A spectacular, historic venue in Newcastle city centre is preparing to re-open after a two-year refurbishment, and is now booking weddings for spring 2021 onwards.
The Common Room, formerly known to many people as The Mining Institute, is a Grade II* listed building which has stood in the heart of the city since the late 1800s.
Steeped in a rich history, The Common Room has undergone a full renovation, funded by a £4.7 million award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and will reopen in early 2021 with a range of beautiful spaces available for ceremonies and receptions.
Philippa King-Williams, Sales and Marketing Manager at The Common Room, said: “Stepping into The Common Room really is a breath-taking experience and we can’t wait to see the building come to life as the backdrop to wedding ceremonies and celebrations.
“We know that many couples have had to make changes to their plans this year and our team is on hand to help make sure that, whatever your situation, you have a day to remember.”
Within the building’s grand exterior is the exquisite Wood Hall, with its large stained glass windows and vast glass ceiling.
The smaller Lecture Theatre offers an unusual alternative for ceremonies, with circular seating enabling couples to take centre stage as they make their vows.
And on the third floor of the building, the Arbitration Room is flooded with natural light through its domed glass skylight and cathedral-shaped windows.
The Common Room offers a live-streaming service for wedding ceremonies, so friends and relatives can be a part of the day no matter where they are in the world. The venue is located just a minute’s walk from Newcastle’s Central Station so for those who are travelling, the journey couldn’t be easier.
The Common’s Room’s team of chefs offers a range of dining options, from a three course fine dining experience to sharing boards and late night bites.
Neville Hall, the building which houses The Common Room, was built between 1869 and 1872 to provide a headquarters for The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers.
Since the building closed to the public in November 2018, work has focused on restoring the building’s features and preparations improving access to the venue.
Philippa King-Williams added: “The Common Room is such an important part of the history of Newcastle and the North East, and it can now also be a part of people’s lives for many more years to come.”
See photographs and virtual tours of The Common Room at www.thecommonroom.org.uk.
In November 2016 the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded £600,000 to The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers to undertake an extensive development phase. In July 2018, The Common Room of the Great North was awarded £4.1m by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to revitalise the Grade II* listed Mining Institute, transforming it into The Common Room.
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Notes to editors
About The Common Room
The Common Room of the Great North was established in 2017 to manage the redevelopment and refurbishment of The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers. The Common Room of the Great North was awarded £4.1m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, plus a further £3m in match funding, to conserve the Grade II* listed building, refurbish its ground floor reading rooms, securely house its archive and collections. The Common Room of the Great North is a registered charity, number 1175946.
