This vibrant monthly event is by far the best find in Newcastle showcasing the best local…read morefood,drink,music and art! Hosted in a refurbished warehouse tucked away behind Central Station I would highly recommend this event for all fellow foodies out there. Local street vendors will have you spoilt for choice with my personal favourites being Fat Hippo and Papa Ganoush or if I have a sweet tooth La Petit Creperie! You can indulge in some local ales from Wylam Brewery for a post-work drink or come along to soak up the array of entertainment from local musicians. Perfect for families on a Saturday afternoon as it tends to be quieter and the free entry before 4pm makes a daytime visit attractive! There is outdoor catering and space for those many beautiful days we have in Newcastle. On entry and inside the boiler shop you need to exchange your money for tokens if you want food but you can pay cash for drinks. It can be expensive but it is worth every penny and I think everyone should experience this event at least once......as for me I will be back every month!

The Boiler Shop Steamer is definitely *the* way to kick off your month!…read more Held in a superb industrial warehouse setting (part of the former Stephenson works which gave us the first locomotive engines - one for you history buffs there), you will find a plethora of different street-food vendors, local breweries, great live bands or funky tunes from the DJs - a general good-time buzz echoes around the place. We were there on a Saturday (seemed to be free entry before 3ish this time) as it was a bit quieter - this particular weekend was the BSS's 2nd Birthday, so the Sunday was going to be quite an extravanganza. When you arrive it is worth just having a wander about to see what is on offer and plan your attack - the line-up changes from month-to-month, so there is bound to be something to tantalise your tastebuds. On this occasion I was in a meaty mood. Round one was a delectable feast from Longhorns BBQ Smokehouse - pulled pork, smokie, beans, fries, doused in BBQ sauce and served up in a brioche bun, simply superb! Washed down with a pint of Dognobbler, a light ale from the Wylam Brewery (one of my particular favourite local breweries), the afternoon was starting very well indeed. Later on, I came across the Fair Game stand, a newbie to the BSS event according to their website. This time, I opted for the Venison burger, which came hot off the griddle with a lovely cranberry sauce and crisp salad in the bun. The quality was second-to-none, so far I was having a very good foodie feast. Another pint of a different Wylam beer soon followed, this time it was Spring Thing, yet again it went down rather well. The only little gripe I have is that prices can be a little steep, not really fitting the traditional 'street food' ethos of getting something quick, cheap and cheerful. You can quickly drop £20 without thinking about it (e.g. one token is £2, the burger was two tokens); nevertheless, for the quality of the food I experienced it was worth it. The BSS gets busier as the afternoon blends into the evening, so if you really want to make the most of what is on offer, would definitely recommend going early, just so you've got some space to move and get stuck into the great food and tunes on offer. So, get yourself and a few mates down to the next event, have a bite to eat and a beer or two, and soak up the great atmosphere provided by the BSS!

Wylam Brewery is a great local venue. We are big fans of their "food battles," where they host…read morelots of street food vendors all on a theme (pizza, Thai, Indian). The venue is kid and dog friendly, and very spacious. We've often been for Sunday lunch too, as their tap room is such a pleasant and cozy place to drink. They have plenty of big tables for large parties, and on a Sunday afternoon you'll see lots of happy families enjoying roasts and pints. The roasts are delicious, but my one criticism is that they are just too small. There isn't enough of anything, especially not for the price, so you'll want a starter and dessert too (or both!) But the food is great, and the wonderful venue makes it feel like a good value overall.

I can't comment on the food, as every time I've been it has been unavailable. In my most recent…read moreexperience, I had confirmed days in advance via email that I could bring a group of my students with me for drinks and dinner to help them celebrate a successful module. When we arrived, we were told that the kitchen was closed for an event, and that we would not be able to bring in outside food. I was then left to scramble to find a place that could take 18 people at the last minute. The staff member I spoke with must have interpreted my stressed out state as rudeness, because I later heard her describe me as "very rude" to another member of staff. I certainly wasn't overly pleased to hear that I'd have to relocate 18 people for dinner, but I also certainly was not rude to her, and we had all stayed for a short while to purchase at least one round of drinks at the venue. During our stay there, this same member of staff attempted to explain to me that their email HAD warned us about the kitchen, but I have since revisited that email and it provided no such information. I'm not sure what her goal was with that stunt. While I can't comment on the quality of the food, I can certainly caution anyone reading this from depending on the responses Wylam provided through their enquiries email address.