Good morning, welcome back to the Newcastle Digest.

The last couple of editions have featured content about the dinner club announcement. I am happy to say that we have locked in a date and a venue. You'll find more about this in this newsletter edition, plus the regular favourites and a few new topics.

I'm also running a Newcastle Digest NRL footy tipping competition. There's a link to join below as well.

Have a good rest of your week!

Restaurants and cafes are nice, but I definitely like a good pub feed from time to time. Newcastle is spoilt for choice when it comes to pubs, and I'm making an effort to try as many as I possibly can.

This week I'm showcasing a local favourite, The Jeso or Hotel Jesmond. The Jeso has lots of space, a large on-tap beer selection and quite a decent-sized sports bar. What really stands out is their menu, which really shines compared to some other pubs, it is top tier. I have been a couple of times, and the burgers have always stood out to me and are on par with those at burger restaurants in Newcastle.

It's definitely worth a visit, especially if you are close to the Jesmond area.

What's your go-to pub in the area? Reply to this email and let me know a pub you would like me to try and review.

Hayl Mary - 74 The Lane, Maryville
A new café is taking over the former Elementa and The Source Café space on The Lane, with the teams behind After Dark Design and Praise Joe Urban Pantry at the helm. That pedigree alone is enough to get excited about.

Hilliers Café – Newcastle Art Gallery
Timed perfectly with the gallery's grand reopening, Hilliers is opening its doors on Saturday 28 February inside the newly expanded Newcastle Art Gallery. Run by the founders of Sprout Catering, you can expect solid coffee, a seasonal menu, and pastries from Liebe. If you're heading to the free street party on Friday the 27th, the café opens the very next morning.

First Light Café – 75 Elder St, Lambton
The City of Newcastle has given the much-loved Lambton Park Café space a proper renovation, and the faces behind it are worth the visit alone. Angelo Luczak (Mr. Sister), Luke Marshall (The Kiosk Newcastle), and Corey Park-Pearson (Parks Bistro and Catering) have joined forces to create a community café that's genuinely for everyone.

The NRL kicks off this Sunday with our Newcastle Knights in Las Vegas.

I thought I might put together a footy tipping comp for the audience. If anyone is interested in joining, please use the link below for ESPN footy tips.

👉 Join the Newcastle Digest Footy Tipping Competition

We’ve locked in the date.

The first Newcastle Digest Dinner Club will take place on Thursday, 9 April.

We’ve had 50+ people join the waitlist already, which is honestly a great sign. For the first one though, I’m keeping it small.

It will be capped at 30 seats.

Five tables of six.
Matched ahead of time based on a personality questionnaire.
Midweek. 6:30pm arrival.

You’ll be seated with people selected to create a good mix of personalities and interests. The goal isn’t networking. It’s simply a good night out with interesting locals.

Guests will order and pay for their own food and drinks on the night. There’s a booking fee to cover the organising and matching.

Bookings will open to the waitlist first next week, with a 24-hour priority window before being shared more broadly.

If you’re already on the waitlist, keep an eye on your inbox.

If not, you can join below.

👉 Join the Dinner Club waitlist

Music in the Podium – Warners Bay Foreshore | 27 February 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 | 27 February 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.

Newcastle Show – Newcastle Showground | 27 February – 1 March
Three days of rides, rodeo, fireworks, showbags, livestock events and Newy-Con comic convention. Tickets from $15. More info.

Newcastle Art Gallery Grand Reopening – Newcastle Art Gallery | 27 February – 1 March
A three-day celebration marking the gallery’s reopening with live performances, artist talks and the major exhibition Iconic Loved Unexpected. Free admission. More info.

Common Circus: Celebration of Joy – Hamilton | 28 February
A laid-back community day with a petting zoo, yard sale, storewide sale, coffee and treats. Free entry. More info.

Cinema Under the Stars: The Wild Robot – Speers Point Park | 28 February
A free outdoor screening with live music, kids activities and food vendors before the movie at sundown. More info.

Art For All 2026 Info Session – MAC yapang, Booragul | 28 February
A free information session for young people aged 12–24 about the inclusive 2026 visual arts program. More info.

Maitland Roller Disco – Harold Gregson Reserve | 28 February 5pm – 8pm
An outdoor roller disco with live DJ tunes and food trucks. BYO skates. Free event. More info.

Inflatable Day – Wallsend Pool | 1 March 11am – 2pm
Three hours of inflatable fun included with standard pool entry. More info.

Wallsend Toastmasters Club - Wallsend Diggers | Thursdays 7.15pm
Do you fear public speaking? Worried about making a speech or presentation? At Toastmasters they turn shaky knees into strong voices no matter your starting point.  You can even learn to love public speaking and have fun. The first 3 meetings are free! More Info.

NT Live: The Fifth Step – Civic Theatre Playhouse | 25–26 February 7pm
National Theatre Live screening starring Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman in a darkly funny story about trust and recovery. Tickets from $22. More info.

The Best of Bill Bryson – Civic Theatre | 25 February
An evening with Bill Bryson exploring the science and stories behind his bestselling work on the universe and everything in between. Tickets $95–$185. More info.

Spotlight Talks & Pocketbook Poetry – The Lock-Up | 26 February
An after-hours evening of youth-led talks and poetry responding to the exhibition A soft space to stand. Free with registration. More info.

