Worswick Chambers: A New Chapter for an Old Icon
At STACK, we love giving old buildings new life and they don’t come with much more character than Worswick Chambers.
Worswick Chambers, built in two stages between 1891 and 1898, is being carefully restored to become the flagship home of STACK Newcastle, a leisure hub that will combine food, drink, and entertainment with heritage architecture.
But long before cocktails and street food, this corner had centuries of history.
Before Worswick Chambers: The Old Black House
The earliest records of the site go back to the 1720s, when it was home to a pub called the Old Black House. This wasn’t just any alehouse, it became a fixture of the community for over 150 years. Even when Worswick Chambers was built, the Black House survived within the new frontage, still pouring pints in the 1890s.
Behind the pub sat Black House Yard, a cluster of small workshops and trades. In those tight spaces worked craftsmen, merchants, and labourers, keeping Newcastle’s commercial hum alive. When Worswick Chambers rose in the late 19th century, it absorbed this older life into its fabric.
A Hive of Activity in Victorian Newcastle
Worswick Chambers quickly became a bustling hub for the city’s professions and trades. Research has uncovered a remarkable range of tenants:
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Diamond merchants and fine art dealers rubbing shoulders with wine merchants.
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Auctioneers Simeon Joel & Sons and solicitors like Philipson and Turnbull setting up offices.
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The Elswick Building Society, Globe Parcels Express, and even architect W. Lister Newcombe (who designed the building himself).
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By 1901, a Mrs Oliver ran a small newsagent’s on the corner.
The building’s grandeur was completed by the artistry of John Rogers, a stonemason who carved the 25 heads still watching over passers-by today. Rogers trained under renowned sculptor Robert Beall, whose workshop also produced works for St. Nicholas Cathedral and the Grace Darling memorial in Bamburgh.
From War to Workwear
Through the decades, the building adapted with the times:
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World War II saw part of it requisitioned by the Fire Service.
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In the 1950s, tenants included gown maker Juliet French and travel agent Sir Henry Lunn.
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Typewriter specialists, cable companies, and solicitors kept offices buzzing well into the 20th century.
It was always, at its heart, a building that reflected the city’s needs.
The Restoration
After years of decline and over 20 years shrouded in scaffolding, Worswick Chambers has now been rescued through a detailed restoration. This has included:
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Stabilising its structure and replacing decayed floors and roofs.
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Preserving historic stonework, staircases, and those distinctive carved heads.
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Removing asbestos and repairing water damage.
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Blending old and new with sensitive extensions, drawing inspiration from the site’s historic burgage plots.
The restoration was completed in late 2024, laying the groundwork for its new life.
STACK Newcastle: A New Chapter
When the doors reopen in November 2025, Worswick Chambers will house STACK Newcastle, a dynamic leisure complex that blends heritage with modern lifestyle:
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Eight bars, eight street food traders, a coffee shop, and rooftop terrace.
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A central courtyard with stage and screen for live music, sport, and events.
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An interactive gaming area with karaoke booths, shuffleboard and darts under the Sideshow brand.
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Capacity for around 3,000 people, creating up to 160 jobs.
This mix of entertainment and architecture means that once again, Worswick Chambers will be a hive of life.
A Landmark Reborn
From a 1720s pub yard to a 19th-century professional hub, from wartime offices to a 21st-century leisure destination, Worswick Chambers has always adapted to Newcastle’s changing needs.
STACK’s arrival is not just about nightlife, it’s about weaving the building’s many layers of history into the city’s future.
After centuries of serving Newcastle in different guises, this corner of Pilgrim Street will once again open its doors, alive with energy and community spirit.