Billboards have gone up inside The Gate in Newcastle for Firebird, a new luxury buffet restaurant set to transform the former Mood nightclub site. The venue, which previously housed the world buffet Za Za Bazaar, is being marketed as 'a feast of epic proportions' and a place where 'smoke and spectacle come together.'
From dance floor to dining destination
Mood was a popular nightclub in Newcastle city centre after The Gate opened in 2002. The two-floor venue attracted revellers seven nights a week, with cheesy classics on the main floor and hip hop and R&B upstairs. It operated for a decade before closing.
In 2013, the site became Za Za Bazaar, a world buffet that drew diners with global cuisine. However, it closed in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic and never reopened.
Firebird's arrival
ChronicleLive first reported Firebird's arrival last year. The 'immersive dining concept showcasing live cooking and barbecue experiences' will occupy the 16,000 sq ft space. The recent billboards suggest the opening is near.
