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Tons of restaurants and bars have opened in Newcastle, making us one of the cities with the highest new openings – see also, new restaurants opening in Newcastle in 2018, 2017, and beyond…

Here’s where I know about/what might be exciting in 2019 in Newcastle. Updated 11/8/2019

Hjem (Northumberland)

Exciting new Scandi restaurant out in the sticks but worth a mention as it’s gotten a lot of fantastic press and looks to be doing very interesting things. Will be along shortly…

Papa Ganoush (Jesmond)

Actually opened very late in 2018, but this is a ‘meze bar’ take on Papa Ganoush’s excellent Mediterranean food. They’ve got a tiny unit just off the Coast Road, and it’s a cracker.

Beeronomy (Hood Street)

Craft beers, decent food, central location. This comes from the Mordue Brewery guys, and has some quality chefs at the helm, meaning the food is way, way better than you might expect. UPDATE: food vendors have pulled out!

Flint Pizza (Heaton)

Heaton is really being spoiled recently. Since Cal’s Own departed, there’s been a few good ones pop up, the latest being ‘out of the blue’ Flint Pizza who are knocking out some really good looking pies. It opened only just early June, but we’ll be along IMMEDIATELY.

31 The Quay (North Shields)

New venture for Andrew Wilkinson after Artisan stopped their main restaurant offering. Looks to be much of the same, in a slightly more relaxed venue on the Shields Quay. Nice!

The Haymarket (Haymarket)

??? Who knows ??? This has been in development for at least two years and doesn’t ever seem to make any progress, so if anyone knows any different, please let me know!

papa-ganoush-jesmond-falafel
Falafel meze box from Papa Ganoush, Jesmond

Bao Bar (Chillingham Road)

Ex-21 chefs set up a simple bao bar selling bitesize buns of joy. Nice little treat and a great addition to the area – will be visiting a few times in the coming months…

My Delhi (Clayton St.)

Eternally closed site of former Indian buffets and all sorts of international cafes. Looks to have received a good amount of investment and the food actually looks alright! Anything new and not drab on Clayton Street is a big bonus for that particular street.

Taco Bell (Grainger St.)

Newcastle branch finally opens on Grainger Street. Not All That, though many will go wild for it anyway.

The White Owl/Hibou Blanc (Bigg Market)

A replacement for The ill-fate Gentleman restaurant/bar on the top of the Big Market. it’s been in development for a long time, and various planning applications have been submitted, so we’ll have to wait and see. It’s from the Uno’s team.

The Dispensary (Near St. James)

This is a breakfast/student type place which is currently overtaking Instagram with its hot chocolate with candy floss, and coffee which is ‘dispensed’ from what looks like a GCSE Chemistry titration. It also serves food, but expect me to approach this with a HUGE amount of gimmicky pessimism.

31 The Quay (North Shields)

With The Biscuit Factory now scaling back food operations, head chef Andrew Wilkinson is opening his own restaurant in North Shields this June. Looks good.

Kaltur #2 (Dean Street)

A second branch of the fabulous tapas/wine bar is most welcome, though being so close to the original site, it might be challenging. That said, they seem to do well at the HWKRMRKT so perhaps people just can’t get enough of their scran.

Barrio Comida – might make a long-awaited comeback finally this year, in Durham.

Scream for Pizza (Sandyford) June

Eternally popular pizza girls Scream for Pizza are extending their takeover of By the River, the Free Trade, and any other event by opening a permanent restaurant in Sandyford. Update: it’s great, of course.

Log Fire Pizza Co. (South Shields & Durham)

Another pizza winner as the South Shields guys look to get out of the truck and into permanent residences (2!) in both South Shields and Durham. Spoiled for pizza!

scream-for-pizza-sep-18
Wor margaret from the Scream for Pizza girls ??

Banyan (Monument)

Replaced Jamie’s Italian in March. It’s much more bar than food, so closer to the Botanist than Jamie’s was.

A Bit on the Side (Side)

Yet another replacement for Rockafella/Solano’s/All the Other Restaurants that Have Tried And Failed to make this Work. Coming Spring/Summer, aiming for ‘quality food and drink, with urban chic decor’ ?

Aiden’s Kitchen (Sandyford)

Another one which opened late 2018, Aiden is a young lad who has opened a cafe/restaurant which is proving massively popular. It’s been on my to-go list for a long time now, but looks great by all accounts.

The Muddler (Grey Street)

Asian-esque place taking over the old Osaka restaurant. It’s got the blogging crowd in a tizzy because the interior design looks alright, but it’s blatantly a bar with food – we’ll see when we visit soon.

Merchant’s Cafe (Guildhall)

Another one that has been in the planning phases forever and doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere. Wouldn’t hold your breath…

The Naked Deli (Grey Street)

Most central location for the healthy eating guys. Fenwick Food Hall and various other means of world domination isn’t good enough for them, so they’ve bought out the Ninety Nine unit. It’ll be heaving.

Cafe Lutz (Whickham)

Only got my attention because this little joint has opened with one of the old 21, and then The Patricia chefs Alex Walker. Looks to be proper scran, in a neighbourhood restaurant which is right up my street, so we’ll be heading along soon.

Boquerones (Heaton)

The old site of Lost & Found is now a tapas bar which retains some of the old staff (crucially, chefs). Food looks great actually, but that end of Heaton Road is just cursed, so we’ll see.

Box Pizza (Northumberland)

These guys are crowdfunding a pizza restaurant up in Northumberland but it looks interesting so I’ll be visiting when it looks to have opened in April 2019.

Studio 28 (Hoult’s Yard)

Ex-21 chocolatier opens a Proven-like outlet in Hoult’s Yard selling chocolates, coffees and lovely cakes. Should be a hit, and makes me wish I was back on the estate…

Bars & Misc. Things

Enigma Tap (North Shields)

New microbrew/pub opening in Bedford Street, North Shields of all places. These are proving very popular, so will definitely be heading along.

The Salt Market – is North Tyneside’s own HWKRMRKT/Stack/Boiler Shop type affair. hopefully opening this year, on the Fish Quay.

All Bar One – is having a pop at NCL. I think in the old Browns site.

Tomahawk Steakhouse – must be doing OK, as they’ve opened another in Ponteland.

As must be Acropolis Street Food – who opened a full-time venture in the Grainger Market in July.

Eatali (NE1) – Stack vendor looking to get a full time premises.

Horticuluture – is opening on the Big Market, and offering food…

Market Shaker – another one on the Big Market, this one made interesting by Scream for Pizza NY-style pies in residency…

Drop Everything and Drink – another venue from the world dominating Black Storm Brewery. Craft beers on High Bridge is good with me. Opened March.

Leila Lily’s – don’t know much about this other than it’s got Ronald Robson at the helm so must be alright.

Chucho’s Taco’s – opened a second site on Acord Road in Jesmond.

Pop Up Wok – street food gals opened a proper unit on Saville Row in NE1 in May.

Bar Soba (Collingwood Street) – New bar on the Diamond strip. Wouldn’t hold your breath…

Hoult’s Yard Developments – include a new microbrewery & tap.

Pink Lane Bakery – are having to move premises, but this means expansion to a bigger unit in Gosforth.

Mr. Petit (Whitley Bay)

Originally born in Newcastle, this now has upped sticks to Whitley Bay. Not sure if it’s the same – the chefs certainly don’t be, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

Brandling Villa / Punch Bowl (Jesmond) July

Owners of the Brandling have taken over the Punch Bowl and will likely do something good with it. Yay!

Have I missed anywhere, or are you opening a bar/restaurant which you’d like included here? Just send me an email and I’ll take a look.

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