The Lit & Phil
The Lit & Phil is an independent charitable library founded in 1793 in Newcastle upon Tyne, offering 170,000+ books, the largest regional music collection in the North of England, a tiered membership programme, and approximately 200 cultural events per year.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1793
- HeadquartersNewcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Lit & Phil does
The Lit & Phil is an independent, member-supported library and cultural venue based at 23 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne. Founded in 1793 and housed in a purpose-built Grade II* listed neoclassical building since 1825, it operates as a Company Limited by Guarantee and registered charity (Charity No. 1120948, Company No. 6220953). Its core offering is access to a collection of approximately 170,000-200,000 books and the largest music collection in the North of England, with around 1,000 new volumes added annually. The library is free to enter, open six days a week, and runs a programme of roughly 200 events per year spanning jazz, classical, and folk concerts, author talks, creative writing and photography courses, poetry readings, theatre, and educational workshops.
The business is built on a tiered annual membership model ranging from £15 (Society Junior) to £215 (Society + Additional Household + Music), with an Under 30 tier at £80 and a "Friend" donor tier (£60-£180 suggested annual donation). Beyond memberships, revenue is generated through ticketed events (£5-£12 per ticket), room hire across three distinct spaces (capacities 20, 20, and 95), an online and on-site merchandise shop, sponsored book schemes (£15+ per book), and a mix of one-off and recurring donations. The technology stack is non-proprietary: a third-party library catalogue system, PayPal and Eventbrite integrations, Google Analytics, and a YouTube channel for recorded talks. The institution currently has no app, no AI/ML capabilities, and no disclosed APIs or SDKs.
The Lit & Phil serves a broad North East England audience including general visitors, paid members, schools, musicians, authors and performers, and room-hire clients. It is governed by a 14-person elected Board of Trustees under Chair Eugene Milne (with Mary Durkin referenced as Chair in a June 2026 announcement) and lists broadcaster Alexander Armstrong as President. As of 2024, the organisation is mid-execution on the "Lit & Phil Open" capital appeal — a structural improvement and accessibility programme anchored by a £1 million grant from The Barbour Foundation and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with research partnerships alongside Teesside University and Northumbria University.
The Lit & Phil firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Lit & Phil
- Legal name
- The Literary & Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne
- Website
- https://litandphil.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1793
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Lit & Phil is an independent charitable library founded in 1793 in Newcastle upon Tyne, offering 170,000+ books, the largest regional music collection in the North of England, a tiered membership programme, and approximately 200 cultural events per year.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Lit & Phil industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Library and Cultural Heritage Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Used, Rare & Antiquarian Bookstores (CRALAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sheet Music & Music Books Retail (CRALAEAB), Literary & Classics Publishing (MPAJAAAC)
Keywords
Where The Lit & Phil is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newcastle Upon Tyne
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Lit & Phil business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees ranging from £15 (Society Junior) to £215 (Society + Additional Household + Music), with Direct Debit payment options available. Members can borrow books and CDs, access exclusive rooms and events, and receive newsletters.
- Events and Concerts: Revenue from ticketed events including jazz concerts, classical music performances, author talks, creative writing courses, drawing classes, and photography workshops. Many events are free with donations encouraged (£3 minimum suggested).
- Room Hire: Three spaces available for hire: Committee Room (max 20, out of hours only), Joseph Swan Room (ground floor, max 20), and Lecture Room/Loftus Room (max 95). Additional piano hire available in Loftus Room.
- Shop and Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including mugs, tote bags, tea towels, posters, and coasters featuring library artwork and bicentenary designs. Proceeds reinvested into library operations.
- Donations and Fundraising: One-time and recurring donations through text giving (LITANDPHILFIVE to 70450 for £5, LITANDPHILTEN to 70470 for £10), PayPal, and direct contributions. Major donation received from Barbour Foundation (£1 million). Book sponsorship scheme (£15 minimum) with bookplate recognition.
- Book Sponsorship and Fund: Sponsored Book Scheme allows members to contribute £15+ to conserve specific books, with special bookplates inserted. Monthly Book Fund contributions from members designated to central book purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Society membership - core borrowing tier |
| Subscription | Annual | Society + Additional Household |
| Subscription | Annual | Under 30 |
| Subscription | Annual | Society Junior |
| Subscription | Annual | Music membership add-on |
| Subscription | Annual | Society + Music combined |
| Subscription | Annual | Society + Additional Household + Music |
| Subscription | Annual | Under 30 + Music combined |
| Subscription | Annual | Society Junior + Music combined |
| Subscription | Monthly | Friend of the Lit & Phil |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Photography course (8 weeks) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Drawing class (10 weeks) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Lunchtime Jazz concerts |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Evening Jazz concerts |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Pudding Chare Festival concerts |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Author talks and lectures |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Ghost tours |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Lit & Phil tours |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Lit & Phil product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Lit & Phil operates an independent subscription-based library from a Grade II* listed 1825 neoclassical building in Newcastle upon Tyne, lending books, CDs, and printed music from a collection of over 200,000 volumes including rare 16th-century items and the largest music collection in the North of England. It supplements borrowing with a year-round programme of approximately 200 concerts, author talks, courses, tours, and cultural events, plus room hire, a merchandise shop, and donation-funded book conservation and acquisition programmes.
