Free meals and cheap food in Newcastle
There are free hot meals and takeaway food provided by volunteer and community groups in Newcastle. They welcome people who are hungry or lonely to eat a hot meal.
There are community meals and pay as you feel supermarkets or pantries where you can buy low cost food. These often use food donated by companies where it would otherwise go to waste.
Use the Quick links on the right to jump to the information you need or scroll down for more details on what’s available in Newcastle.
The services listed on this page are provided by organisations independent to the council. We update this information regularly, but opening times and availability can change. Opening times are different during bank holidays.
Before attending a place we recommend you check it is running and that you’re eligible to receive the service. Some services are only for adults or rough sleepers. Please note there may be a limit to the number of times you can access a service due to high demands in Newcastle. You can read more about InformationNOW’s Terms and Conditions.
Free and low cost food available
Mondays
| Name | What’s available | How to access |
| Mary’s Place at the Mercy Hub
Address: The Mercy Hub, Neville Street, NE1 5HH Telephone: 07815 888974 Website: stmaryscathedral.org.uk/mercyhub/mercyhubnews Email: eliz.bennett1@outlook.com |
A warm place to sit for free hot and cold food and drinks.
Take away food and drinks also available. Find it on Neville Street. The door is opposite Central Station Goods Yard. It’s part of the St Mary’s Cathedral Mercy Hub. |
Time: Mondays 10am to 1pm
Who can use it: for people who are homeless and those in need How: drop in Cost: free |
| The People’s Kitchen
Address: The Allison Centre, 56 Bath Lane, NE4 5SQ Telephone: 0191 222 0699 Website: peopleskitchen.co.uk Email: info@peopleskitchen.co.uk |
Free hot meal for people who are homeless or vulnerable.
Sleeping bags, warm clothing and toiletries are also available |
Time: Monday to Friday 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Saturday and Sunday 6.30am to 9.30pm Who can use it: adults How: drop in Cost: free |
| FoodCycle Benwell
Address: Riverside Community Health Project Carnegie Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 8XS Website: foodcycle.org.uk/location/newcastle-benwell Telephone: 07377 866 316 Email: benwell@foodcycle.org.uk |
Free, nutritious cooked meal on Mondays at 6.30pm.
Everyone is welcome, no matter your background or circumstances. |
Time: 6.30pm
Who can use it: all welcome How: No referral needed, just turn up Cost: free |
| Kingdom Life Community Grocery – Newcastle
Address: Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1SB Telephone: 0191 345 4511 Website: communitygrocery.org.uk/newcastle |
Low cost, affordable supermarket
Classes such as cookery, life skills and managing your money |
Open: Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 4.40pm
Who is it for: families and local residents How to use it: Membership required Cost: Membership is £5 a year. You can then shop 3 times a week for £3
|
| Pottery Bank Community Centre
Address: Yelverton Crescent, Pottery Bank, Walker, Telephone: 0191 224 2349 Website: Pottery Bank Facebook Page Email: info@potterybankcc.co.uk |
Low cost community café
Pay as you feel supermarket Meal collection and distributions from community catering Cookery classes |
Open: Community Café Monday to Friday 8am to 2pm
Who is it for: people in Newcastle How to use it: Contact them for more information. Visit their Facebook page for more information Cost: low cost food
|
Tuesdays
| Name | What’s available | How to access |
| Vinnie’s Cafe – Lunch at St Vincent’s Centre
Address: Newbridge Street Telephone: 0191 261 6027 Website: svp.org.uk/st-vincents-newcastle Email: emmab@svp.org.uk |
Free hot sit in or take away meals cooked by volunteers
Free emergency packs of food, toiletries and sanitary products for those in need Monday to Thursday 10.30am to 3.30pm and Friday 10am to 2pm. Free Clothing Support available on Thursdays |
Time: 11am to 1pm
Who can use it: Adults. All welcome How: drop in to collect a takeaway meal Call or email to arrange collection of food, clothing or toiletries parcel Cost: free |
| St James Church
Address: Benwell Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 6RR Website: benwellscotswood.com/stjames Email: church@benwellscotswood.com |
Free lunch on Tuesdays
Time to spend meeting your community. It’s for anyone, any age, any background and any beliefs |
Time: 12pm to 2pm
Who can use it: all welcome How: drop in. Call or email to let them know you’re interested. Cost: free (donations welcome) |
| The People’s Kitchen
Address: The Allison Centre, 56 Bath Lane, NE4 5SQ Telephone: 0191 222 0699 Website: peopleskitchen.co.uk Email: info@peopleskitchen.co.uk |
Free hot meal for people who are homeless or vulnerable.
