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Inside The Biscuit Factory: Newcastle's Largest Independent Art Gallery

Exposed brick, two floors of original art, and a rooftop cafe — a look inside The Biscuit Factory in the Ouseburn, just a ten-minute walk from Jesmond.

Jesmond.live·7 June 2026

You could live in Jesmond for years and never realise that one of the UK's largest independent contemporary art galleries is a ten-minute walk away. The Biscuit Factory sits just over the border in the Ouseburn — Newcastle's creative quarter — housed in a beautifully converted Victorian warehouse that once produced biscuits for the city.

The space

Step inside and the building does the talking. Exposed brick walls, original timber beams, polished wooden floors, and soaring ceilings create a gallery space that feels both industrial and intimate. Art hangs against raw brickwork alongside white-panelled display walls, and natural light pours through the upper windows. It is the kind of space where you find yourself looking up as much as you look at the work.

Artwork displayed against the Biscuit Factory's original brick walls

Across two floors, the gallery showcases over 250 artists working across painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, jewellery, and design-led homewares. The current headline exhibition is Jo Sharpe's Still/Life, running through to 5 July. Prices range from affordable prints to major original pieces — this is a gallery where buying art feels accessible, not intimidating.

The Factory Kitchen

The rooftop cafe — The Factory Kitchen — is a destination in its own right. Perched above the gallery floor, it is a relaxed spot for coffee, brunch, or lunch after browsing the exhibitions. The combination of good food and good art makes for a genuinely satisfying morning or afternoon out.

Workshops and events

Beyond the gallery, The Biscuit Factory runs a programme of hands-on creative workshops covering pottery, painting, embroidery, and creative writing. The building is also a popular private-hire venue for weddings, corporate events, and celebrations, with the dramatic industrial architecture providing a striking backdrop.

Getting there from Jesmond

The gallery is at Stoddart Street, NE2 1AN — roughly ten minutes on foot from Jesmond Metro station via the Ouseburn Valley, or five minutes from Manors Metro. Free entry, open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm.

If you have not been, it is well worth the short walk. And if you have been before, there is always something new on the walls.

Discover more things to do near Jesmond in our guides.