The 72 bars and restaurants reopening in and around Newcastle this week that we can’t wait to visit

By Becky Hardy

NEWCASTLE CITY CENTRE

So, as you’d expect, we’ll start things off in the city centre. Bar Luga on Grey Street is a HLN fave, (although we’re partial to their Gosforth and Morpeth haunts too), and we’ll be sure to pop further down the road to Leila Lily’s specially-designed outdoor terrace to check out their new food and cocktail menu. Oh, and don’t think we won’t be hitting up Neapolitan pizza parlour Central Oven & Shaker on Neville Street either – their crazy cocktails are out of this world.

We’ve missed Alvino’s, which has one of the warmest beer gardens going, so will most likely mosey on down there to see how they’ve revamped their cocktail menu since we last saw them, and then will likely skip round to Horticulture on Market Lane for anything from coffees to crafties and cocktails. The small plates here are unreal too, FYI.

Down the Scene, Blonde Barrel promises even more of a good time than normal, as they temporarily take over neighbouring Rusty’s beer garden to expand their outdoor seating area until the latter reopens in June, while over the road, Switch and The Yard will be doing their upmost to turn time back to the party days of old.

THE QUAYSIDE AND UP TO OUSEBURN

Along the Quayside, The Redhouse is your go-to for pies, Head of Steam is where it’s at for pints, while just over the water, By The River Brew Co. will be shining like a beacon welcoming us home. The city’s most recognisable and, arguably, most picturesque beer garden will have guest foodies on the terrace (first up is Fat Hippo), as well as the reopening of street food market HWKRMRKT from Friday, so there’ll be plenty of scranning options available as well as the bevs on offer.

We’ve been itching to get back to Ouseburn’s watering holes, so we’ll definitely be visiting the delightful beer gardens of The Tyne Bar (cream of the Insta-worthy crop), as well as Brinkburn Street Brewery, The Cumberland Arms, Kiln, Ernest and The Ship Inn. We’re also beyond excited to return to Cook House, where we can dine out in style on Michelin Plate food while overlooking the Ouseburn river.

AT THE COAST

Out towards the coast, we’ll be heading straight to Riley’s Fish Shack to get our seafood fix while sitting on one of their famous deckchairs looking out over King Edwards Bay. Still in Tynemouth, Cubana Coffee House will give you all those longed-for summertime Havannah vibes with their tantalising tapas and famous Cuban Cubonas sandwiches, or you can get your quirky art fix from the cute terrace area of Barca, sister venue to the Gosforth branch.

Just round the corner, Head of Steam’s coastal outpost will be back to its old ways, The Salutation up the road will also be business (almost) as usual, and Davanti should be your go-to for pizza, pasta and everything in between. Meanwhile, the unrivalled views from The Gibraltar Rock’s beer garden are worth the trip alone (although their cracking bev and scran combos do help), and the cocktails at Allard’s Lounge never disappoint. Their North Shields venue, Allard’s On The Quay, will also be open for business.

FURTHER INLAND

We loved The Holystone Bar’s colourful pods last summer, so will definitely be stopping by for a G&T or two again. Up in Cramlington, the Blagdon Arms also have super-cosy huts you can snuggle into with your household or group of six, while The Plough opposite has plenty of space to spread out and socialise (distantly, of course).

To the west, we’ll be sure to pop into The Blackbird in Ponteland, which not only has a new menu but also an extended outdoor area (complete with three tipis) for its grand reopening. Round the corner, Yolo will be giving us our swanky cocktail fix, we’ll find ‘proper pub’ vibes at the Diamond Inn and will finally be able to check out the revamped outdoor space of The Seven Stars, while sipping one of their award-winning real ales.

On the next sunny day, we’ll be jumping on the popular westwards train route out along the Tyne to stop off at The Angel in Corbridge, popular Wylam haunts The Boathouse and The Ship Inn, and pub, lodge and micro-brewery The Keelman in Newburn. Over the river, Blaydon’s The Huntsman has cute wooden pods that’ll keep any beer garden chills at bay, and the Rose & Crown Winlaton is a proper traditional boozer that still keeps things magical with a smattering of fairy lights. Delightful.

Where will you be heading to first this week? Share your snaps and stories with us over @high_life_north