Sleeping bags, warm clothing and toiletries are also available |
Time: Monday to Friday 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Saturday and Sunday 6.30am to 9.30pm Who can use it: adults How: drop in Cost: free |
| Byker Pantry – Life Vineyard Church Foodbank
Address: Life Vineyard Church, 11–13 Raby Cross, , Byker, NE6 2FF Telephone: 07470 126 508 Website: www.lifevineyard.church/lifeprojects |
Buy low cost food using the Byker Pantry points scheme.
Items are at least half the price of a supermarket. |
Time: Tuesdays 9.30am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm
Who can use it: people who live or work in Byker or have a child at school in Byker. How: drop in. You exchange money for points. Then buy food items which are priced in points. Cost: low cost |
| Kingdom Life Community Grocery – Newcastle
Address: Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1SB Telephone: 0191 345 4511 Website: communitygrocery.org.uk/newcastle |
Low cost, affordable supermarket
Classes such as cookery, life skills and managing your money |
How to use it: Membership required
Open: Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 4.40pm Who is it for: families and local residents Cost: Membership is £5 a year. You can then shop 3 times a week for £3 |
| Pottery Bank Community Centre
Address: Yelverton Crescent, Pottery Bank, Walker, Telephone: 0191 224 2349 Website: Pottery Bank Facebook Page Email: info@potterybankcc.co.uk |
Low cost community café
Pay as you feel supermarket Meal collection and distributions from community catering Cookery classes |
Open: Community Café Monday to Friday 8am to 2pm
Who is it for: people in Newcastle How to use it: Contact them for more information. Visit their Facebook page for more information Cost: low cost food |
Wednesday
| Name | What’s available | How to access |
| Cornerstone Benwell
Address: 62 Armstrong Road, Telephone: 0191 226 0941 Website: cornerstonebenwell.com Email: cornerstonebenwell@gmail.com
|
Benwell Bridge Pantry: low cost food items available. you can buy 10 items for £2.50. Membership needed.
Corner Kitchen Community Café: selling low cost hot and cold food Emergency food parcels available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am to 2pm |
Time: Pantry and café open Wednesdays and Thursdays 9am to 4pm
Who can use it: adults Membership required to use Pantry How: email or phone Cost: low cost
|
| St Martin’s Centre
Address: Roman Avenue, Byker, Tyne and Wear, NE6 2RJ Telephone: 0191 276 4002 Website: stmartinscentre.org.uk Email: info@stmartinscentre.org.uk |
Low cost Community Lunch.
2 course meal with tea and coffee, games and bingo |
Time: 11am to 1pm
Who can use it: all welcome How: drop in Cost: £3.50 |
| FoodCycle Walker
Address: Monkchester Community Centre, 208 Monkchester Road, Walker, NE6 2LJ Website: foodcycle.org.uk/location/newcastle-walker/ Email: monkchester@foodcycle.org.uk |
FoodCycle Walker offers free, nutritious cooked meal on Wednesdays at 12.30pm.
. |
Time: 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Who can use it: all welcome How: No referral needed, just turn up Cost: free |
| The People’s Kitchen
Address: The Allison Centre, 56 Bath Lane, NE4 5SQ Telephone: 0191 222 0699 Website: peopleskitchen.co.uk Email: info@peopleskitchen.co.uk |
Free hot meal for people who are homeless or vulnerable.
Sleeping bags, warm clothing and toiletries are also available |
Time: Monday to Friday 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Saturday and Sunday 6.30am to 9.30pm Who can use it: adults How: drop in Cost: free |
| Kingdom Life Community Grocery – Newcastle
Address: Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1SB Telephone: 0191 345 4511 Website: communitygrocery.org.uk/newcastle |
Low cost, affordable supermarket
Classes such as cookery, life skills and managing your money |
How to use it: Membership required
Open: Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 4.40pm Who is it for: families and local residents Cost: Membership is £5 a year. You can then shop 3 times a week for £3 |
| Pottery Bank Community Centre
Address: Yelverton Crescent, Pottery Bank, Walker, Telephone: 0191 224 2349 Website: Pottery Bank Facebook Page Email: info@potterybankcc.co.uk |
Low cost community café
Pay as you feel supermarket Meal collection and distributions from community catering Cookery classes |
Open: Community Café Monday to Friday 8am to 2pm
Who is it for: people in Newcastle How to use it: Contact them for more information. Visit their Facebook page for more information Cost: low cost food |
Thursday
| Name | What’s available | How to access |
| Cornerstone Benwell
Address: 62 Armstrong Road, Telephone: 0191 226 0941 Website: cornerstonebenwell.com Email: cornerstonebenwell@gmail.com |
Benwell Bridge Pantry: low cost food items available. you can buy 10 items for £2.50. Membership needed.
