Newcastle-under-Lyme BID

03/11/2026

Glow big or glow home for our Christmas Window Competition✨

It's the big 'Castle glow-up and we’re inviting all town centre businesses to take part!

Have your displays ready for Light Up Castle on Sunday 22nd Nov, with full judging taking place on Tues 24th Nov.

Our judges will be looking for windows that show creativity and really capture the festive spirit of 'Castle🎄

Prizes will be awarded as vouchers for town centre businesses, so you can enjoy your Christmas do on us!👇

🥇 £100 voucher
🥈 £50 voucher
🥉 £25 voucher

03/11/2026

TROUBLE’S A-BREWING… RUM. ROGUES. PINTS. PIRATES. 🏴‍☠️

For one night only, Newcastle-under-Lyme shall belong to the pirates…

After years in exile, the notorious Captain Cole is rumoured to be returning. Across the town, taverns are preparing to welcome pirates, smugglers and rogues for a night of mischief.

Your mission? Round up your crew, grab a treasure map and explore some of Newcastle’s favourite drinking houses on this multi venue adventure, with venue specific drinks offers and entertainment along the way.

Revisit your usual haunts or drop anchor somewhere new ⚓️

Don your pirate gear and make a night of it. There’s mischief on the horizon… 🦜

Local pubs and bars, fancy putting your tavern on the map? Message us to get involved! 🏴‍☠️

18+. Enjoy responsibly. Offers and entertainment vary by venue.

02/11/2026

It’s nearly time to # LightUpCastle… but someone’s not feeling very festive👀

THE GRINCH IS COMING TO TOWN!💚

He’ll be causing a little mischief and popping up around NUL Town Centre from 2pm.

So keep ya eyes peeled… you never know where he might be!

📍Join us for Light Up Castle on Sunday 22nd November and get ready for a day full of festive fun & Christmas shenanigans✨

02/11/2026

We’ve got your week in Castle covered! From Remembrance Day events to a local football derby, check out our roundup👇

Monday 2nd
🎨 Paint & Sip - The Victoria, The Little Vic - from 7pm
🎙️ Private Karaoke Room + 2 Drinks for £13 - The Clubhouse Stoke - Sun-Thurs

Tuesday 3rd
🕰️ Antiques Market - The Stones - 8am
🧠 Pub Quiz - The Little Vic - 7:30pm
✍️ Quiz Night - Bridge Street Ale House - 8pm
🌌 Keele Observatory - Free Public Telescope Observations - 8pm

Wednesday 4th
🏃‍♂️ Big Duck Run Club - Mellards Bar
🥃 10% Off all Whiskies - The Hopwater Cellar - After 5pm
🎸 Immersion - Live Electronic Indie - Artisan Tap- 7pm
🎱 Pool Tournament - £5 to enter £50 tab to be won - The Crossways - 7pm

Thursday 5th
🎞️ Sense & Sensibility (u) - Stoke-on-Trent Film Theatre - 7.45pm
🧠 Kwizz - Mellards - 8:30pm

Friday 6th
🍁 Harvest Festival - Food & Fireworks - Bridge St Ale House 8pm
🤠 Craig Wilko - Live Music - Tiny Tennessee - 8pm
🤘 InMe - Live Rock Music - The Rigger Venue - 7pm

Saturday 7th
🎆 Betley Bonfire 2026 - Betley Court Farm - 4pm
⚽️ Newcastle Town Football Club vs Kidsgrove Athletic - GRG Stadium - 3pm
🕺 The King Blues - Live Music - The Rigger - 7pm

Sunday 8th
🌹 Remembrance Day Parade - Starting from Castle House - 9.40am
🌹 Remembrance Sunday & Armistice Day Exhibition & Stream - Belong - from 10.30am
🎞️ Free Remembrance Day Film - From Prague to Penkhull with Love - Brampton Museum - 2pm
🧠Quiz Night - The Jug - 7pm

To be featured in next week's post, drop us a message or send an email to [email protected] 📧

01/11/2026

The ‘Castle Christmas Edit is launching SOON🎅

Got a festive offer?
A Christmas cocktail or cosy hot chocolate deal? ☕
A crackin' gift idea? 🎁
An event or something that’ll get everyone feeling merry? 👀

We want to hear about it.

