This grade II listed building stands on Newcastle’s Quayside, in the shadow of the famous High Level Bridge over the Tyne. Previously, the building was Dove’s Warehouse, storing goods which were being moved along the river. Dove’s premises are actually ‘a collection of warehouse buildings grouped in three ranges around a courtyard’. Dating from the late 16th century, the building stood at the water’s edge until a pedestrian walkway was built in 1984.

An illustration of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1887

An illustration of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1887

An illustration of Central Railway Station

A print of Bigg (or Barely) Market

A photograph of the castle’s keep

An illustration of the Quayside, c1820

A photograph of the Quayside, looking upstream

An illustration of the opening of the new swing bridge

A photograph of Theatre Royal, Grey Street

Prints of Newcastle

Above: Newcastle from the south, c1700
Below, left: The Tyne Bridge, 1771
Below, right: The Quayside, 1820 

External photograph of the building – main entrance

External photograph of the building – rear entrance

Extract from Wetherspoon News Summer 2019

The text reads: Pub manager Kris Lee is pictured with Cllr David Down, Lord Mayor of Newcastle, at the unveiling of a blue plaque at his pub, The Quayside.

Newcastle has dedicated a plaque to William (‘Billy’) Purvis (1784–1853), a clown and the Jester of the North, who ran a travelling theatre troupe for 35 years and is regarded as the ‘first professional Geordie’.

Born in Auchendinny, Scotland, Purvis was raised and lived in Newcastle, returning home to The Close, at Newcastle’s quayside (the plaque is located on the wall outside The Quayside pub) when not on tour.

He was an entertainer and showman, actor, dancer, comedian and conjurer, as well as a musician, playing the drums and the uillean pipes.

Kris said: “We are thrilled and proud that the blue plaque for Billy Purvis, commemorating his contribution to northeast culture, is at The Quayside.”