Rooftop Bars and Beer Gardens in Newcastle: Where to Drink Outside
Where to drink with a view in Newcastle, from the new Freight Island rooftop to beer gardens under the Tyne Bridge, with the days each one actually opens.
The best rooftop bars in Newcastle are ABOVE on the roof of the Vermont Hotel, 3SIXTY on the 26th floor of Hadrian's Tower and Freight Island, the 60,000 sq ft rooftop that opened above Eldon Square in June 2026. For a beer garden, head for the Bridge Tavern's rooftop under the Tyne Bridge, the Free Trade Inn's hillside garden in Byker, or the Tyne Bar's garden beneath the bridge at the mouth of the Ouseburn. Opening days vary a lot between these places, and several rooftops do not open every day, so we have listed the hours each venue publishes as of October 2026.
ABOVE, Vermont Hotel
ABOVE sits on the roof of the Vermont Hotel, with a rooftop terrace looking over the Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside and 360-degree views across the city. It runs cocktails and food with DJs and live musicians, plus bottomless brunch, afternoon tea and a Sky High Cinema series. It is closed Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday it opens 2pm to midnight, Friday 2pm to 1am, Saturday 1pm to 1am and Sunday 1pm to midnight. Book a table through the ABOVE website, especially for weekend evenings.
3SIXTY, Hadrian's Tower
3SIXTY is on the 26th floor of Hadrian's Tower at 27 Rutherford Street, Newcastle's tallest building, and a dedicated lift opens straight into the room. This is the one to pick if you want a meal with the view rather than just a drink: seasonal plates and a grill from 5pm, Sunday lunch from noon to 4pm, and afternoon tea from noon to 5pm. The piano lounge has live music Friday to Sunday. It opens at noon every day, closing at 11pm except Friday and Saturday when it runs to midnight. Last food orders are 8.45pm. It is indoors, so it works in any weather.
Freight Island, Eldon Square
The newest rooftop in the city, Freight Island opened on Friday 12 June 2026 on top of Eldon Square, with easy access from Newgate Street. It covers 60,000 sq ft with 12 independent kitchens and three bars. Traders listed by Eldon Square include I Scream for Pizza, Miso and FAB Bakery, with craft beer from Two by Two. It opens Thursday to Sunday only: Thursday and Sunday noon to 11pm, Friday and Saturday noon to 1am. Live music and DJs run across the weekend. Do not turn up on a Tuesday expecting it to be open.
Bridge Tavern, Akenside Hill
The Bridge Tavern sits under the Tyne Bridge with its own brewery inside and a roof terrace it calls "arguably one of the most aesthetic roof-top beer gardens in Newcastle." Fair enough: you drink with the bridge's steel arch above you. It opens at noon Monday to Saturday and 11am on Sunday, until midnight in the week and 1am on Friday and Saturday. Food finishes earlier than the bar, at 4pm on Saturday and 6pm on Friday and Sunday, so eat early.
Bridge Hotel, Castle Garth
Next to the High Level Bridge, the Bridge Hotel has a rear patio overlooking the old city walls, the Tyne and Gateshead Quays. It is a big Fitzgerald's pub with eight changing cask beers, stained glass inside, and an upstairs function room that hosts what it claims is the country's oldest folk club. Dogs are welcome. It opens 11.30am Monday to Saturday and noon on Sunday.
Free Trade Inn, Byker
For the classic Newcastle view, nothing beats the beer garden at the Free Trade Inn on St Lawrence Road. It looks straight up the river at the Tyne bridges and both quaysides. The pub itself is plain and friendly, with cask beer, a free jukebox and deli sandwiches. It opens 11am to 11pm every day. On a clear evening, get there early for a bench on the slope.
Tyne Bar, Maling Street
The Tyne Bar calls its garden "the famous beer garden beneath the bridge," and local bands play a purpose-built stage out there. All gigs are free, usually Sunday afternoons from 4pm. Food is served daily from noon to 9pm, with veggie and vegan options. It sits at the bottom of the Ouseburn, a short walk east along the Quayside from the Millennium Bridge.
Cumberland Arms, Ouseburn
Up on James Place Street, the Cumberland Arms has a garden looking down over the lower Ouseburn Valley and holds winter and summer beer festivals every year. It is a cider specialist with live music almost daily. It opens at 2pm Monday to Thursday and noon Friday to Sunday.
Good to know
ABOVE and Freight Island are both closed early in the week, so for a Monday or Tuesday view your options are 3SIXTY, the Bridge Tavern or the pub gardens. The river pubs are all walkable from each other: Castle Garth to Akenside Hill takes a few minutes, and the Tyne Bar and Free Trade are a 15 to 20 minute walk east along the Quayside. Rooftops get windy, so bring a layer even in summer. For more ideas see our bars and nightlife guides, and the What's On listings for rooftop gigs and DJ nights.
FAQs
What is the highest rooftop bar in Newcastle?
3SIXTY on the 26th floor of Hadrian's Tower on Rutherford Street, the city's tallest building. It is reached by its own lift and opens daily from noon.
Is Freight Island Newcastle open every day?
No. Freight Island on the Eldon Square rooftop opens Thursday to Sunday, from noon until 11pm on Thursday and Sunday and until 1am on Friday and Saturday.
Which Newcastle rooftop bars are open on a Monday?
3SIXTY and the Bridge Tavern both open on Mondays from noon. ABOVE at the Vermont Hotel is closed Monday and Tuesday, and Freight Island does not open until Thursday.
Where is the best beer garden in Newcastle?
For views, the Free Trade Inn's garden in Byker looks straight up the Tyne at the bridges. The Bridge Tavern has a rooftop garden under the Tyne Bridge, and the Tyne Bar has free live music in its garden.
