The civic centre, which is the headquarters of Newport City Council, is a Grade II* Listed building.

[1] The first town hall, which was located in Commercial Street and designed in the classical style, was officially opened on 31 January 1843;[3] after this was found to be too small it was replaced a second structure, also in Commercial Street, which was designed by Thomas Meakin Lockwood in the Renaissance style and completed in 1885.

[6][7] The ceremonial first sod on the new building was cut by King George VI, accompanied by Queen Elizabeth, on 14 July 1937.

[9] A sandstone plaque to commemorate the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort, which had been placed in the pavement outside the civic centre, was unveiled on 7 October 2011.

[10] Works of art in the civic centre include a sculpture by David Evans depicting two straining miners entitled "Labour".