Hotels near Vertu Utilita Arena Newcastle

Utilita Arena Newcastle is at Arena Way, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7NA, on the banks of the River Tyne. The venue's own getting here page is the main source for this section, and where its figures conflict with each other we say so rather than pick one. If you are searching for the Vertu Utilita Arena Newcastle, this is the same building. The venue's current website and ticketing pages use the name Utilita Arena Newcastle, so that is the name to look for on your ticket and on signs.

By car or coach, the arena says it is about three minutes from the A1 North South route. The official directions are to take the A184 signposted City Centre, then follow the A189 over the Redheugh Bridge. Near the arena you follow the signs to the car park that matches your ticket type. The page does not give a satnav postcode beyond the venue address, and NE4 7NA is the postcode the venue publishes. Parking is covered in its own section below, because the drop off and parking rules on show days matter for how you approach the site.

By public transport, the venue's page gives two figures for Newcastle Central. One line says Central Station, where local buses, the Tyne and Wear Metro and rail services stop, is about a five minute walk from the arena. A later line describes Newcastle Central Train Station on Neville Street as about a 15 minute walk, with connections to the Metro, and notes that it is the busiest station on the East Coast Main Line with links to regional and national destinations including Newcastle International Airport. ATG Tickets repeats the same pair of figures on its venue page. Both come from the venue, so the sensible reading is to plan for somewhere between five and fifteen minutes on foot, and to allow the longer end if you are carrying bags or travelling with children or anyone who walks slowly. The venue also says the Tyne and Wear Metro is about 10 minutes away.

For buses, the venue says Eldon Square bus station and Haymarket bus station are about a 10 minute walk from the arena, and that buses from Hexham, Stanley, Consett and parts of Gateshead and Newcastle also stop at Central Station. For live travel information it points visitors to nexus.org.uk or Traveline on 0871 200 2233. Check a journey planner for the bus routes from your own start point.

Taxis are not mentioned on the venue's getting here page. The page does describe where drop off happens, which is along Railway Street, and it asks people collecting passengers to meet them at a spot away from the arena because heavy traffic is likely. If you are arranging a taxi or lift home, agree a meeting point a few streets away before the show finishes rather than trying to be collected at the front door.

Utilita Arena Newcastle is a single arena rather than an exhibition campus, so there is no hall numbering to learn. ATG Tickets describes it as seating for over 11,500 fans in a building of about 40,000 square metres. The layout changes by event. A Premier Inn local guide to the arena describes it as able to be fully seated and in the round, or standing in the bowl, and the venue itself asks you to check your event page for layout and facilities.

The venue does not publish a gate by gate entrance guide, but it does describe how the site works around the building. The official car park is at the rear of the building. Drop off is along Railway Street. For many shows, Redheugh Bridge Road is closed to traffic for pedestrian safety, and the venue says to approach via Pottery Lane from the east, or up Shot Factory Lane from Skinnerburn Road next to the river. Your ticket and the event email will tell you which entrance applies to your seat or standing area.

On box office and doors, the venue's FAQ says to refer to your ticket for door opening and show start times, and that those times are approximate and can change. Timings also appear on event pages and in an email sent about five days before the event. The FAQ says the box office opens from 4pm on the day for evening events and stays open until the main act starts, while earlier events open one hour before doors. The box office is closed on non event days. Arriving close to the advertised door time should mean shorter queues, but the venue still asks you to allow time for security and ticket checks.

A few rules affect which part of the arena you can use. The venue asks that children aged 14 or under do not attend unaccompanied, and that they are not on standing floors. Crutches and walking aids are not permitted on standing floors, and the venue says it will try to find an accessible position instead. Accessible tickets are sold online through AXS, and you need either a free Digital Access Pass or a full Access Card to unlock them. The venue's access line is 0191 618 1697 if your requirements are not covered by those options.

Each show has an upgrade option that includes a welcome drink and access to a premium lounge, and upgrades can also be offered on the night. The venue lists a Premium Experiences section on its website for details, which is separate from the standard entry route.

Late services vary by line, by day of the week and by timetable change, and on show nights they depend on where you are heading. Check the operator timetable on the day, using nexus.org.uk for the Tyne and Wear Metro and the National Rail journey planner or your train operator for mainline services such as LNER and Northern.

