The gig venue guide: the Cluny, Newcastle

Capacity: 300 standing (the Cluny) or 180 part-seated (Cluny 2).

Who plays there: A mix of well-known and unknown, folk and rock, locals stars, upcoming bands and a few old lags on the way back down. Forthcoming shows include Hookworms, Gravenhurst, J Mascis, 1971 Dutch prog legends Focus and Whitley Bay’s trusty new wave of British heavy metal, Tygers of Pan Tang.

Cloakroom: No.

Admission: £5-£20.

Bar: The Cluny’s labyrinthine structure means that drinking and watching the band don’t always go hand in hand, although there is a small bar (a window selling drinks, really) in the larger Cluny 1. Gigs at Cluny 2 require struggling up two flights of stairs to a bottle bar if you get thirsty. However, there is an excellent large bar with an array of affordable real ales elsewhere in the building.

Food: The Cluny kitchen is almost as famous as the venue, and serves from noon until 9pm, including Sunday lunches and plenty of veggie options. When reviewing gigs at the Cluny, I look forward to the mostly homemade, reasonably priced grub (especially the pie of the day) as well as the music.

Toilets: Yes, all perfectly clean and functional.

Wheelchair access: Access from outside needs assistance thanks to the heavy doors and lack of level access, but there is level access inside the venue, a disabled-only toilet and lift to avoid the stairs. Plan your visit here.

Sound: Usually excellent in Cluny 2. The larger room is L-shaped with the stage bit of the L lower and down a few stairs, so you need to be in that section for the best audio experience.

Where to stand: See above. If the main Cluny is really busy, it can be a painif you’re in the bar area of the L and have to keep craning your neck or edging down the stairs to see the stage. The Cluny 2 is a small amphitheatre, with a standing area and rising seats.

Overall: A characterful mix of old and new, slick and rough and ready, the Cluny offers a very different experience to city-centre venues. From the posters on the walls to Sid the doorman, it’s a homely place where music, drinking and food feel important. Artists also respond to the feeling that the Cluny is a special place: I’ve seen some really memorable performances here from everyone from Daniel Johnston to Peace. My favourite of the dozens of gigs I’ve seen there, though, is probably still Titus Andronicus in 2010, when the band broke the curfew and crowd and musicians ended up together as one indistinguishable, raucous mass of frenetic dancing, noise and hair.

Address: 36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Telephone: 0191-230 4474.

Website: thecluny.com

Public transport: It’s a mile and a half outside the city centre and somewhat off the beaten track. However, bus services 12, 22, 39, 40, 62 & 63 stop nearby and the Q2 Quaylink bus also now serves the area, while Byker and Manors metro stations are both within walking distance.