Gosforth Park

{{Infobox park

| name = Gosforth Park

| photo = File:Newcastle rc.jpg

| photo_width =

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = Newcastle Racecourse in Gosforth Park

| map = United Kingdom Tyne and Wear

| map_width =

| type =

| location = Gosforth

| nearest_city = Newcastle upon Tyne

| coordinates = {{Coord|55.0311|-1.6119|display=inline,title}}

| area =

| created = {{circa|1760}}

| operator =

| visitation_num =

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Gosforth Park is a park north of Gosforth in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It houses Newcastle Racecourse, Virgin Money Unity Arena, a Britannia hotel, two golf courses, a garden centre and a football centre. It is also home to Gosforth Nature Reserve, a private SSSI managed by the Natural History Society of Northumbria, consisting of a lake and woodland.

The park was laid out by Charles Brandling (1733–1802), a wealthy coal-mine owner and local politician, to adorn his new mansion, Gosforth House (now Brandling House, the racecourse hospitality and conference centre), built 1755–64.

Up to the 1950s tramcars came into the park on race days through a special gate from what was then the A1 Great North Road.

Between 2016 and 2019 the two walled gardens and icehouse at Gosforth Park were the subject of archaeological investigations by AAG Archaeology, prior to the gardens having houses built within them.

Hotel

The Gosforth Park Hotel, now in the Britannia Hotels chain, was originally built in 1965 and opened by the Duke of Northumberland, and by 1986 was owned by Scottish & Newcastle and run by Thistle Hotels.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-424000-570000/page/6 |title=Gosforth Park Hotel |publisher=BBC Domesday Reloaded |date=1986 |accessdate=7 September 2013}} Between being in the Thistle and Britannia portfolios it had been operated as a Marriott.{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=Coreena |title=Marriott Hotel in Gosforth sold to new owner as part of major five-hotel property deal |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/marriott-hotel-gosforth-sold-new-14864237 |access-date=31 October 2021 |work=ChronicleLive |date=4 July 2018 |language=en}}

Virgin Money Unity Arena

Virgin Money Unity Arena is the UK's first purpose built socially distanced outdoor entertainment venue constructed in the grounds of Gosforth Park.{{cite news |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=U.K. Racetrack to Become First 'Dedicated Socially Distanced Venue' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/virgin-money-unity-arena-socially-distance-venue-uk-1024272/ |accessdate=12 August 2020 |work=Rolling Stone |date=4 July 2020}} During 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic caused all concert and stand-up comedy events in the country to be cancelled.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Will I get a refund on my ticket if events are cancelled? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-51738687 |accessdate=12 August 2020 |work=BBC News |date=18 March 2020}} As the country came out of lockdown a number of efforts were made to re-start entertainment events including some drive-in venues.{{cite news |title=Brit winner headlines first socially-distanced gig |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-53749178 |accessdate=12 August 2020 |work=BBC News |date=12 August 2020}}

The temporary outdoor venue site is {{convert|45000|sqm}} and consists of 500 viewing spaces.{{cite news |title=Brit winner to headline socially-distanced gig |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-53725053 |accessdate=11 August 2020 |work=BBC News |date=11 August 2020}} Each socially distanced viewing space can occupy up to 5 people bringing the maximum capacity of the venue to 2500.{{cite news |last1=Meechan |first1=Simon |title=Live music returns with Sam Fender gig at Virgin Money Unity Arena |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/live-music-returns-sam-fender-18754983 |accessdate=12 August 2020 |work=The Evening Chronicle |date=12 August 2020}} The first two concerts on 11 and 13 August by North Tyneside singer Sam Fender sold out in minutes.

The venue is operated by SSD Concerts and Engine No.4.{{cite news |last1=Hanley |first1=James |title=Inside the UK's only major concert series of the summer |url=https://www.musicweek.com/live/read/inside-the-uk-s-only-major-concert-series-of-the-summer/080729 |accessdate=11 August 2020 |work=Music Week |date=11 August 2020 |language=en}} The event's title sponsor is the Virgin Money bank who have their headquarters in the nearby Regent Centre business park.{{cite web |last1=Vizard |first1=Sarah |title=Inside Virgin Money's plan to build a consumer, not just a bank, brand |url=https://www.marketingweek.com/virgin-money-consumer-brand/ |website=Marketing Week |accessdate=12 August 2020 |language=en |date=7 July 2020}}

References

External links

[https://virginmoneyunityarena.com/ Virgin Money Unity Arena]

Category:Parks and open spaces in Newcastle upon Tyne