Village serving up a culinary treat on the Quayside
WE TOOK A TOUR OF THE DELICIOUS FOOD AND DRINK ON OFFER DOWN AT THE CONTAINER VILLAGE DOWN AT GATESHEAD QUAYSIDE
It’s great for the area and a lovely setting. Usually you are looking at the other side of the river. Paul Hodd
ANY visitor to Newcastle’s Quayside will have noticed the newest addition to the banks of the Tyne, sitting as it does next to the Tyne Bridge in Gateshead .
We took a look around the container “village”, including the new eating places which have just opened, a sample of the food on offer, and how much it costs.
The By The River Brew bar opened in its containers last week and the sunny weather has meant tables full of customers lining the Gateshead Quayside, just between the Swing Bridge and the Tyne Bridge .
Now HWKRMRKT, a collection of 15 independent street traders selling pizza, oysters, tacos, burgers, ice creams, cakes, crepes and waffles is open too. The complex also includes the more upmarket Trakol restaurant, where the bar is located.
The street market area opened around 40 minutes late on July 6 as eager customers queued to get in. The credit card machine was playing up but cashback arrangements were made and soon they were queuing to buy tokens, at £1 or £2, to spend in the complex.
Market researcher Emily Boyle, 23, of Heaton, Newcastle, was on a works outing to the bar. She said: “It’s great. There’s a really nice vibe. You just want to be outside somewhere in this weather and most pub gardens are too small.”
Paul Hodd, 43, of High Heworth, Gateshead, was waiting to meet a friend. He said: “It’s great for the area and a lovely setting. Usually you are looking at the other side of the river. And it’s lovely and warm outside.”
Drinks at the main bar are served in only 1/3 or 2/3 of a pint – no halves or pints here! They include the microbrewery’s own By The River Brew’s own creations and specialities from De Molen including an 8pc abv spiced dark Doppelbock beer at £5.20 for 2/3rds. An IPA Session ale costs £2.20 for 1/3rd. Trakol, the indoor restaurant where the kitchen operates around a heap of hot coals, offers main courses from £11 for the veggie option of cauliflower steak to £20. Choices include Asado goat, 300g aged sirloin and whole grilled Cornish mackerel. A crispy pigs tail starter is £3.50 and puddings cost £6-7. You can also opt for the Feasting menu where a shared 1kg rib of beef with smoked marrow and fries costs £60 for two or three, or four if you wish. Here are some more example prices:
■ Papa Ganoush’s Chermoula lamb is £7 with flatbread and mezze.
■ Scream for Pizza’s Tony di Pepperoni favourite is £3 a slice.
■ Chucho’s tacos are two for £6 and include marinated, slow-cooked pork with red onion.
■ La Petite Creperie serves a Belgian chocolate crepe for £4.
■ Cheese Sir! sell Raclette cheese over baby potatoes with salad and pickles for £4.
■ Bait Box cover Oreo biscuits in sweet batter and deep fry them for £3, with squirty cream.
■ Lola Jeans’ burgers, for example, containing two beef patties, are £7.
■ Kultur’s large helping of mixed olives is £4.
■ Oktopus’ Lindisfarne oysters are one for £3 or three for £5.
■ And a Dabbawal veggie samosa chaat is £3.
The full list of permanent residents at HWKRMRKT are Chucos of Shields Road, Byker, Dabbawal, which also has restaurant in Jesmond and on High Bridge in Newcastle city centre; Dastardly & Dutty which serves loaded fries, waffle ice-cream makers Dubble Bubble and vegan junk food firm Grumpy Panda.
Also there are Kaltur, which also has a Spanish restaurant on High Bridge in Newcastle, gourmet burger specialists Lola Jeans, seafood company Oktupus, Papa Ganoush and Scream for Pizza, Cakes Contour, Chay Chay and Le Petit Creperie, alongside melted cheese firm Cheese Sir.
Mildred’s Twisted Ankle will be serving gin while That’s Nice Dear will be selling cocktails.
The market will open every weekend from 5pm to 11pm on Fridays, 12pm to 11pm on Saturdays and from 12pm to 8pm on Sundays.