000s Dance Party – The Exchange, Hamilton | 20 March 8pm
A nostalgic club night celebrating iconic 2000s hits across two levels with DJs, drink specials and late trading. Free entry. More info.

Afro Shayo – Bar Romeo, Cooks Hill | 20 March
A world-music dance party featuring Afrobeats, dancehall and hip hop with local DJs and VIP packages available. Tickets from $15. More info.

FLUTTER! All Killer. No Filler. – Souths Merewether | 20 March
A cabaret performance blending circus, magic and comedy as Ivy Amore searches for love in an energetic and playful show. Tickets from $20. More info.

Trivia Night – The Farmers Wife Distillery, Allworth | 20 March 7pm
A gin-themed trivia night with general knowledge rounds plus food and cocktails available on the evening. Tickets $10. More info.

Occasional Combustible Disaster – Civic Theatre Playhouse, Newcastle | 20 March
A local theatre production following a teenager navigating family tensions and life-changing secrets in a humorous and emotional story. Tickets $49. More info.

Tom Avgenicos & Jordan East: Ghosts Between Streams II – Multi-Arts Pavilion, Speers Point | 21 March
An immersive audiovisual performance reimagining the Hunter River through live music, visuals and archival sound. Tickets from $27. More info.

Mr Snotbottom’s Stinky Silly Show – Polish Club, Broadmeadow | 21 March
A gross-out comedy show for kids featuring songs, gags and interactive silliness designed for families. Tickets from $25. More info.

Tiramisu Day – The Gladdy, Stockton | 21 March
A one-day celebration of tiramisu featuring classic desserts and themed cocktails created by Italian chef Simona. More info.

LIVE at the Levee Street Party – The Levee Shared Zone, Maitland | 21 March 5:30pm – 9:30pm
A free outdoor street party with live local music, food vendors and pop-up bars in Central Maitland. More info.

Newcastle Fringe Choir Day – Hamilton Uniting Church | 21 March 10:30am – 9pm
A full-day celebration of community choirs and vocal performances as part of the Newcastle Fringe Festival. More info.

Cornfest Final Show – The Wickham Park Hotel | 21 March 2pm
A farewell live music event featuring multiple local artists marking the final Cornfest show after years of performances. More info.

After Dark Emo Night – King Street Warehouse, Newcastle | 21 March 8pm
A club night dedicated to emo and pop-punk anthems with DJs and themed visuals. Tickets required. More info.

Hunter Arts Network Art Bazaar – New Lambton | 22 March 10am – 2pm
A curated artisan market featuring handmade works, live entertainment and food trucks. Free entry. More info.

Newcastle Chilli Festival – The Station, Newcastle East | 22 March 10am – 3pm
A vibrant food festival celebrating chilli products, street food, live music and eating competitions. Free entry. More info.

Nanna Tea’s Community Fundraiser – Croatian Wickham Sports Club | 22 March
A family-friendly fundraiser with live music, raffles, games and BBQ supporting disaster relief efforts. Entry from $2. More info.

Autumnal Floral Workshop – Mayfield Floral Co, Mayfield | 22 March
A hands-on floral design workshop using locally grown autumn blooms with participants creating their own arrangement. Tickets $250. More info.

March in the March for the Forests – Civic Park, Newcastle | 22 March 11am
A peaceful community gathering and march advocating for the protection of koala habitats and old-growth forests. More info.

International Women's Day Long Lunch - Earp Distilling Co. | 22 March 12:00pm
Celebrate International Women's Day at Earp Distilling Co. with a Sunday long lunch and accompanying speeches from a panel of accomplished women, who have found success across a variety of industries. More info.

Glendale Farmers & Artisan Market – Glendale | 21 March 8am – 2pm
A community market featuring artisan stalls, fresh food and international street eats. More info.

Warners Bay Markets – Warners Bay Foreshore | 21 March 9am – 1pm
A waterfront market showcasing local makers, food vendors and small businesses. More info.

Aussie NightMarkets – Dixon Park Beach, Merewether | 21 March 5pm – 10pm
A night market with street food trucks, retail stalls, carnival rides and family entertainment. Entry $2. More info.

Newcastle City Farmers Markets – Broadmeadow Showground, Griffiths Rd, Broadmeadow | 22 March
Shop direct from local farmers and makers in a classic community farmers market.

Newcastle Fringe is back for three weekends of independent arts across the city, comedy, cabaret, theatre, music, kids shows, and more, spread across venues in Hamilton, the CBD and beyond. It's one of the best things Newcastle does. Browse the full event program here.

Do you want me to share an event in the Newcastle Digest?

Auckland FC ended Newcastle's 10-match unbeaten run with a 2-1 win at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday, nudging the Jets' grip on top spot to just one point. Milligan was measured in his response, acknowledging Auckland's physical edge and defensive discipline, while pointing to missed opportunities in the final third as the difference.

Clayton Taylor was helped off in the first half and his fitness will be monitored ahead of Sunday's trip to Allianz Stadium to face third-placed Sydney FC at 3pm. Five games to go, the run home starts now.

Newcastle beat Manly 36-16 at Brookvale on Sunday to go two from two — but the victory came at a significant cost. Both Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown were injured in the first half, with Brown confirmed to miss at least a month with medial ligament damage to his knee.

Ponga was brilliant in his 28 minutes, involved in all three of Newcastle's first tries before hurting his hamstring diving over to score. Brown followed shortly after, injured in contact while putting Fletcher Hunt over.

Despite losing both in the first half, the Knights held firm against a Manly side that never really threatened. A different side from the one that finished last year with the wooden spoon — injuries aside, a strong start to 2026.

Last week's trivia caught a lot of you off guard. Fort Scratchley was built in response to a threat from which country? — 70% answered Japan. Understandable, but wrong.

Fort Scratchley was completed in 1882 to defend Newcastle against a possible Russian attack. The fear had been building for years across the Australian colonies, and it wasn't entirely without reason. After Russia's victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, Australian colonies were advised to review their defence capabilities. When three Russian ships were sighted near Melbourne in 1882, local newspapers reported the admiral was there to attack the Australian merchant navy. The paranoia was real, if overblown. In 1876, the British Government sent Major General Sir William Jervois and Lieutenant Colonel Peter Scratchley to advise on naval defences and the construction of the fort, which followed shortly after.

Newcastle was considered a particular target, as the colony's most important coal port, it was seen as both strategically vital and dangerously exposed.

The fort's guns were never fired in anger until Japan shelled Newcastle in 1942, the moment most people associate with Fort Scratchley, and the reason so many of you answered Japan last week. Built for one threat. Tested by another entirely.