Newcastle is ace, you can't go wrong.
Quayside: Quality beer and quality chicks
Bigg Market: Cheap beer and slags
The Bigg market area is a good place for cheap beer and local fondalage, but make sure you find a local allie cos if it kicks off, you get outnumbered quickly. Speak about your dislike of sunderland and you will be ok. I speak from experience.
St.James park is an amazing experience even when empty, and just a stones throw from the ship on the quay nightclub.(cant remember the name

)
The hotel i stayed in was not to far from St.james, A forte place if my memory serves me right!. Souness was staying there at the time as well.
Millom