Blackfriars Restaurant

• Duration: 3 hours
• Number of guests: 1-50 (12 max per tour so larger groups to be staggered)
• Available: 11.30am Mondays- Friday (Excluding December and UK bank holidays)

Explore the long and turbulent history of Blackfriars, a 13th-century former Dominican Friary from its medieval origins, right up to the present day.

Dating back to 1239, Blackfriars lays claim to being the oldest dining room in the UK, the jewel in Newcastle’s medieval past, and a stalwart of the local dining scene.

Enjoy a 45-minute tour of a Grade I Scheduled Ancient Monument and micro-brewery together with a 3-course set lunch in the restaurant after the tour with glass of wine, local beer or soft drink and coffee.

• Duration: 2-4 hours
• Number of guests: 6-16
• Available: Monday-Friday between 9am-4pm (Excluding December and UK bank holidays)

Enjoy a 45-minute tour of a Grade I Scheduled Ancient Monument followed by a cookery class. Medieval food was one of the great cuisines of the world: sophisticated and a wonderful mixture of local ingredients and spices from the caravans and traders across the Steppes, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean. Our courses will take you on a gastronomic journey through a number of recipes from the earliest medieval recipe collections to the late medieval period. And with the help of professional chefs, you'll get top tips on how to prepare the dishes, cooking techniques, and balancing flavours - all to bring a taste of the past to life!

• Duration: 2-4 hours
• Number of guests: 6-16
• Available: Monday-Friday between 9am-4pm (Excluding December and UK bank holidays)

Enjoy a 45-minute tour of a Grade I Scheduled Ancient Monument followed by a cookery class. Explore the rich and historic cuisine of the North East of England on this immersive, charming and cultured cookery class. In 1, 2 or 3 hours you can explore some traditional Geordie comfort food with origins in the North East of England, from the Scottish Borders to County Durham. You will gain insight into the medieval and Irish influences on the modern North East cuisine that you find today, and touch on modern dishes that continue to lead the North East into its own unique, culinary identity.

Expect recipes such as, Traditional Mince & Dumplings, Pan Haggerty, Traditional Stottie Cake, Ham Shanks & Pease Pudding and Singin’ Hinnies.

(Vegetarian and vegan substitutes are available. Not suitable for gluten-free requirements)

• Duration: 3 hours
• Number of guests: 6-50
• Available: Monday-Friday between 9am-4pm (Excluding December and UK bank holidays)

Enjoy a 45-minute tour of a Grade I Scheduled Ancient Monument followed by a Local Beer & Cheese Tasting. We all love the romance of wine and cheese, but did you know beer and cheese make the perfect partners? There’s nothing like refreshing your palate with a swig of nice cold beer between decadent bites of fine cheese. The sweet, malty and hoppy notes of beer not only clean the palate but enhance the crazy complex flavours found in a variety of cheeses.

To celebrate the opening of Blackfriars’ micro-brewery, join us for a unique beer and cheese tasting. Start the evening with an arrival schooner of Blackfriars’ Lager followed by a tasting of top-drawer local cheeses paired with a variety of local craft beers. Our in-house expert will take you through each of the beer and cheese combinations explaining how and why they pair so well. Includes a schooner of Blackfriars’ Lager followed by 5 samples of local craft beer with matching cheeses.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Number of guests: 12-50
• Available: Monday- Friday Between 12pm-9.30pm (Excluding December and UK bank holidays)

Enjoy a 45-minute tour of a Grade I Scheduled Ancient Monument followed by an authentic 5-course Medieval Banquet!

We are delighted to welcome you honourable dignitaries to take a step back in time for a sumptuous feast in our ornate Banquet Hall, established by our brothers back in 1239. Served on communal tables, by monks and town wenches, in our recently restored, candle-lit Banquet Hall, which King Edward III used to receive Royal Scot, Edward Balliol, in 1334, and has been meticulously refurbished using local craftsmen. Feast on pottage and pies, roasts, cheese and pastries with flagons of ale and fine wine to wash it all down! Cutlery is not in common use in medieval times though hunting knives and a ‘gob stick’ (spoon) will be supplied.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Number of guests: 12-50
• Available: Monday- Friday Between 12pm-9.30pm (Excluding December and UK bank holidays)

Explore the long and turbulent history of Blackfriars, a 13th-century former Dominican Friary from its medieval origins, right up to the present day. Dating back to 1239, Blackfriars lays claim to being the oldest dining room in the UK, the jewel in Newcastle’s medieval past, and a stalwart of the local dining scene. Enjoy a 45-minute tour of a Grade I Scheduled Ancient Monument and micro-brewery together with Medieval meal in our ornate Banquet Hall after the tour.

Established by our brothers back in 1239. Served on communal tables, by monks and town wenches, in our recently restored, candle-lit Banquet Hall, which King Edward III used to receive Royal Scot, Edward Balliol, in 1334, and has been meticulously refurbished using local craftsmen. Feast on pottage, roasts and pastries. Cutlery is not in common use in medieval times though hunting knives and a ‘gob stick’ (spoon) will be supplied.