Food, music, mayhem — and now, a treasure hunt. Newcastle’s favourite shipping-container venue is back with a riddle-filled challenge that could win you more than bragging rights.
Can you crack the STACK?
If you thought STACK Newcastle was just about pints, pizzas and pounding DJ sets, think again. The city’s beloved container village is turning up the heat (and the intrigue) with Crack the STACK — a treasure-hunt-style challenge that transforms the venue into a live puzzle game.
It’s simple: solve clues hidden around STACK, crack the code, and you could walk away with prizes ranging from free food to exclusive event passes. It’s all part of STACK’s mission to mix up its entertainment offering — blending street food, live music and local culture with a dash of brain-teasing fun.
A container-made playground
If you’ve never been, STACK Newcastle isn’t your average venue. Built from repurposed shipping containers, the multi-level hub on Pilgrim Street has become a city landmark — a space where craft beer meets cocktails, DJs meet street food, and now, puzzles meet punters.
The Crack the STACK challenge weaves through the site’s maze-like layout — from the buzzing courtyard to tucked-away vendor spots — turning your Saturday night hangout into a mystery mission. Teams can register on-site or online, receive their first clue, and then race to uncover riddles placed around the venue.
Think of it as escape room meets pub crawl, with more bao buns and fewer locked doors.
What’s in it for players?
Aside from the thrill of beating your mates to the punch, the rewards are proper: STACK vouchers, food and drink freebies, exclusive gig tickets and the holy grail — priority passes for special events.
STACK’s events manager, Sarah Johnson, says it’s all about “keeping things fresh and giving people reasons to come back week after week.” And it’s working. Since its reopening, STACK Newcastle has re-established itself as one of the North East’s most inventive leisure spaces — hosting everything from open-air film nights to winter ice bars.
The treasure hunt idea taps into that same creative energy — making the space interactive, not just social.
From containers to community
What’s clever about Crack the STACK is that it’s more than a marketing gimmick. It’s a love letter to the venue’s local community. Each clue nods to something uniquely “Geordie” — landmarks, dialect, pop culture — celebrating the region’s personality while drawing in visitors who might never have explored the site before.
And for those who remember STACK’s earlier incarnation down on Pilgrim Street, the new site doubles down on what made it special: atmosphere, adaptability and that unmistakable “Newcastle energy.”
The future of fun spaces
STACK’s evolution mirrors a wider trend in the UK’s leisure landscape. People don’t just want somewhere to eat and drink — they want experiences that stick. Interactive challenges, themed nights and live-music mashups turn a venue into an event.
And STACK, with its modular shipping-container build and open-air design, is perfect for reinvention. One week, it’s a family-friendly food market; the next, a live music arena; and now, it’s basically The Da Vinci Code on the Tyne.
“STACK has always been about more than food and drink — it’s about bringing people together for something unexpected,” says organiser Sarah Johnson. “Crack the STACK is our way of adding a bit of mystery to the magic.”
Whether you’re a Newcastle local or a weekend wanderer, Crack the STACK is your excuse to rediscover the city’s most talked-about hangout. Grab your mates, grab a pint, and get solving — because at STACK, the fun’s no longer just on the stage; it’s hidden in plain sight.
