Newcastle

From UKRag Guides (wiki)

Newcastle [1]

1 Introduction
2 Collecting
- 2.1 Other Newcastle Information
3 Other Nearby Collecting Venues
4 External Links

Introduction

Despite the valiant attempts of hen parties on a saturday night Newcastle is still there. It is a great place to collect if a bit of a sod to get to, but woth it none the less. It has it's own Metro system which is quite funky but don't be tempted to fare dodge or you'll end up in loads of trouble.

The main station is a short walk down Grainger St from the city centre. It gets a touch chilly in Newcastle but the hardy local folk are used to it. The closure of heavy industry and CBBC's cancellation of Byker Grove have changed the direction of Tyneside, but it is still one of the most heartening places to collect in in the country.

Collecting

Northumberland St is pedestrianised as is much of the area around Grey's Monument - Dedicated to Earl Grey i.e. Earl Grey tea! You can't miss it. It's a tall column and it'll have some newsvendor screaming "Crooooooooooniicuuuuuuul" - Chronicle

The main shopping centre is called Eldon Sq and it has lots of good to collect outside entrances - especially the entrances onto Northumberland Street.

On a busy saturday around 20 folk can really coin it in Newcastle. Newcastle council are very keen on people using the handful of permits they hand out and get rather vexxed at nil returns, so please don't drop a charity in it by not going.

Other Newcastle Information

Collecting at St. James Park - Newcastle is a good collection spot. Although the club don't grant permits for the ground, it is on the edge of the city centre so you can drift up that way and catch alot of the fans. Good source of food can be Greggs. While you're up "Toon". Make sure you grab a stottee. Its like a large breadcake, but it has UK fame. Just like a battered Mars Bar in Edinburgh, the stottee is to be sampled. Spot on.

WARNING

The people of Newcaslte should under no circumstances be refered to as "Mackems". You will be endangering your life and the lives of other collectors if you were to compare them to Sunderland folk.

Other Nearby Collecting Venues

Darlington, Durham, Gateshead Metrocentre and Sunderland. South Shields.

Darlington

Darlington Football Club are more than happy for charities to collect outside the turnstiles and the bars. Make sure you get a crowd-heavy game. 5 collectors will probably do quite well on a good day. Darlington/Hartlepool for example. Get that permit and you'll probs get a grand. Darlington is currently undergoing pedestrianisation which will make it even better to collect in. The Cornmill Shopping centre has good entrances for collecting, especially on, High Row. 3 collectors have managed to pull in a grand on a wet day. Other reasonable streets are Skinnergate and Tubwell Row. Queens Street Shopping centre entrances are also recommended.

Sunderland

Sunderland has a pedestrainised centre and the usual sprinkling of shops. Not as big a nearby Newcastle it still has a enough for a few folk to spend a productive day there.

Sunderland's Stadium of Light is potentially even better as it is accessible from all sides. If you want to be quite sneeky, after the match Sunderland provide a Park and Ride scheme. The queues are enormous so don't be afraid to make some polite inquiries as to whether they would like to support whichever charity you're collecting for. Note - It helps if they won. Mind you, if they lost they are a thick skinned bunch so just be nice and they'll probably give you some coinage anyway!

South Shields

Has a long pedestrianised high street for a small seaside town, it's not the richest place but if you're collecting for a medical charity a couple of you should do ok, but it will be huge handfuls of copper and 5ps. It's definately quantity not quality in southshileds but there's no harm in that.