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It’s tough going opening a new restaurant in Newcastle…

Every year, many open up, all singing and dancing, and expensive PR launches, and are gone within a year. A lot of people are still looking for them, unaware that they’re gone, and I’ve got a lot of nostalgia for others, so here’s a record of some which I remember.

Last updated November 2024.

NE1 / Newcastle City Centre Restaurants that have closed

  • 21 Queen Street, then Pan Haggerty (2011-2014), and The Fish Market (2015-2016) is now Dobson & Parnell
  • Starters and Puds (2008-2010), Krakow (2011-2013) is now The Fat Hippo Underground
  • Two Fifths (2014-2015) is now The Continental
  • Treacle Moon (?-2007), and Prickly Pear (2007-) is now home of ?
  • The Waterline (?-2014), then The Jolly Fisherman is now Tomahawk Steak House
  • Rasa Nusantara is now Chili Padi
  • Mandarin Restaurant now Mantra Thai
  • Cabana Brasilian Barbecue still unoccupied
  • The Laundrette lasted less than. year, and is now home to a Nando’s below student flats
  • Les Petits Choux give up the business at the end of 2023.
  • Luigikhans had a good stint, from 2013(?) right through to being a casualty of the end of the pandemic in 2022
  • La ViñaLa Tasca, then Viva Brazil and Graze is still unoccupied
caffe vivo fish stew
Miss you Caffe Vivo! At least it’s replacement it’s a good ‘un
burger stop big cheese
Burger Stop actually did a pretty damn good burger
  • The Salsa Cafe is now St. Sushi after that moved from Westgate Road
  • Azzuri is now Anneesa’s Buffet
  • Big Mussel was a Quayside mainstays for years, but as of 2022 is Hugos. Which has now closed (July 2023) after just less than a year…
  • Byron closed its Newcastle site and is now the END flagship at Monument
  • The Godfather is now Lola Jeans
  • One-Eyed Jacks is now Hoochie Coochie
  • The Lodge (2003-2014) is now steak chain Miller & Carter
  • Oldfields NewcastleOAKCanteen & Cocktails (2015-2016) now sits Colonel Porters
  • RumpoliThe Shilling, and The Victoria Shilling is still empty
  • The popular Garage cafe closed sometime post-lockdown and never opened up again.
  • The Patricia closed to shift focus on Ophelia, I believe
  • Olivianas was taken over by Violets Cafe which closed in 2020 to become the similar Solstice
  • Strada and Prezzo Eldon Square sites both went to admin, and are now Big Luke’s
  • Solanos (201?-2016), EscobarsNooshRockafella is still unoccupied after A Bit on the Side never seemed to happen
  • Good Times Sandwich Co. still unoccupied. Miss you, nice sandwiches
  • Cafe Bistro Buee (2010-2012) is now the below
  • The Old Siam (2013-?) is now Bangrak Thai
  • Osaka (?- July 2017) is now The Muddler
  • Popolo, then Bierrex is now confusingly, Intermezzo. And where that used to be, is now Vicolo
  • The Living Room is now The Grey Street Hotel
electric east (featured)
Is it impossible to make the Electric East site work?
  • Barn AsiaElectric EastThe Bottle Shop Bar & Kitchen, finally Giraffe Lounge is still unoccupied
  • Pasqualinos rebranded to DatBar
  • Garden Shed and Garden Kitchen are now The Brownie Bar and Sambucas, respectively
  • Flavours BuffetAl-Rashid Grill now sits My Delhi Newcastle
  • Love’s Thai is now Nadon Thai
  • Victoria 22CasaHanrahansPearl BarCharlies and Foodie Burger have all been at the site now occupied by Sambucas Benbenuto

Special mention for The Gate, which has lost over the years (among others I can’t remember):

  • Spice Cube
  • Ninos
  • Gecko
  • ZaZa Bazaar
  • Est. Est. Est.
  • Coast2Coast
  • Rub Smokehouse
  • BURGER.

Miscellaneous

  • Mamak Corner
  • Rasoi
  • Tenji
  • Hei Hei
  • Solid beer shop Centrale gave up in May 2023 after a good stint for train tinnies.
  • Long Play Coffee
  • The Herb Garden (-2019)
  • Red’s True BBQ (-2019)
  • Paradiso
  • Gospoda
  • Geisha closed from its spot in Sandyford in 2023 citing a dispute with the council
  • Nova Seafood & Grill (-2018)
  • Hop & Cleaver (-2018)
  • The Gentleman is now Hibou Blanc
  • Ophelia couldn’t make its site on Gosforth work sadly, a real loss. See also Cafeteria, which is a shame and a big loss for the region
  • Rupali
  • Manny’s Pizzeria
  • Barrio Comida very, very sadly closed in November 2024
  • Elder & Wolf had a good stint in Whitley Bay but closed for good in September 2023.
  • Tapas Revolution tried again in the Metrocentre following its Eldon Square incarnation but couldn’t make that work either
  • Ticino’s
  • Cal’s Own Holly Ave. opened as Kennedy & Rhind (which then closed/pivoted a fair bit to wholesale sometime 2022ish). Cal’s Own Acorn Road became a dodgy pizza takeaway.
  • Kracklin’ closed forever during the Covid-19 pandemic, came back as Square
  • Patisserie Valerie (-2019) is now Cinnabon.
  • Jamie’s Italian (-2019) is now bar Banyan
  • Kingdom World Buffet at Haymarket, infamously took a bad food hygiene rating
  • Lau’s 202 Buffet became very similar COSMO World Buffet, same shite.
  • Marios on Pudding Chare was there for yonks until 2022.
  • The Grainger Rooms
  • The Split Chimp micro-pub closed quickly in September 2023, citing rising costs.
  • The Comfort Food Company (?-2008)
  • Ninja Burger @ No. 28
  • Scrumpy Willow and The Singing Kettle was cute little cafe on Clyaton St, then boardgame cafe Meeple Perk (victim of the pandemic)
  • Pizza al Taglio
  • Humpit Hummus couldn’t make their Newcastle Uni site work
  • Some Like it Hot

Outside of Newcastle

  • Baba Yaga
  • BLK Coffee
  • Good Food Guide appearing DH1 and Bistro 21, Durham
  • Cole Kitchen in Sunderland was a great cafe that had disputes with the council and closed 2024.
  • Caffe Zonzo
  • Byron at Metrocentre
  • Doppio Malto (Metrocentre)
  • Jack Sprats (veggie and vegan) in Heaton became Baobab Bakery in 2013/14 (also now closed)
  • Dirt Health (Chilingham Road)
  • Lost & Found (Heaton Road)
  • Sky Apple Cafe, Wild Trapeze, also Heaton cafes
  • McCoys at The Baltic
  • Black Door Brasserie / NE2 Food Social / Artisan
  • The Tower Cafe (moved!) & Mustang S’ally (Ouseburn)

Any forgotten gems/horrors from the past? If this has ignited your nostalgia, send over any I’ve forgotten, send them over and I’ll add them to this list.

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