Ciccetti e Calici – Lot 19, Wickham | 27 February
An intimate evening of traditional small bites paired with seven wines, hosted by Wine Fairy Events. Tickets $125pp. More info.

Friday Night Sounds – Laman Street, Cooks Hill | 27 February
A one-night street party celebrating the reopening of Newcastle Art Gallery with live music, sculptures, DJs and food trucks. More info.

The Big Chillout – Flamingos Live, Lambton | 27 February
A live celebration of the iconic Big Chill soundtrack and Motown revival, starring Judah Kelly and Asabi Goodman. Tickets from $55. More info.

The Big Chillout – NEX, Newcastle West | 27 February
A live tribute to the Big Chill soundtrack and Motown classics featuring Judah Kelly. Tickets from $79.90. More info.

Coffee and Claytime Workshop – Grounded By Designs, Carrington | 28 February 10am – 12:30pm
Create hand-built pottery in a relaxed workshop setting with all materials provided. Tickets $120. More info.

Marty Sheargold – Civic Theatre | 28 February
Marty Sheargold brings The Red Card Tour to Newcastle with sharp stand-up and candid storytelling. More info.

Shake It Off 2010s Party – The Exchange | 28 February
A throwback dance party celebrating viral hits and pop anthems from the 2010s. More info.

Paddle Against Plastic – Naru Beach, Marks Point | 28 February 7am – 10am
Join kayakers and volunteers to remove litter from the shoreline in support of Take 3 for the Sea. More info.

Karma Keg for Cancer Research – The Gladdy, Stockton | 28 February
Pay what you want for a schooner from the Karma Keg, with proceeds supporting cancer research. More info.

Chamber Music: Elegance & Imagination – Christ Church Cathedral | 1 March
Chamber Music in the Hunter presents works spanning Classical, Romantic and Impressionist eras. Tickets $25, children free. More info.

Pop-Up Repair Café – Hunter Multicultural Communities, Waratah | 28 February 10am – 12:30pm
Free repairs for clothing, small household items and bikes with help from The Full Circle Collective. More info.

Official Vegas Watch Party – NEX | 1 March 10:30am
The NIB Newcastle Knights host an 18+ live Vegas watch party on the big screens, with non-playing squad members in attendance. More info.

Angels or Devils Party – Islington Barracks | 28 February
Dress naughty or nice for a themed club night with DJs from 9pm, free entry and a best-dressed bar tab prize. More info.

Newy-Con – Newcastle Showground | 27 February – 1 March
Newcastle’s first pop culture convention featuring cosplay, gaming, panels and fan displays, included with Newcastle Show entry. More info.

Showtime Kayaking – Naru Beach, Marks Point | 7pm – 10pm
A hosted sunset kayak experience with illuminated clear kayaks, gourmet seafood picnic and live acoustic music on a sand island. Adults only. More info.

Paint & Sip – Mayfield Bowling Club | 28 February 6pm
A guided paint and sip session with step-by-step instruction in a relaxed, beginner-friendly setting. More info.

Newcastle Invades: Races Day Party – Newcastle Racecourse | 28 February 11:30am
An Autumn Races day party with exclusive enclosure access, DJs and afterparty hosted by DAVYROE. Tickets from $39. More info.

Rockin’ By The Station – Newcastle Station Precinct | 28 February 2pm – 6pm
An afternoon of rock and roll music, dancing, classic cars, retro market stalls and local food vans. More info.

End of Summer Party – Wangi RSL | 28 February – 1 March
A weekend celebration with live music, raffles, drink specials and prizes for best summer outfits. More info.

Lake Macquarie City Farmers Market – Stockland Glendale | 28 February 8am – 2pm
Weekly farmers market with fresh produce, gourmet snacks and artisan treats. More info.

Caves Beach Markets – Caves Beach | 28 February 9am – 3pm
Fresh produce, artisan goods and coastal market vibes by the beach. More info.

Homegrown Markets – Speers Point Park | 1 March 9am – 1pm
Handmade and design stalls, street food, live music and family activities in a lakeside setting. More info.

Newcastle City Farmers Markets – Broadmeadow Showground, Griffiths Rd, Broadmeadow | 1 March
Shop direct from local farmers and makers in a classic community farmers market.

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

After years of planning and construction, the Newcastle Art Gallery is officially reopening on 28 February, marking the completion of its $48 million expansion.

The project has more than doubled the size of the gallery, growing from five exhibition spaces to 13. Visitors will notice a dramatic new central atrium, additional gallery rooms, a dedicated retail store, a permanent café, and a new learning studio for workshops and public programs. The expansion allows the gallery to display more of its $145 million collection, the most valuable public art collection in Australia outside a capital city.

Ahead of reopening, the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation announced a further $500,000 contribution, bringing its total support for the expansion to $13 million. The funding reflects decades of community backing and ongoing investment in the gallery’s future.

The reopening will be celebrated with a three-day program from 27 February to 1 March. It begins with a free street party on Laman Street on Friday evening, followed by the launch of the major collection exhibition Iconic Loved Unexpected. The exhibition will span two levels and feature close to 500 works from the 19th century through to contemporary practice, including local, national and international artists.

The gallery’s return marks a significant cultural moment for the city and a new chapter for one of Newcastle’s most important public institutions.