Corner Kitchen Community Café: selling low cost hot and cold food Emergency food parcels available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am to 2pm |
Time: Pantry and café open Wednesdays and Thursdays 9am to 4pm
Who can use it: adults Membership required to use Pantry How: email or phone Cost: low cost
|
|
Address: St Silas’ Church, Clifford Street, Byker, NE6 1DR Website: foodcycle.org.uk/location/byker/ Email:byker@foodcycle.org.uk |
Free, nutritious cooked meal on Thursdays at 7pm. | Time: 7pm to 8pm
Who can use it: all welcome How: No referral needed, just turn up Cost: free |
|
Address: Westgate Baptist Church, NE4 6QD |
Free, nutritious cooked meal on Thursdays at 6.45pm. | Time: Thursdays 6.45pm
Who can use it: all welcome How: No referral needed, just turn up Cost: free |
| The People’s Kitchen
Address: The Allison Centre, 56 Bath Lane, NE4 5SQ Telephone: 0191 222 0699 Website: peopleskitchen.co.uk Email: info@peopleskitchen.co.uk |
Free hot meal for people who are homeless or vulnerable.
Sleeping bags, warm clothing and toiletries are also available |
Time: Monday to Friday 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Saturday and Sunday 6.30am to 9.30pm Who can use it: adults How: drop in Cost: free |
| Byker Pantry Life Vineyard Church Foodbank
Address: Life Vineyard Church, 11–13 Raby Cross, Byker, NE6 2FF Website: www.lifevineyard.church/lifeprojects Email:Byker.pantry@lifevineyard.church Telephone: 07470 126 508 |
Buy low cost food using the Byker Pantry points scheme.
Items are at least half the price of a supermarket. |
Time: 2pm to 6pm
Who can use it: people who live or work in Byker or have a child at school in Byker. How: drop in. You exchange money for points. Then buy food items which are priced in points. Cost: low cost
|
| Kingdom Life Community Grocery – Newcastle
Address: Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1SB Telephone: 0191 345 4511 Website: communitygrocery.org.uk/newcastle |
Low cost, affordable supermarket
Classes such as cookery, life skills and managing your money |
How to use it: Membership required
Open: Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 4.40pm Who is it for: families and local residents Cost: Membership is £5 a year. You can then shop 3 times a week for £3 |
| Pottery Bank Community Centre
Address: Yelverton Crescent, Pottery Bank, Walker, Telephone: 0191 224 2349 Website: Pottery Bank Facebook Page Email: info@potterybankcc.co.uk |
Low cost community café
Pay as you feel supermarket Meal collection and distributions from community catering Cookery classes |
Open: Community Café Monday to Friday 8am to 2pm
Who is it for: people in Newcastle How to use it: Contact them for more information. Visit their Facebook page for more information Cost: low cost food
|
Fridays
| Name | What’s available | How to access |
| The People’s Kitchen
Address: The Allison Centre, 56 Bath Lane, NE4 5SQ Telephone: 0191 222 0699 Website: peopleskitchen.co.uk Email: info@peopleskitchen.co.uk |
Free hot meal for people who are homeless or vulnerable.
Sleeping bags, warm clothing and toiletries are also available |
Time: Monday to Friday 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Saturday and Sunday 6.30am to 9.30pm Who can use it: adults How: drop in Cost: free |
| Kingdom Life Community Grocery – Newcastle
Address: Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1SB Telephone: 0191 345 4511 Website: communitygrocery.org.uk/newcastle |
Low cost, affordable supermarket
Classes such as cookery, life skills and managing your money |
How to use it: Membership required
Open: Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 4.40pm Who is it for: families and local residents Cost: Membership is £5 a year. You can then shop 3 times a week for £3
|
| Pottery Bank Community Centre
Address: Yelverton Crescent, Pottery Bank, Walker, Telephone: 0191 224 2349 Website: Pottery Bank Facebook Page Email: info@potterybankcc.co.uk |
Low cost community café
Pay as you feel supermarket Meal collection and distributions from community catering Cookery classes |
Open: Community Café Monday to Friday 8am to 2pm
Who is it for: people in Newcastle How to use it: Contact them for more information. Visit their Facebook page for more information Cost: low cost food |
Saturdays and Sundays
| Name | What’s available | How to access |
| The People’s Kitchen
Address: The Allison Centre, 56 Bath Lane, NE4 5SQ Telephone: 0191 222 0699 Website: peopleskitchen.co.uk Email: info@peopleskitchen.co.uk |
Free hot meal for people who are homeless or vulnerable.