What we can say from the venue's own pages is where the transport hub is. Newcastle Central, on Neville Street, is the station where local buses, the Metro and rail services stop, and the venue puts it between about five and fifteen minutes on foot from the arena depending on which line of its page you read. That makes the walk back to Central the simplest plan for most people. If you have a booked train, treat the longer figure as your planning time and leave the building with that in mind. Arena exits can be slow when many people leave at once, and the venue itself warns that heavy traffic is likely around the site.

If you would rather not rely on a last train at all, staying in the city is a calmer option. The hotels section below lists places that the venue and the hotels themselves describe as a short walk from the arena or directly across from Central Station. A hotel close to the station also means you can leave the following morning without crossing the city. Hotels can be booked for a team with a company invoice, and a custom quote is available if you are bringing a group.

If you are driving home, remember the road closure arrangements described under parking. Redheugh Bridge Road is closed for many shows, so your route out of the car park may not be the one you used to arrive. The venue also suggests anyone collecting passengers waits away from the arena rather than at the building, so build a meeting point into your plan before the show ends.

The venue's official car park has over 600 spaces at the rear of the building, with CCTV and regular security patrols. According to the venue's car park page, parking must be paid on arrival and you cannot pay after leaving the event. Payment is through the RingGo app, the RingGo website, or by phone on 02030460010. On a first phone payment you are asked for your registration, vehicle make and colour, the parking location, length of stay and card details, and signs in the car park also show how to pay. Prices change, so check the RingGo website for current charges rather than relying on any figure quoted elsewhere.

When the official car park is full, the venue directs drivers to the NCP car park next to the arena, with its entrance on Redheugh Bridge Road. That road is the one the venue says is closed for many shows for pedestrian safety, so read your event email and the venue's directions before you set off. The alternative approaches given by the venue are via Pottery Lane from the east, or up Shot Factory Lane from Skinnerburn Road next to the river.

For wheelchair users, the venue says cars can park at the arena subject to availability on a first come, first served basis, and that pre booking is not available. The venue's accessibility pages also explain that accessible tickets are booked through AXS using a Digital Access Pass or Access Card. If you rely on parking close to the building, contact the access team on 0191 618 1697 in advance so that you know what to expect on the night.

Some third party sites say spaces can be pre booked for arena events. The venue's own pages say pre booking is not available for accessible parking and describe pay on arrival for the official car park, so we only follow the venue. Always check the information sent with your own ticket in case your event has its own arrangements.

Drop off and pick up are separate from parking. The venue says drop off is along Railway Street and that people collecting passengers should choose a spot away from the arena because heavy traffic is likely. If you are being driven, a pick up point a few minutes away on foot is usually much quicker than waiting outside the arena.

The arena sits beside the River Tyne, so the choice is mainly between staying near Central Station, staying in the city centre closer to St James' Park, or staying on the Quayside. The distances below come from the hotels' own pages or the venue's hotels pages unless stated, and several sources describe walking times without giving an exact distance, so use them as a guide.

Around Central Station is the most practical area for a concert. Hampton by Hilton describes itself as just across from Central Station and a short walk from the arena, and the Royal Station Hotel on Neville Street describes itself as a one minute walk from Newcastle's central train and metro station. Staying here means you arrive by train, drop your bags, and walk to the arena. It is also the best side if you plan to travel home by train the next morning.

Stephenson Quarter and Scotswood Road are the closest areas on the hotels' own descriptions. Crowne Plaza Newcastle in Stephenson Quarter says it is only a five minute walk from the arena, and Leonardo Hotel Newcastle on Scotswood Road says it is about a three minute walk. This is the side to choose if getting back after the show quickly matters more than being near shops and bars.

Near St James' Park, Sandman Signature Hotel on Gallowgate says it is directly opposite the stadium and St James' Park Metro stop, and describes the walk to the arena as short and easy along St James' Boulevard. It does not give a time, so check a map. This area suits you if you are combining the show with a night in the city centre.

