Sheepfolds Stables and Vaux Brewery are bringing together 340 years of history and joining forces to launch an exclusive new lager. Pit Pony draught lager will build on almost 200 years of Vaux’s brewing legacy in Sunderland. It has been named to acknowledge the area’s coal industry and Sheepfolds Stables’ 140-year history, and will feature Vaux’s once famous dray horses on the label. The Helles lager will be served exclusively at Sheepfolds Stables – the city’s new food, drink, events and entertainment venue – which is due to open on Friday August 2. Pit Pony will be brewed at Vaux’s new micr ..read more

Newcastle’s Dakwala has launched a Bombay-inspired bottomless three-course feast menu – offering unlimited starters, main courses and desserts to take diners on a culinary journey through Bombay’s rich food heritage. The menu, priced at £19.95 per person, is available all day on Sundays at the Grainger Street restaurant. Celebrating the best of Bombay’s culinary heritage, cultural diversity and innovative fusion of flavours, Dakwala – meaning postman – draws inspiration from traditional venues in Bombay. On arrival, guests will be offered Dakwala’s canteen munchies of the day, a small selectio ..read more

Sunderland’s newest hospitality venue, Sheepfolds Stables, is filling up with Deep North set to take up anew site at the venue. The independent doughnut and coffee shop has established bases in Tynemouth and Newcastle, and will launch its Wearside venture in one of two new-build kiosks at Sheepfolds Stables – the reimagined, Grade II-listed premises next to the Stadium of Light. The black clad building is positioned in one of the courtyard areas and is designed to resemble a similar structure that would have stood in its place back in 1884 when the site was a working yard. Deep North has built ..read more

Butchers Dan Turnbull and Alex Daley, from Turnbull’s Northumbrian Food Hall in Alnwick, have been recognised among the upper echelons of UK butchers after facing off against rivals in a national competition. Part of The Great Yorkshire Show, nine teams took part in the competition, which was hosted by industry supplier Dalziel Ltd. The event saw teams of two prepare as much as they could from a range of fresh meat in just two hours and 45 minutes, before presenting their work to a panel of expert judges. The teams were given a side of pork, topside of beef, rump of beef, thick Flank of beef ..read more

Restaurant chain Soju and Gogi, which has brought Korean street food to Tyneside, is crossing the river to open its first Wearside venture at STACK Seaburn. Since the business opened on Newcastle’s Dean Street in 2019 it has gone from strength to strength, launching additional outlets including Soju Express at the Grainger Market and sister venue, Insa, on Osborne Road in Jesmond. The business is taking over the unit next to the Captain Morgan bar on STACK Seaburn’s upper plaza – and among the dishes on offer will be traditional Korean fried chicken served with a choice of eight sauces. The fo ..read more

Lovage, at St George’s Terrace in Jesmond, has been awarded its first AA Rosette for culinary excellence. The accolade adds to a string of awards since the restaurant was launched by chef and co-owner Kleo Tabaku less than two years ago, including a listing in the Michelin Guide. “It’s a genuine honour,” said Kleo. “I am absolutely delighted that we will now be able to display a plaque with the famous rosette – it’s wonderful news.” Lovage’s Mediterranean-style bistro food has proved a big hit with customers and critics alike – with The Telegraph’s William Sitwell awarding it five out of five ..read more

Researchers from Newcastle University’s Translational and Clinical Research Institute – including Dr Chris Lamb, Greg Young, Hannah Watson, Lauren Beck, Jen Doyle and Jem Palmer – recently spent time with Ian Waller, head chef at Michelin-starred Restaurant Pine, discussing food, fermentation, microbiology and how human health and disease can be linked to all three. The collaboration came about after a conversation between Ian and Chris at the restaurant. A discussion on microbiological gut health and the benefits of fermentation led to Ian working with the team to share some insights into wha ..read more

Neighbourhood Parisian-style bistro Ophelia has announced a switch to a set price (prix-fixe) menu. The Gosforth restaurant’s chef-proprietor, Nick Grieves, is aiming to offer more transparency to guests around what they will spend while dining at Ophelia. The change consists of a move away from an a la carte menu with individually priced items to a set menu with a choice of two, three or four courses. Nick’s idea is to move away from the longer brasserie-style menu in favour of a focused selection of dishes that reflects the modern Parisian bistros that he loves and has taken inspiration from ..read more

NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week is set to return across the city from Monday August 5 to Sunday August 11 with more than 100 restaurants taking part. An estimated 50,000 diners will be celebrating the return of the event, which gives people the chance to enjoy meals for £15, £20 or £25 per person at some of Newcastle’s finest restaurants and best venues. The event is designed to support the restaurant industry at two of the traditionally quietest times of the year – in January post-Christmas and in August during the summer holidays. These two weeks are now among the busiest for the city’s restau ..read more

Sunderland’s new food, drink, events and entertainment destination – Sheepfolds Stables – will officially open to the public on Friday August 2. The £4million leisure development will open its doors at 6pm, and thousands of guests are expected to visit over the launch weekend. Performers, DJs and bands will be taking to the outdoor stage to entertain visitors, and all restaurant operators will be available for booking. Open on Friday 6pm-1am, guests will also be welcomed 8am-1am on Saturday August 3, and 8am-11pm on Sunday August 4. “We are absolutely delighted to make this announcement and ge ..read more