Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Smoking policy at Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
Warnings & Caveats
Electronic cigarettes (vaping) are prohibited indoors throughout the terminal. Smoking is only permitted in the two designated outdoor shelters landside and the designated airside terrace areas. PIN access requirements for the airside areas have changed over time; the Bar 11 terrace has been reported as freely accessible since at least May 2023, but conditions may change.
Newcastle International Airport is officially a smoke-free building, but smoking is permitted in two designated outdoor shelters landside and in at least one outdoor terrace airside, so you do have options on both sides of security. The rules have shifted over the years, so read the current setup carefully before you travel.
Before Security
There are two designated smoking shelters outside the terminal building, both accessible before you check in or after you land. You don't need to buy anything or get a code. The shelters are open-sided structures with a clear roof and green "Smoking Area" signage, positioned on the pavement directly outside the terminal facade. They're easy to spot once you step through the main doors.
Shelter 1: Located outside the main terminal entrance on the landside pavement.
Shelter 2: A second shelter is also positioned outside the terminal building in the same general area.
Both are publicly accessible to anyone, no purchase or boarding pass required.
After Security
Airside, the main option is the Bar 11 Smoking Terrace. Bar 11 is the first food and drink venue on the right after you clear the duty-free shopping area. Head to the far end of the bar (away from the entrance) and you'll find a metal door leading to an outdoor smoking terrace.
As of May 2023, no PIN code is required to access the terrace from Bar 11, and you do not need to make a purchase. Earlier reports (2019 and before) described a PIN system where buying a drink got you the code, but more recent traveler updates say the door is freely accessible.
A second airside smoking area near Gate 31, behind The Beer House, was also reported in May 2023. This one does require a PIN, but the code is displayed above the keypad, so it's effectively open to anyone who looks.
The old smoking area that was previously behind The Beer House pub was closed and replaced by the Bar 11 terrace as of late 2017.
Vaping Rules
Electronic cigarettes are prohibited indoors throughout the terminal. Vaping is treated the same as smoking inside the building, so you'll need to use the same outdoor designated areas if you vape.
Transit and Layovers
Newcastle has a single terminal, so there's no inter-terminal transfer to worry about. If you're connecting, you'll clear security once and stay airside. The Bar 11 terrace is your practical airside option for a smoke during a layover.
Bottom Line
You can smoke landside in the outdoor shelters outside the terminal, and airside at the Bar 11 terrace (no purchase needed as of 2023). Vaping indoors is banned everywhere in the building.
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