Sleeping bags, warm clothing and toiletries are also available |
Time: Monday to Friday 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Saturday and Sunday 6.30am to 9.30pm Who can use it: adults How: drop in Cost: free |
Other Food Support in Newcastle
Visit our pages on:
- Food banks in Newcastle for Emergency Food Parcel information
- Help with food shopping or prescriptions
- If you are self-isolating due to Covid and struggling to get the food you need, you can contact the council’sWelfare and Wellbeing Team
| Name | What’s available | How to access |
| Pottery Bank Community Centre
Address: Yelverton Crescent, Pottery Bank, Walker, Telephone: 0191 224 2349 Website: Pottery Bank Facebook Page Email: info@potterybankcc.co.uk |
Low cost community café
Pay as you feel supermarket Meal collection and distributions from community catering Cookery classes |
Open: Community Café Monday to Friday 8am to 2pm
How to use it: Contact them for more information. Visit their Facebook page for more information |
| Food Nation
Website: foodnation.org Email: Jamie@foodnation.org |
Food Nation weekly doorstep delivery of pre-prepared, easy to heat meals for those in need. | Referral needed: contact Citylife line
|
Free food support for families and children
If you receive certain benefits you can access additional food support for your children.
Healthy Start Scheme
NHS Healthy Start Scheme is for people who are pregnant or have children under the age of 4, who receive certain benefits. You can get free vouchers or payments every 4 weeks to buy for the child:
- cow’s milk
- fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables
- infant formula milk
- fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
- You can also get free Healthy Start vitamins.
You can use the vouchers in supermarkets, greengrocers, pharmacies and convenience stores.
Find out if you are eligible and how to apply on the NHS Healthy Start Website.
Free school meals
Free school meals are available to children whose parents receive certain benefits and are at:
- government funded schools, full time, up to the age of 19,
- or in a nursery class or nursery school and attending for full days.
The government has temporarily extended free school meals to families with no recourse to public funds during the coronavirus pandemic.
Find out if you’re eligible for free school meals and how to apply on Newcastle.gov.uk
Free school meals during school holidays
Children who receive free school meals during term time because they’re eligible, will receive up to £90 of food vouchers for the summer holidays. This will be arranged by the child’s school. Newcastle City Council will contact those who are registered to receive free meals who don’t have a school place.
Early years children (3 and 4 year olds in Newcastle) who receive a funded free early years entitlement for their place at either school, pre-school playgroup, day nursery or childminder. And meet the criteria for free school meals, should also be offered a food voucher by their early years provider.
Free holiday activities
Holiday Activities run the ‘Newcastle Best Summer / Spring / Winter Ever’ schemes. The free school holiday activity scheme in Newcastle for 4 to 16 year olds. This support is for families who receive free school meals. Community organisations across Newcastle provide free activity sessions and a meal for your child. You can choose from a range of fun, educational and sociable activities such as: sport, art, and culture. Newcastle City Council and StreetGames are working with community partners to give children and young people in Newcastle a happy and enjoyable school holidays. Visit their website for more information about the activities available, where they’re taking place and how to book.
Universal free school meals for Reception children, Year 1 and Year 2
Universal free school meals are available to all children in government funded schools in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2. You don’t have to apply for universal free school meals and you do not have to receive benefits to be eligible for them. It is for all children aged 4 to 8 years old. This does not mean you are eligible for the school holiday vouchers. The vouchers are for children who meet the eligibility criteria for free school meals mentioned above.
Please note: Your child and their school may be able to get extra help if you get one of the qualifying benefits for free school meals. Apply for free school meals so that the council can check if your child is eligible for the extra help, even if your child is in reception, year 1 or year 2.
The services listed on this page are provided by organisations independent to the council. We update this information regularly, but opening times and availability can change. Opening times are different during bank holidays and over Christmas and New Year. Before attending a session we recommend you check it is running and that you’re eligible to receive the service. Some services are only for adults or rough sleepers. Please note there may be a limit to the number of times you can access a service due to high demands in Newcastle. You can read more about InformationNOW’s Terms and Conditions.
Last updated: April 13, 2022
