In Newcastle we really only have Shindig at Foundation on a Saturday night which I personally would define as decent. We have Promise on a Friday night at Foundation but that is generally hard trance and the age group is usually 20ish - bit too young for me - far too exhuberant!
Every now and again a club called World Headquarters will get a good DJ on (but usually mid-week - again not the best choice for me due to work) - saw James Lavelle there a year back....
The Poly and the Uni in Newcastle get Groove Armarda, Moby, Faithless, Leftfield (back in the day) and Chem Brothers as one off dance type gigs.
NICE at The Stage Door is a fluffy gay/house night - good for a laugh at times - other times its no better than mediocre (music wise) but is always rammed from the crowd from the Pink Triangle (Newcastle gay scene) great crowd - really upbeat but not there just for the music. Within the Pink Triangle there is a night club called Powerhouse - sometimes they have a good DJ set on but its really pricey!
We have Sugarshack in Middlesbrough - good club but bizarre mix of people, and too far to travel to on a regular basis.
Tall Trees in Yarm is another option and has a hotel attached to it, not to my liking at all, very charvarish, and last time I was there (a good many years ago) it was full of the steriod boys and beer (male) and Bacardi Breezer (female) monsters......
There are loads of bars with late licenses which have jumped onto the "hire a DJ" bandwagon and charge about £5 for entry but that isnt really my cup of T either.... So, Shindig is it really.......