CAKE STOP ROUTE 72, NEWCASTLE

Full-bodied coffee and the finest cheese toasties await cyclists at this rural hive of activity

When pandemic restrictions closed his entertainment business in March 2020, Bruce Tait was sitting in the premises of his Tyneside yard with business partner, Iain, wondering what on earth they could do. The steady stream of passing cyclists doing National Cycle Route 72, the Hadrian’s Wall trail right alongside, provided the inspiration. Bruce reopened it as a cycling cafe, calling on his previous experience as assistant manager for a coffee shop chain.

Now it’s thriving as a cake and coffee stop for riders, particularly coast-to-coasters – it’s only a mile to the popular C2C route’s Newcastle branch, and Gateshead Millennium Bridge is five easy miles away along the flat riverside path.

The covered courtyard’s wooden tables are also busy with local mountain bikers (of which Bruce is one) and people from around the corner who just pop in for the coffee and home-made brownies and flapjacks. Mrs Tate is the person to thank for those cyclist staples.

If and when the entertainment business is running again, Bruce says he’ll definitely keep the cycling cafe going. He’s looking to hire a bike mechanic – not only for the charity riders who find their bikes need gears adjusting or a snapped chain fixing, but also local cyclists, thanks to the industrial estate’s easy car parking. Other plans include temporary alcohol licences for bike-oriented summer events, such as bike swaps (an American idea, apparently: turn up with your bike and trade it right there). route72cafe.co.uk

SIGNATURE DISH

Homemade pulled pork sandwiches; £4

SHOWSTOPPER

Deluxe hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream; £2.70

I’M A COFFEE SNOB, HOW’S THEIR FLAT WHITE?

Consistently good Lavazza; £2.20

KEY STRAVA SEGMENT

Shibdon Shocker, 0.64 miles, average grade 9.1%, elevation gain 305ft, 2572 attempts by 641 people

KOM

Matthew Smith 2.59, 07/07/2020

QOM

Grace Inglis 4.30, 03/03/2020

“Great place!”

Dee Spearman

“Lovely atmosphere”

Elaine Spark

“Freezing cold at the end of the C2C and the coffee and toasties really saved our lives!”

Maria Kaminski

“Just been in for a quick pit stop, great little place”

Jane Jacques

“Amazing prices and selection of drinks”

Jamie Young