What To Do This Weekend
New openings, family fun and the must-visit events for bookworms - here's what to do this weekend
What’s New
In Gateshead
Sprinkle Studio is the latest indie retailer to open at the Metrocentre, this Friday 27th March, with a chance to try your hand at cake decorating. Encouraging visitors to take a break from their screens, customers are invited to create their own edible art choosing from a wide selection of frostings, fondants, stamps, stencils and more than 40 different sprinkle types. No experience is needed and all toppings and tools are included.
In Sunderland
A new curiosity shop opens in Sunderland this weekend (Saturday 28th March). The Canny Badger is the newest addition to 19 Norfolk Street and it’s an Aladdin’s Cave of antique items with a focus on the city’s heritage. The opening is timed perfectly with the return of Sunniside Market.
In Barnard Castle
The Bowes Museum is celebrating one of fashion’s most imaginative British designers, Vivienne Westwood, in a new multi-gallery exhibition from Saturday. Featuring many pieces from rarely seen private collections, Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary is a showcase of rebellion and tradition, and definitely one for the fashionistas.
In Sheffield
Anyone for Eggmisú? Head to Sheffield’s tiramisù cafe, Paradiso Artisan Tiramisù, from Friday for an early Easter treat… alcohol-free tiramisù filled Easter eggs. Deliziosa!
In Hull
Hull’s new Sicilian restaurant is our go-to for pasta cravings. Having made itself at home in Paragon Arcade, Norma serves up authentic pasta to enjoy on the go or in its upstairs restaurant (there’s a cocktail bar too). As well as pasta, you can dig into artisan sandwiches and light bites, and the tiramisu is a must-try.
Perfect Portraits
Two new exhibitions are launching at Newcastle’s Laing Art Gallery
Opening this Saturday, visitors to Laing Art Gallery can chart the history of portrait painting from the 16th century to the present day in not one but two exhibitions: the National Portrait Gallery’s celebrated painting competition, the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2025, now in its 43rd year, and Exploring Identity, a portraiture exhibition curated from North East Museums’ art collections that provides historical context to the Portrait Award. You’ll see 46 portraits selected for display by a panel of judges exploring themes of cultural heritage, companionship, sexuality, illness, conflict, and grief, whilst Exploring Identity brings together some of the finest portraits from the Laing, Shipley, and Hatton Gallery collections.
Read All About It
This is a big weekend for bookworms
Chemistry returns to The Chemic Tavern in Leeds on Friday with a night of poetry and spoken word featuring award-winning performance poet Maria Ferguson and star of Bradford 2025 Nabeela Ahmed. Local authors from Blyth, Ashington, Seaton Sluice and across the North East are coming together to celebrate storytelling at a Local Authors Celebration on Saturday, at Blyth’s Market Pavilion. Meet authors, discover new reads, and share in your love for literature. The annual Little Felton Book Festival began yesterday and it’s taking place across the weekend at Gallery Forty5 in Felton, bringing together authors, poets, readers and aspiring writers for a weekend of inspiration, learning and connection – Cheese, Wine and Crime on Saturday sounds fun to us! Rebecca Philipson will join in the middle of her debut novel launch tour.
Tick Tock
Lighter nights are on their way
On Sunday 29th March the clocks will spring forward by an hour, marking the return to longer days and lighter evenings – finally! As the clocks go forward, get your beauty sleep back on track with our lists of do's and don’ts.
Family Fun
Who says you have to wait ’til Half Term to spend quality time with the family?
There’s plenty to keep everyone entertained this weekend. Head to the Metrocentre with the kids for Peppa Pig: Surprise Party which open its doors on Friday in the Upper Green Mall. In this all-new immersive experience, families can step inside an episode of Peppa Pig (including The Aquarium and Peppa’s House) to get everything ready for Peppa’s big surprise party. From Saturday, Easter starts early at Mother Shipton’s where kids are invited to go down the rabbit hole into a magical Alice in Wonderland themed event – dressing up is encouraged.
Step into Spring
A dreamy daffodil display is sure to brighten your weekend
The daffodils at Seaton Delaval Hall are putting on their annual display. From the North West Woods looking to the north front of the hall, you can see the historic double-headed Van Sian daffodils, thought to have been planted around the time the hall was built. Thorp Perrow Arboretum’s tree-lined avenues are scattered with daffodils in spring, but arguably the best places to walk amongst these springtime flowers in Yorkshire is Farndale Daffodil Walk which leads you along the River Dove where wild daffodils weave across a three-and-a-half-mile stretch.
