Bowl, bars and bites – 6 new openings in and around Newcastle this April
From a revamped bowling alley and the North East’s biggest beer garden to… open-air hot tub cinema nights?! Here are the newest bars, restaurants, cafés and attractions right now…
PLAY
Gorilla Bar and Bowl
Eldon Square, Grey’s Quarter, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7XY
After closing its doors following lockdown, this 10-pin bowling alley has now reopened following a £45,000 refurb that we can guarantee will bowl you over.
Home in the heart of Eldon Square, Gorilla is a strike above the rest with eight bowling lanes, four pool tables, a dartboard and a table tennis area ready for those who love a bit of healthy competition. And you can put your beer pong skills to the test here, too.
While you’re there, why not spice your evening up with some award-winning Indian street food from My Delhi? Plus, there are plenty of cheeky cocktails and Anarchy Brew Co. beers on the menu, too.
HLN TOP TIP: Stay tuned for Gorilla’s karaoke booths, coming very soon!
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EAT
Grey Owl
94 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6AG
They brought us Newcastle’s popular Hibou Blanc restaurant and now Viehard Limited are set to open a stunning new café-bar on the city’s famous Grey Street very soon.
Work is well underway to transform the former Davidson’s jewellers into a sophisticated spot that will serve coffee and brunch daily and offer an extensive drinks menu featuring cocktails, wine and a range of tasty sharing boards.
Whether you want to pop in on your way to work for a coffee and a pastry, or fancy paying a visit for after-work drinks to graze and watch the world go by, this new café bar is said to be the perfect place for people watching.
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Meet Me On The Corner
45 Ilfracombe Gardens, Whitley Bay, NE26 3LZ
Next time you’re paying the stunning coastal town of Whitley Bay a visit, make sure you pop in here. After a gorgeous refurb, this café-bistro is ready to open their doors again soon. And we’re expecting that they’ll make waves this summer with exciting plans for an outdoor terrace in the pipeline, too.
Owners Kris – who has over 20 years of experience as a chef – and Laura, a qualified baker who runs Baked with Love by Laura, bring a great offering of brilliant breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes using ingredients from local suppliers. There will also be an in-house bakery serving us all the sugary goodness we could ever need with an array of brownies, traybakes, cakes and scones.
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DRINK
Mother Mercy at HWKRMRT
Hillgate Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2FD
Ok so this isn’t really a new opening… but we’re excited to announce that one of our fave hidden cocktail bars in Newcastle has recently shaken – and stirred – things up after opening their own stall at the popular street food hot spot HWKRMRT at By the River Brew Co.
If you like piña coladas or if this senorita needs a margarita, Newcastle’s best-kept secret – Mother Mercy – is the mother of all cocktail bars after being named one of the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars, and will be serving the some of the best cocktails in the Toon while you take in the stunning view of our famous Quayside.
Read our 5 reasons to visit Mother Mercy
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Central Park
Times Square, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4EP
The sun is out, spring has sprung and it’s officially beer garden season. So, of course, the North East’s biggest beer garden is back, and it’s bigger and better than ever. Times Square has been transformed into a new multi-storey entertainment venue for you to enjoy seven days a week.
Expect plenty of entertainment, a new rooftop bar, a dedicated food court, and more covered and heated seating. Plus, there are brand-new areas, including the Electric Gardens, a brand new beach-style hangout and there are plenty of special events lined up for the summer, including Kroud Karaoke, Let’s Play Darts, the return of their famous Eurovision party, plus all of this year’s sporting fixtures, including the FA Cup Final, Wimbledon and Royal Ascot.
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Jesmond Beach Box
The Holy Hobo, Jesmond Three Sixty, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1DQ
Beach Box is back! Sand, deckchairs and palm trees are set to put us all in the holiday mood as the seaside-theme pop-up returns in Jesmond this month. Get all those beachy vibes right in the heart of Newcastle.
The Box’s comeback run throughout the summer will have a packed menu of beverages, food vendors, live music, DJs, dancing and family fun.
Not only that, Beach Box is also bringing us something different this year. They’re giving us a chance to sit back and relax in a hot tub, as two private hot tubs are available to hire now. And it doesn’t stop there, either – they’ll also be hosting their first hot tub cinema events with 20 tubs available to hire over the summer, so you can soak up some of the biggest blockbusters whilst feeling zen in a spa pool.
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