We’re pulling together the best of ‘Castle this Christmas - from shopping and food to festive nights out, experiences and everything in between. Because December is about more than last-minute gift panic, overpriced wrapping paper and eating the whole advent calendar by the 2nd 😅🍫

If your business or event wants to be part of the festivities and get featured in our Christmas Edit, slide into our DMs or drop us a message!

📩 [email protected]

30/10/2026

Newcastle Lantern Parade returns on Saturday 5th December! ✨

We’re proud to support Castle Creatives as they bring 'Castle together for a very special evening.

This year’s theme, Carry That Fire celebrates hope, humanity and the things that inspire us 🔥

Get involved at a FREE drop in lantern making workshop, then join the procession through Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre! Workshop dates below 👇

• Saturday 31st October & Saturday 7th November: Belong Villages, 10am–2pm
• Saturday 14th November: Philip Astley Centre, 11am–3pm
• Saturday 21st November: Keele in Town, 11am–3pm
• Sunday 22nd November: 2/3 Lancaster Building @ Light Up Castle
• Saturday 28th November: Newcastle Library, 10am–2pm

The parade takes place on Saturday 5th December at the Market Cross on the High Street. Lanterns can be collected from 4:30pm and parade start time of 5pm! ✨

30/10/2026

We’ve had some WONDERful poems submitted as part of our poetry competition with WordCraft 🫶

If you’re reading and thinking “I was going to enter that!” then you better be quick! Entries close midnight on Saturday 31st October, so you better get pen to paper! 📝

Wondrous words to make you wonder…✨

To celebrate on Thursday 1st October, we’ve teamed up with former Staffordshire Poet Laureate and WordCraft co-founder Emily Galvin-Wilson to launch a brand new poetry competition, inspired by this year’s theme, Wonder ✍️

Whether you’re a seasoned poet or haven’t written a poem since school, we want to hear from you! There are three categories:

🩷 Under 11
🧡 11–17
💚 18+

There’s a £50 prize for the winner of each category and the chance to see your words celebrated right here in Newcastle.

Entries are open from 1–31st October.

Simply send your poem to [email protected], including your name and age category ✍️

Need a little inspo? 👀 WordCraft has been bringing poets and spoken word performers together since 2019 and has recently returned with regular events at The Crossways in Newcastle.

Their next night takes place this Tuesday 29th September 🎤

Pick up a pen and show us what makes you wonder 💭

29/10/2026

Let's STEP into Christmas🎄✨

We’ve got 5, 6, 7, 8 reasons to get excited… but this is a good 'un!

It'd be a tragedy to miss because Steptacular - The UK's Premier Steps Tribute Show will get you boot scootin' with your dance floor dates 🤠🕺

📍Guildhall Stage
📅 Sunday 22nd November

👀 AND WE’RE NOT DONE YET! Keep your eyes peeled… we’ve got plenty more festive magic & mischief up our sleeves!

28/10/2026

The Made in Staffordshire & market traders are all set up on The Stones for an autumnal Wednesday 🍂

What an excuse to start some early Christmas shopping whilst supporting local businesses and coming down ‘Castle, duck 🫶

Here til 3pm! 🙌

27/10/2026

FREE HALLOWEEN CRAFTS ON THE STONES! 🎃

Get Creative in 'Castle this half term as part of the Made in Staffordshire takeover!

Bring your little ghosts and ghouls along to The Stones on Wednesday 28th October, between 10am and 2pm for a free Halloween craft session. Paint your own clay Halloween decoration and decorate a mini munchkin pumpkin to take home! 👻🎨

Alongside the crafts, discover the very best of Staffordshire at the Made in Staffordshire on The Stones Pop-Up Market 🙌

🛍️ Shop local and meet talented makers
🍰 Enjoy artisan food and treats
🎁 Find unique gifts and handmade products
🛒 Visit your usual General Market traders too!

Fancy dress is encouraged! 🧙‍♀️