THE first stage of an ambitious £50,000 upgrade of one of Newcastle's oldest entertainment venues has begun.

The Assembly Rooms, in Fenkle Street near Central Station, is undergoing a series of improvements over the next 12 months.

The main body of the works being carried out initially is on the ground floor and will see a complete overhaul of the washroom facilities of the Lower Ballroom and Sovereign Suite, which can jointly accommodate up to 370 people.

Antony Michaelides, owner of the Georgian venue, said: “Top of the agenda for us is to ensure that our refurbishments are sensitive to the building’s rich history and highlight the wonderful, original features within each of our eight suites, which combined, can accommodate over 1,000 people.

“Careful consideration and planning has been required in order to execute the works so there is no disruption to the smooth running of the Assembly Rooms. This is why we are undertaking refurbishments in a number of stages.”

Built in 1776, the Assembly Rooms is one of the region’s oldest entertainment venues, showcasing the very best in Georgian architecture.

Once complete in the lower ballroom, updates will then start on refurbishing the upper first floor, where the Meldon Suite and Halton Suite are housed, which hold up to 30 and 35 people respectively.

Further general refurbishments are to be carried out across the first floor of the Assembly Rooms which is made up of four rooms; the Chandelier, Regency, Wedgwood and Falstaff. Combined, these suites hold up to 640 people.

Michaelides said: “The decision to upgrade the facilities at the Assembly Rooms is part of our commitment to offer our customers the best experience possible as well as ensure that we remain ahead of the market.

"With the likes of Las Iguanas, MacDonalds, Procter and Gamble and the Royal Institute of British Architecture choosing to hold their conferences with us, we are proud to say that the calibre of our venue certainly matches the calibre of our clients.”