The Quayside side of Newcastle has a lot of bars, restaurants and some of the budget chains, but the walks are longer. Travelodge's own arena page describes a 20 minute walk back to its Newcastle Central hotel by the quayside, and Maldron Hotel Newcastle describes the arena as a 15 minute stroll. If you stay on this side, plan the return journey, especially if you are wearing event shoes or travelling in cold weather.

The budget chains in Newcastle are mostly in the city centre and on the Quayside rather than right beside the arena, so a cheaper room usually means a longer walk or a short Metro or taxi ride. We have named only hotels whose own pages place them in Newcastle city centre or on the Quayside, and we have given walking times only where a hotel or the venue publishes one.

Travelodge Newcastle Central, on Forster Street, NE1 2NH, is the one with a stated walk. Travelodge's page for the arena, which still uses the old Metro Radio Arena name, describes a 20 minute walk back to this hotel after the show and says the hotel is right by the quayside. Travelodge's hotel page describes the location as central with convenient on site parking. Travelodge Newcastle Quayside describes itself as near Newcastle's Quayside and a short walk from the buzzing centre, though no arena walking time is stated.

Premier Inn has several hotels in the centre. The Premier Inn Newcastle City Centre (Millennium Bridge) page says the hotel is in a quiet spot with views over the River Tyne and about a minute's walk from the bars and restaurants of the Quayside, and its copy mentions a concert at the nearby arena, again under the old name. Premier Inn Newcastle City Centre (Quayside) is in a Grade 2 listed building close to the Tyne Bridge, with a note that some noise from the bridge's kittiwakes may be heard in the bedrooms, and the page describes the hotel as a short walk from Newcastle Station. Premier Inn Newcastle City Centre (The Gate) is near St James' Park, Eldon Square and the university. None of these pages gives an exact walk to the arena, so measure it on a map before you book.

Because the chain pages do not give arena walking times, if the walk matters more than the price, look at the next section. If price matters more, the Quayside hotels combine a lively area for an evening meal with a Metro or taxi journey if the weather is poor. You can book hotels for a team with a company invoice, and a custom quote is available if you need several rooms.

The venue publishes a list of hotel partners on its Plan Your Visit hotels page, and several of them say how close they are. None of the venue's own hotel list gives a distance, so the walking descriptions below come from each hotel's own page where one is stated.

Leonardo Hotel Newcastle, on Scotswood Road, NE1 4AD, is described on the venue's hotel page as about a three minute walk from the arena, with the Centre for Life, the Discovery Museum and Newcastle Central Station among nearby landmarks. It is the closest stated walk we found.

Crowne Plaza Newcastle, in Stephenson Quarter on Forth Street, NE1 3SA, says it is only a five minute walk from the arena and within walking distance of the city centre and the train station. Hampton by Hilton, at Baron House on Neville Street, NE1 5EN, says it is just across from Central Station and a short walk from the arena, without a time. Royal Station Hotel, on Neville Street, NE1 5DH, says it is a one minute walk from the central train and Metro station, and gives no arena time on its page.

Sandman Signature Hotel, on Gallowgate, NE1 4SD, is directly opposite St James' Park and the St James' Park Metro stop and describes a short, easy walk along St James' Boulevard. Maldron Hotel Newcastle, a four star hotel in the city centre, says the arena is a 15 minute stroll.

The venue's hotel list also includes The Vermont Hotel, The Vermont Aparthotel, County Hotel, The County Aparthotel, Hilton Newcastle Gateshead and Holiday Inn Jesmond. Check a map for the distance from each of these to the arena. The venue notes that ticket holders can get offers at partner hotels, so check the venue's hotels page before booking.

Hotels can be booked for a team with a company invoice, and a custom quote is available if you need several rooms close to the arena.

Among the upscale options in the venue's list, the ones that sit closest to the arena on their own descriptions are Crowne Plaza Newcastle in Stephenson Quarter, with a five minute walk stated, and Leonardo Hotel Newcastle on Scotswood Road, with a three minute walk stated. Both are in the same part of town as the arena and Central Station.

Royal Station Hotel and Hampton by Hilton both sit on Neville Street beside Central Station. The Royal Station Hotel is a one minute walk from the train and Metro station, which makes it a strong choice if you arrive by rail. Hampton by Hilton describes itself as just across from Central Station and a short walk from the arena.

