The Hustler, Newcastle's much-loved pool and snooker club, is set to reopen before 2026 is through, after receiving the green light to move into new premises in the heart of the city centre.
The club closed earlier this year when Hadrian House, the Newcastle city centre building it had occupied for years, was demolished. A Facebook post in February confirmed the closure, prompting an outpouring of sadness from regulars. People of all ages visited on its final day of business in mid-April, as the team in charge stressed their desire to find a new home for the venue.
Move to former Labour club building
Over the summer, owners Mark and Jo Sewell applied for a premises licence to move into the former Newcastle Labour club building next to Haymarket, which had shut down earlier in the year due to a rent dispute. Now, with assistance from local property firm Hay & Kilner, the club's return is confirmed.
Mark Sewell, whose parents originally started the club nearly 50 years ago, said: "Our new venue really does feel like we are coming home. We were originally based on Northumberland Street, so after 50 years of trading in Newcastle city centre, we couldn’t see Newcastle without The Hustler being part of it."
Looking to the future
He added: "We jumped at the chance to reopen at Haymarket and are really excited about what the future holds. We have a fantastic and loyal customer base who feel safe in our club and enjoy the community spirit we have built over the years. Our aim is to create that same welcoming and friendly atmosphere in our new venue and we’re delighted to know that The Hustler will be here in Newcastle for the next 20 years."
Mark also credited Hay & Kilner, which described the club as a "real Newcastle institution," saying: "We wouldn’t have been able to make this happen without the great work of John, Amandeep and the team at Hay & Kilner. They supported us through a very difficult and stressful time during the surrender of our previous lease and then through to completion of our new lease. We’re incredibly grateful for their advice and support throughout the process and always felt that we were in safe hands."