Product overview
The Lit & Phil is Newcastle's independent library (founded 1793, purpose-built in 1825) offering a platform of membership tiers and services. Core offerings include library membership packages (Society, Under 30, Junior, Music) providing access to over 200,000 books and the largest music collection in the North of England, plus digital resources through Naxos libraries. The portfolio extends to room hire facilities (Committee Room, Joseph Swan Room, Lecture Room, Loftus Room), an events programme featuring concerts and author events, guided tours, a merchandise shop, and book sponsorship/donation programmes. Membership tiers range from £15/year (Junior) to £190/year (Society) with add-on Music memberships and Friend donor tiers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Library Membership
- Music Membership
- Friends of the Lit & Phil
- Behind the Books Tours
- Room Hire (Committee, Joseph Swan, Lecture / Loftus)
- Events Programme
- Lit & Phil Shop
- Sponsored Book Scheme
- Monthly Book Fund
Quantifiable outcome
- 200+ events annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Lit & Phil
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Lit & Phil technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
The Lit & Phil partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Teesside UniversityminorPartnering with the Lit & Phil on surveys to understand who engages with the library and how, as part of the capital appeal research initiative.
- Northumbria UniversityminorPartnering with the Lit & Phil on surveys to understand member and visitor demographics, usage patterns, and needs to improve accessibility and engagement.
- November ClubminorAward-winning performing arts company listed as a partner organisation on the Links page, indicating ongoing collaborative relationship.
- New Writing NorthminorLiterature development organisation for the Northern Region listed as a related organisation, indicating collaborative relationship in literary programming.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Lit & Phil competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The London Library: The UK's most prominent independent subscription library, founded 1841. Operates a membership lending model with extensive literary collections and a heritage building — directly comparable to the Lit & Phil's subscription-driven, heritage-collection, member-event model.
- The New York Society Library: America's oldest independent membership library (1754), offering subscription membership, heritage collections, and a public-facing events programme. The closest international analogue to the Lit & Phil's independent subscription library model.
- The Boston Athenaeum: Independent membership library and cultural institution in Boston founded 1807, combining library, exhibition, and lecture programming. Comparable to the Lit & Phil's combination of literary collections, membership tiers, and events programme.
- Leeds Library: Independent subscription library in Leeds, founded 1768, housed in a Grade II* listed building. Closely comparable to the Lit & Phil in founding era, heritage status, and membership-based lending model in a Northern English city.
- Portico Library: Independent subscription library in Manchester, founded 1806, in a Grade II* listed building. Comparable regional UK independent subscription library with membership tiers and an events programme.
- Bromley House Library: Independent subscription library in Nottingham, founded 1816, in a Grade II* listed Georgian building. Closely comparable by membership model, heritage building, and literary collection focus.
Broad incumbents
- Manchester Central Library: Major municipal library in Manchester with significant public events and exhibition programming. Comparable regional cultural-library institution that competes for event programming and donor mindshare in the North of England.
- Newcastle City Library: Municipal public library network serving Newcastle upon Tyne. Free public access to books and events competes at the entry-level for the Lit & Phil's casual visitor and junior member segments.
- Library of Birmingham: Largest regional public library in the UK, with a major cultural/events programme. Represents the broader public-library sector that competes for member attention and cultural-programming audiences.
Others
- New Writing North: Literature development organisation for the North of England, listed as a related partner of the Lit & Phil. Adjacent rather than competing — shares regional literary programming initiatives and likely cross-promotes events.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Lit & Phil social profiles
Digital presenceThe Lit & Phil financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Lit & Phil leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
The Lit & Phil funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Lit & Phil M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Lit & Phil
What does The Lit & Phil do?
The Lit & Phil operates an independent subscription-based library from a Grade II* listed 1825 neoclassical building in Newcastle upon Tyne, lending books, CDs, and printed music from a collection of over 200,000 volumes including rare 16th-century items and the largest music collection in the North of England. It supplements borrowing with a year-round programme of approximately 200 concerts, author talks, courses, tours, and cultural events, plus room hire, a merchandise shop, and donation-funded book conservation and acquisition programmes.
Is The Lit & Phil a public or private company?
The Lit & Phil is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Lit & Phil founded?
The Lit & Phil was founded in 1793. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Lit & Phil based?
The Lit & Phil is headquartered in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Lit & Phil make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are events and Concerts, room Hire, shop and Merchandise, donations and Fundraising and book Sponsorship and Fund.
Who are The Lit & Phil's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The London Library, The New York Society Library, The Boston Athenaeum, Leeds Library, Portico Library and Bromley House Library. Broad incumbents are Manchester Central Library, Newcastle City Library and Library of Birmingham. New Writing North is listed as an others.
Does The Lit & Phil have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Lit & Phil.
What industry is The Lit & Phil in?
The Lit & Phil's product category is Library and Cultural Heritage Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAAAB, Used, Rare & Antiquarian Bookstores, with a secondary code of CRALAEAB, Sheet Music & Music Books Retail. Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 2741.