Sandman Signature Hotel on Gallowgate is directly opposite St James' Park and its Metro stop, and the venue lists it among its hotel partners. Maldron Hotel Newcastle describes itself as a newly built four star hotel in the city centre. The Vermont Hotel has a rooftop venue called ABOVE, which the venue lists on its restaurants and bars page with 360 degree views of Newcastle.

Prices around arena dates move quickly, so look at the hotel's own booking page, and ask for a custom quote if you are booking several rooms for a team on a company invoice.

Inside the arena, the venue's rules shape what you can bring. The FAQ says guests cannot bring their own food and drink into the building, glass and cans are not permitted, and refreshment stands sell hot and cold food, drinks, alcohol and official merchandise. All bars are cashless, so bring a card or phone.

Outside, the venue's restaurants and bars page lists eight places that offer deals to ticket holders. Aveika is described as a contemporary Japanese restaurant with sushi, grill and a late bar in the heart of the Newcastle quayside. Livello is described as a central nightlife venue on the quayside. Dabbawal is an Indian restaurant serving street food, grills, curries and sharing dishes. Sanco offers a no menu bottomless Neapolitan pizza experience. Manahatta is a New York themed cocktail bar. The Hudson is a restaurant and bar, Shark Club Gastro Bar is a sports bar, and ABOVE is a rooftop venue on the Vermont Hotel. The page does not state distances from the arena, and some listings do not say where they are, so check each address.

The page says offers apply when you show your ticket, and that most are not valid with other promotions. Some restrictions apply, for example Shark Club's offer applies on the day of the event only and not on home Newcastle match days. Read the conditions on the venue's page before relying on any of them.

If you want something other than dinner, the venue's local attractions page lists the Life Science Centre and Outdoor Ice Rink, Fayre Play and Upside Down House Metrocentre as places with offers for arena ticket holders. It does not state distances for these, so check how far each is before you plan around them.

A Premier Inn local guide to the arena also names Akbar's, Gusto, Tiger Tiger, Bonbar, The Globe and Revolution as places around the arena. The area has a long history of pre show dining and drinking, though some of these places may have changed, so check before you go.

Bags are the most common problem on the door. The venue's bag policy page says large bags and backpacks will not be permitted, and bags must be smaller than 40cm by 35cm by 19cm, roughly A3 size. Backpacks, holdalls, luggage and computer bags are listed as prohibited. There is no cloakroom or storage in the venue. The FAQ points to nearby Stasher locations for luggage storage, so arrange this before you arrive if you are travelling in from another city.

The prohibited items list is long. It includes glass, cans, aluminium bottles, thermoses, outside food and drink, professional cameras with removable lenses, video cameras, GoPros, laptops and tablets, selfie sticks, large umbrellas, air horns, whistles, balloons, glow sticks, confetti and glitter, and laser pointers. Some shows allow small digital cameras, but the rule for each show is usually confirmed on the day. Read the full page before you pack. All entry is subject to search.

Allow time at the door. The venue says that arriving close to the advertised door time should mean shorter queues, but you still need time for security and ticket checks, especially for comedy and sold out shows. Doors and start times are on your ticket and in the event email about five days before. Do not rely on a time you saw months earlier, since the venue says times are approximate and can change.

Tickets: the official ticketing partner is AXS, and the venue warns that buying from unauthorised sellers risks refused entry, with no refund if an event is cancelled. Digital tickets are the default. Tickets can be transferred in the AXS app and resold through AXS Official Resale. If you lose your phone, you can go to the box office, which opens one hour before doors, with ID.

For families, the venue says there are no age restrictions unless the artist requests one, but children aged 14 or under should not attend unaccompanied or go on standing floors. Babes in arms up to 23 months are generally allowed at children's shows, but some shows need a ticket for everyone.

For accessibility, buy accessible tickets online through AXS, using a free Digital Access Pass or a full Access Card. The venue asks you to contact them if you have requirements not covered, on 0191 618 1697. The venue's pages note that parts of its FAQ come from an older version of the site, so confirm anything important with the venue or AXS before you travel.

If you are visiting with a group or team, hotels can be booked with a company invoice, and a custom quote is available.