New and Notable Foodie Openings to Know About in the North East
All the new bars, cafés and restaurants you need to know about
Norse
26 Market Place, Durham DH1 3NJ
Norse on Durham’s Market Square is a new must-visit for foodies. This is the sister venue to wine bar Crush on North Road and has an equally impressive wine offering. Norse has more than 100 wines to try or take home, plus Scandi-inspired small plates like gravlax with dill sauce and smoked venison with beetroot salad.
Cocochine
15 Queen Street, Newcastle NE1 3UG
On Queen Street, just off Newcastle’s Quayside, Cocochine has recently opened its doors. From the Asian fusion menu, expect vibrant dishes like satay roasted pork belly, Vietnamese rolls, and crispy sesame chicken.
Cherry Blossom
146 Cleveland Road, Sunderland SR4 7PL
Newly redesigned, Cherry Blossom on Cleveland Road in Sunderland has just reopened, and now offers its beautiful array of blooms alongside coffee, cakes and a curated selection of homeware. Best of all, the space is dog friendly.
Freight Island
54 Newgate Street, Newcastle NE1 5RQ
In the heart of Newcastle, the hotly-anticipated Freight Island has welcomed its first guests. On the former Debenhams site, the 60,000 square foot rooftop destination brings together 12 kitchens, four bars and a major programme of music and live events. Expect all your favourite local foodies including I Scream for Pizza, Miso, Meat:Stack and Gosforth’s FAB Bakery. Freight Island also has a diverse drinks offering covering wine, cocktails and brews from local makers like Two by Two Brewing. freightislandnewcastle.com
Tendr
Gateshead and Newcastle
Tendr is the new pop-up pasta club you need to know about. Based primarily in the Newcastle-Gateshead area, their first event took place recently at Cosmic Social in Low Fell, with another to follow at the same venue in early July. Think truffle arancini, short rib lasagne and tiramisu, all enjoyed by candlelight.
35C Supper Club
Newcastle
Supper clubs are on the rise and in Newcastle 35C Supper Club is for foodies in the know. Currently flying under the radar, the club is hosted by Lulu who crafts authentic northern Chinese dishes in her home for her exclusive culinary evenings. Keep an eye on her socials for upcoming clubs.
Mother Mercy
19 Silver Street, Durham DH1 3RB
Mother Mercy’s new Durham location has finally welcomed its first guests. At the bottom of Silver Street, expect exceptional cocktails in a space that’s been sympathetically renovated. Mother Mercy regularly appears in the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars, and is absolutely worth visiting.
El Bakes
Coming soon
4A Battle Hill, Hexham NE46 1BB
Northumberland baker El Bakes is in the process of opening a new headquarters for her business in the heart of Hexham. Once open, expect everything from moreish traybakes and brownies to traditional school cake and crispy squares.
Proudly local
Having recently moved to a larger premises on Low Fell’s Durham Road, The Rare Drop champions local producers, covering everything from cheese and wine to beer and deli goods. They only stock products they love themselves, and are introducing a new Meet The Maker event series, where their favourite local producers will host talks and tastings for customers. The larger space has also allowed the team to develop their on-site food and drink offering, with plenty of room to relax with friends. theraredrop.co.uk
Get the Scoop
Summer is here and that only means one thing – ice cream. For the very best scoops in the North East head to Spurreli in Amble. All their dairy is sourced locally in Northumberland and their fabulous flavours change regularly. As well as ice cream, there’s plenty of hot drinks, light bites and bakes to enjoy besides, making this a life-long LN favourite. spurreli.com
