Culture Quarter is looking to bring a wide variety of events to Whitley Bay and help make it a cultural-hub for the region.

And around 100 people turned up to the opening of the Ceilidh Club in the Trojan Rooms on South Parade. The family crowd were put through their paces by local caller Dave Minikin with the sound of Summerhill Folly.

Toby Bridges, a director of Culture Quarter, and resplendent in a Northumbrian kilt, said: "We really couldn't have hoped for a better start to our programme of activities. This is really what Culture Quarter is all about."

The next Ceilidh Club will be on Saturday, February 21 when the legendary Tony Corcoran, from Newcastle's Irish Club, will lead the evening.

Officials at Culture Quarter hope to have an office base, near the Playhouse, open shortly and will welcome visitors to discuss and share new ideas for arts and cultural activities throughout Whitley Bay.