Officials at the Culture Quarter have just moved into their new headquarters – the former newsagents opposite Whitley Bay Playhouse.

Now – as well as already hosting a Ceilidh Club at the Trojan Rooms and taster days for newcomers to community theatre – they are looking at additional events for the town.

Christine Savage, chairman of Culture Quarter, said: "We are opening our door to Whitley Bay, and we want people to come and join us, and tell us what they want to see in this area of Whitley Bay.

"People have already told us that they want to see more live acoustic music, some art classes, and some events for disabled and non-disabled young people to enjoy together.

"We are doing our best to deliver and to help people to do it for themselves.

"We have had suggestions about a ballroom dancing club and reviving 'flannel dances'.

"We want to give people a reason to come to the Spanish City area, and to enjoy themselves here as they always have done.

"We want to breathe new life into the area, and we know because people tell us, that this is what they want and they are supporting us.

"We want more people to get involved – it is time to make a difference and we are doing it."

Taster events in Mind Sports – including chess, board games, and card games – are starting this week, being held in the Berkeley Tavern on Friday and Saturday between 2pm and 8pm.

And the first weekend in April will see the start of Culture Quarter's traditional dance weekends.

A public meeting on Culture Quarter's plans for the Spanish City Dome and their additional work is being held at the Windsor Hotel on Tuesday, March 3 at 7pm.

For more information about the group visit their headquarters or log on to www.culturequarter.org