In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Newcastle eateries have rapidly adapted and improved their alfresco eating spaces, providing a number of new and attractive spaces for people to socialise and engage in their surroundings. Spaces range from pavement cafes and parklets to lively beer gardens with opportunities for outdoor meetings, eating and drinking, and of course one for the gram too!

Southern Green is proud to have been working with the team at NE1 over a number of years to bring a range of lively outdoor spaces to the dining scene in Newcastle. The transformation of the Bigg Market turned out to be incredibly well timed, with the redesigned historic public space transformed from a steeply - sloping transitional space to a high quality terraced market square, still suitable for events including seasonal markets and events, but importantly also now able to be used as a platform for outdoor dining, which provides added functionality to the space and the surrounding businesses. It makes our hearts sing to see the Bigg Market looking for all the world like a continental city space, especially by night under its new lighting, packed with outdoor diners in a high quality pedestrian dominated environment.

The next NE1 addition from Southern Green, working with Raskl, was The Meat Stack parklet, a raised and sheltered seating platform designed to temporarily sit within a small number of parking bays, and able to adapt to the changing weather, with parasols, lighting and screens to protect visitors from the elements, all softened by rich planting.

More spaces are underway, and we are currently working with NE1 to source plants and trees for our next innovative installation. Watch this space for the next exciting addition, but meanwhile its time to get back into the city centre and enjoy the safe outdoor dining opportunities in our beautiful, increasingly green city!

Please follow the links to find out more about the Meat Stack parklet and Bigg Market projects: NE1 Parklets, Bigg Market