The scene in Newcastle upon Tyne
World Headquarters was founded in 1993 by Tom Caulker, growing out of the Trent House Soul Bar scene he'd been part of through the 1980s - the club was raided by police on its very first night open, and quickly became the centre of Newcastle's underground scene anyway.
It's independent and Black-owned, built a real reputation as a genuinely welcoming space for people the wider scene often didn't accommodate, and marked its 30th anniversary in 2023 - making it one of the longest continuously-running underground clubs anywhere, not just in the city.
Facing demolition for a bus station in 2002, the club relocated into a six-storey former warehouse on Carliol Square, named Curtis Mayfield House, and has run from there since 2003.
Where it happens
Carliol Square, in the city centre, has been WHQ's home since the 2003 move.
Nearby nights
- Worldheadquarters Newcastle
- World Headquarters (WHQ)Curtis Mayfield House, Carliol Square - independent, Black-owned, open since 1993
On sale in Newcastle upon Tyne
2 events
How buying a ticket works, in practice
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