Into another decade, and if this one has half as may as the 2010s, Newcastle will be chock full of places to eat – good and bad. Restaurant openings aren’t as rapid as they have been in the past few years, but there’s still plenty going on. For previous years, check out 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and beyond. And if you’ve anywhere you’d like included here, let me know.
2knives Kitchen pulled out of Anarchy and are residents in Hoult’s Yard too, to neighbouring Full Circle.
3sixty — part of the Hadrian’s Tower, if you wanna eat/drink ‘for the views’ 😷
A Bit on the Side which has been dormant for the longest time and doesn’t look like anything will happen.
Avopoke is a does what it says on the tin, also in Gosforth.
The Big Banh (guess what they do…) adds again to Chili Road’s growing selection of quirky gaffs.
Bit farther than normal, but Cafe 21 saw an outlet open up in York this year!
Cake Stories opened a second site in Hoult’s Yard Clocktower.
Domestique opened in 2020, but it’s a craft beer takeaway and pizza oven slinging bit of Pedalling Squares in Whickham/Swalwell.
Dot Bagels keep expanding at some rate, taking over the Haymarket site as well as one in Jesmond earlier.
Burger Drop is yet another burger place, on the West Road, serving the takeaway market during lockdown but open now.
Brooklyn Pizza Slice graduated from the market in Durham to its own unit this Summer, and remains probably the best pie in Durham.
Del Archo is a Mexican restaurant opening on The Side — don’t know too much about this.
Disco Burger is a pop-up in a new/old pub in Ryton, Ye Olde Inn. Chef Tony Renwick side project, looks like?
Italian chain Doppio Malto is taking a site in the Metrocentre in Q4.
Eleven in Ponteland I think opened mid-2020 but is a serious looking restaurant from some serious chefs.
Fenwick have put a bar and kitchen on its rooftop — haven’t been yet but heard good murmurings. Similarly in NE1, the Common Room of the North have opened a coffee bar in their new hideout.
Geisha also opened in mid-2020 but obviously had a tough time. Is an Asian fusion restaurant just off Sandyford.
German Donner Kebab is opening in July. Higher-end kebabs, tbc.
Fans of Gino D’Acampo joints can find him in the new Innside Hotel on the Quayside. Superb location tbf.
Hard Rock Cafe (Guildhall) is the least interesting one of all. It’s a Hard Rock Cafe. On the Quayside. If you’re from Newcastle — home of hundreds of truly independent struggling restaurants — and you’d rather eat here, you’re mad. Opened May 2021.
Hazy Daze is a little beer shop selling all of the local big hitters. Taken over one of the Spanish City units in Whitley Bay.
Hip to Eat Square has taken the Kracklin’ site and is doing this year’s trend — Detroit style squares.
Hen & Hops — is fried chicken bits and beer in the old Nova site.
The Ivy is set to take over the Byron site (which is moving, don’t worry Burger fans). It’s one for the posers, though I’ll hold my judgement until I’ve actually been.
Kork Wine & Deli is…well…guess in Whitley Bay. Fab stock of natty wines, high end cheese, truffles, anchovies, and everything else to make a special night in. Or night in Kork itself once bars and things are open again. Opened Aug 2020.
Khai Kai is a v2 from Dabbawal, all about cooking on a Josper which is always good. It opened in the former Vujon, which closed recently after a very long stint.
The Loading Bay in North Shields on the Fish Quay looks a helluva lot like the similar Salt Market Social, and resides next door.
LOCAL is a corner shop on Acorn Road which is stocking everything lovely that is… local. You name it, they’ve got it, from all the best local suppliers.
Lobo Rojo have opened a second joint in Sandyford this August — Little Lobo, as well as third outlet in Tynemouth next year.
Log Fire Pizza Co. have long been working on a Durham site (as well as one in South Shields). Hopefully this year is the one!
Matei Baran (MasterChef fame) has opened a cafe in the Ouseburn with coffee, cakes and things (as well as his regular street food pop-ups across the NE).
Mayfair is a replacement bar in the Gate — haven’t been in their for years, or to see the similar Wonderbar. Meh.
Nest is moving in to Chili Road, though details are sparse at the mo, it looks like a serious menu so one to watch.
Max has sadly closed Bistro 46 and has gone outdoorsy in Middleton, see The Ox Inn for more fire, smoke, and butchery.
Ouseburn Coffee are doing a Milk Bar on Heaton Road…?
Rebel is a proper restaurant from former House of Tides geezer Lindsay Rushton. See also Motus Dining, a popup from some of the same team.
A new fish bar from Riley’s is opening just up from Gareth James in Tynemouth — NICE.
Sabas on the Quayside is not a new gaff but just a new name for both Sabatini and Signor Prosecco.
Smoke & Sear are another street food graduate moving into Chilli Road/Heaton, nice. Not far from the OG Brew and Bite, who are getting a second site in Gosforth/Ashburton Road crew.
Softee is the ice cream cereal soft serve arm of Pablos. Similarly, Sobramesa only had a short stint pre-Covid, and is now back open and firing on all cylinders.
Sorcerer Coffee is a decent looking coffee joint in the always cool Forth Banks Arches, opened July. Near to not-new-but-has-a-new-name Delta Lounge (former branding was Box Social)
North Shore Coffee added a permanent unit in the Grainger Market — soon to be followed by Glazed Vegan Donuts and Magpye (both vegan!). Thought the Grainger Market wasn’t having any more food traders? Pah! There’s Cubanos from the food markets (open September-ish), King Baby Bagels coming in Q4, as well as Geordie Bangers setting up something where you can sit down — The Pig’s Sty. On the drinks side of things, Firebrick Brewery are selling, but not serving.
Small Canteen is a dead canny looking small plates/good wines place in Sandyford, looks really quite good.
Solstice is the new gaff replacing the now-closed Violets. More of the same, surely? House of Tides lite?
Spent Grain in Sunderland looks to be SR1s best bet for good scran and proper beers.
Scream for Pizza have bought out a Quayside site (next to Greggs) for ice cream and slices! Calling it I Scream for Pizza, of course.
Sushi Me Rollin’ is moving on from Stack, into Grey Street! Nice.
Thirteen – little detail on this one other than it is a viennoiserie opening in Heaton! Which could be great.
Urban Green Cafe is a new cafe in Exhibition Park with locally sourced bread, cakes and things. A pizza oven which I’m yet to try but looks canny.
Undisclosed looks to be the best thing in Sunderland at the former site of D’Acqua — owned by a chef with a superb record.
Second sites for Wobbly Duck (sister to Beer Street) in the Old Eldon Square, Sushi Me Rollin’ in Whitley Bay.
Zucchini Pasta Bar are expanding fast with a popup at No. 28, as well as a new Metrocentre location!
It’s been a tough year for the industry in general, so hopefully not too many of these make it to the list closed Newcastle restaurants, although some unfortunately already have…
If there’s anywhere missing on this list, or if you’re a restaurant/bar that would like to be added, just send me an email and I’ll have a look.