THE EXCHANGE, NEWCASTLE

A veritable haven of relaxation underneath the bustling high street above, The Exchange offers all the glamour, intimacy and eccentricity of the roaring 1920s.

Taking inspiration from old-school telephone exchanges – which were a commonly used disguise for speakeasy bars during the prohibition era in America – The Exchange is awash with neon signs, gilded mirrors, antique trinkets and lots of vintage telephone memorabilia.

In other words, it’s an Instagrammer’s dream.

Quirky, characterful and, in parts, downright outrageous, you can tell The Exchange’s charm comes from its individuality.

Owners Alan and Andrena‘s previous venture – renovating an old hotel – resulted in the pair stumbling across a treasure trove of lost relics in the hotel’s attic; relics they’ve polished up and reupholstered themselves to decorate The Exchange.

It’s an effort which has helped them carve out a bar-shaped niche unlike any other here in Newcastle, which is an impressive enough feat in itself. But they’re not stopping there…

DRINKS AT THE EXCHANGE

The axis on which this bar keeps spinning is its cocktails.

Not just any cocktails, at that. Stylish cocktails. Sexy cocktails. Cocktails you quite simply wouldn’t find anywhere else.

Take the Leave You On Hold, for example – a naughty combo of gin, Aperol, pineapple, lime, passionfruit and prosecco. Or the Speed Dial, which brings together blanco tequila, Licor 43, peach and lemon for a unique burst of flavour. Call Me Maybe? effortlessly blends Absolut vanilla vodka, strawberry aperitif, strawberry acid and cream soda for a saintly swathe of sweetness, while The Russian Mob – Havana spiced rum, coffee liqueur, chocolate liqueur and oat milk – tastes dark, dangerous and divine.

And they’re along with all your usual suspects. You’ve got filthy pornstars and bubbling prosecco; espresso martinis, miso caramel martinis and even flat white martinis; Jazzy Juice, Flirty Flappers and Smooth Operators. All this alongside an extensive wine list, spirits up to your eyeballs and enough beer and lager to sink a battleship.

FOOD AT THE EXCHANGE

Not that it’s all about the drinks in this underground speakeasy. The Exchange also happens to double up as an intimate dining destination perfect for date night, mate night or a mid-shopping pitstop with panache.

Casual dining is the name of the game here – not that the chefs would know it, given their meticulous attention to the details of every dish. Their efforts to serve up Italian/American cuisine with creativity and care means that something as simple as a burger and beer can feel très chic.

We say ‘simple’, but where else could you get a Dirty Dialler burger – buttermilk chicken, smoked bacon, cheese and Exchange sauce served between two sweet Belgian waffles? Or a Harlem Hooker – battered white fish with pickled red cabbage, cajun corn and guacamole tacos?

We found their garlic and parmesan flatbreads perfect for tearing and sharing, while their Bacon Halloumi Burger we kept all to ourselves. And their pesto fries were the perfect bar snack as we sipped our cocktails.

Bottomless brunch is served at The Exchange from 11am–3pm every day.

Now something for all the sports fans in the house. Love watching the match out with a little atmosphere, but searching for somewhere less ‘lads, lads, lads,’ and more ‘lasses and dads’?!

We’re talking about somewhere you don’t have to fight for the best seats in the house or where sitting down doesn’t mean risking getting a pint spilled down your back. Somewhere with full Sky Sports and BT Sports packages, wide-screen TVs and space to stretch back and chill out, but which doesn’t compromise ambience for comfort. Somewhere with character, charm and plenty of craic…

Ok, so if you didn’t know we were talking about The Exchange already, honestly – where have you been this whole article?!