🏙️ The challenges and opportunities facing our cities with Newcastle NE1's Stephen Patterson 💷 And will Jeremy Hunt's Budget be a big moment for Levelling Up?

It's no secret that Newcastle is home to some of the most vibrant culture, nightlife, art, and business in the North of England and indeed the whole country. It has more independent restaurants per capita than anywhere else outside London, local bosses say, and is bucking the national trend on footfall thanks to its thriving night time economy. But with our relationship with our town and city centres shifting in recent years - and very rapidly since the pandemic - will places like Newcastle need to adapt if they're to stay vibrant for decades to come? One man who probably knows the answer to that question is Stephen Patterson, the CEO of the business improvement district Newcastle NE1. He tells Rob Parsons about the challenges and opportunities facing our cities - and whether Newcastle United's footballing success has rubbed off on local businesses. Elsewhere, Rob talks to Jack Shaw from the IPPR North think-tank about whether Jeremy Hunt's Budget will be a big moment for Levelling Up, and the cultural credit plus economic impact Eurovision could have on Liverpool this May. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices