The company behind the approved leisure development on Lancaster Road has submitted an application for an alcohol licence for the multi-storey Topgolf complex being built on the former Federation Brewery site in Dunston.
Hours, capacity and security detailed in application
Topgolf UK’s application seeks permission for the supply of alcohol between 8am and 11pm, Monday to Sunday. The venue’s planned operating hours are stated as 7.30am to 12.30am every day, with a maximum capacity of 1,344 people including staff across its three floors.
Safety and licensing measures outlined in the paperwork include a closed-circuit television system and age-verification procedures. The firm says recordings will be retained for at least 31 days and made available to the police or council on request.
the facility will have a “comprehensive” CCTV system, with recordings stored for a minimum of 31 days
Staff will operate a Challenge 25 policy, meaning anyone who appears under 25 will be asked to produce photographic identification. The application also states that all employees involved in selling or supplying alcohol will receive training appropriate to those duties.
Background: the site and the wider proposition
Gateshead Council’s planning and development committee approved Topgolf’s scheme in July 2025. The proposal converts the former Newcastle Brown Ale production site on Lancaster Road into a 102-hitting-bay driving range and leisure hub.
The site was used to produce Newcastle Brown Ale between 2005 and 2010 before brewing moved to Tadcaster. The factory building was subsequently demolished in 2013.
Projected benefits and local impact
Planning documents submitted by Topgolf set out the economic case for the development, citing a £40m investment into the Dunston site and projecting around 450,000 visitors a year. The company has also forecast that the scheme could generate between £150m and £250m over a 10-year period.
Local residents and businesses will be watching the licensing determination closely. The licence application spells out the operator’s intended controls on alcohol sales and security; these will form part of the council’s consideration alongside any representations from statutory consultees or the public.
- Applicant: Topgolf UK
- Proposed alcohol hours: 08:00–23:00 daily
- Planned venue hours: 07:30–00:30 daily
- Maximum capacity: 1,344 (including staff)
- CCTV retention: minimum 31 days
- Age policy: Challenge 25 and staff training on sales
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Investment | £40m |
| Projected annual visitors | 450,000 |
| Forecast 10-year revenue impact | £150m–£250m |
The council’s licensing department will consider the application and any objections or conditions proposed by responsible authorities. Decisions on premises licences typically weigh public safety, prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance and protection of children from harm.
As the planning approval and licensing process progresses, the development represents one of the more substantial leisure investments in Gateshead in recent years and marks a significant reuse of a long-vacant industrial site on Lancaster Road.
