As Seen on TV: The NewcastleGateshead Restaurants Featured in Neven Maguire’s English Food Tour

NewcastleGateshead is back in the TV spotlight, and this time it's in Ireland! Award-winning Irish chef Neven Maguire has filmed a brand-new series of his popular television programme, ‘Neven’s English Food Tour’ across the North East. Neven is one of Ireland’s most recognisable and respected culinary figures, a celebrated TV chef, restaurateur, and author, so it’s super exciting that he has ventured to NewcastleGateshead to explore our fantastic food scene.

Neven visited several of the city’s best-loved restaurants and cafés, and it’s the first time an Irish food and travel show has been dedicated to the UK, making it a real privilege. There are six episodes in total in the series, with two episodes featuring NewcastleGateshead. Irish foodie fans can catch the show on RTÉ One at 8:30pm on 7th January.

Your taste buds are always guaranteed to be spoilt in Newcastle, so let’s take a closer look at all of the incredible businesses Irish TV chef Neven Maguire visited during his foodie trip.

It really wouldn’t be a proper trip to Newcastle without visiting the home of the sausage roll, where Greggs first started. Greggs is nothing short of iconic, and it’s hugely popular in the city. You’ll find a whopping 33 Greggs stores in Newcastle alone, which is proof of just how much Geordies love their Greggs fix. It’s the go-to spot for pasties, sausage rolls, sandwiches, and hot and cold drinks. It’s convenient and super tasty, there’s no wonder it’s a firm favourite. Neven headed to the Northumberland Street store and tasted the iconic sausage roll for himself.

Step back into Newcastle’s medieval past with award-winning dining at Blackfriars. This is a truly unique restaurant in Newcastle set within a beautifully restored 13th-century friary in the heart of the city. It’s recognised for serving some of the best Sunday lunches, Afternoon Teas and incredible seasonal fine-dining menus. Blackfriars combines heritage, atmosphere and exceptional food, crafted from locally sourced produce from nearby farms and markets. Blackfriars is more than just a beautiful restaurant, they also offer many cooking classes and tastings too, it’s a must visit when looking for somewhere special to eat in Newcastle.

Big River Bakery is a small-batch bakery located in Shieldfield, Newcastle, specialising in slow ferment, handmade breads and baked goods made with locally sourced ingredients. The small and independent bakery is a social enterprise, aiming to embed in the fabric of the area and contribute to the wellbeing of their surrounding communities. In store they sell fresh bread, an impressive range of sourdough, stottie sandwiches and other baked goods. They also host inspiring training courses and even baking workshops. Fun fact: Big River Bakery has always believed in the power of the stottie and decided that this Geordie delicacy should be celebrated with the introduction of National Stottie Week, held every February.

Inside the iconic Fenwick Food Hall you’ll find Saltwater Fish Co. which is perfect for the seafood lovers! It operates as both a Fish Bar and Fishmonger, following a ‘we cook what we sell, we sell what we cook’ philosophy. There’s no fuss, just a passion for seafood, simple yet creative cooking and friendly service. Their counter seats 19 people, with an open kitchen to watch the experts work their culinary magic. Indulge on oysters from different beds, small dishes, large plates, French-style Fruits de Mer Platters to share and even a blackboard full of daily specials. There’s also champagnes and wines to sip, all perfectly paired with seafood. The choice is yours: take a stool and let them cook for you or buy from the wet fish counter and cook for yourself at home.

Over in Gateshead, situated on the top floor of BALTIC is SIX Rooftop. It’s a stunning restaurant serving beautiful menus that are inspired by the very best seasonal, local artisan ingredients, whilst a carefully curated wine list draws from both new and old worlds. Inside SIX you can expect a sleek, elegant restaurant, even featuring a chef’s table. The menus range from a stunning six course tasting experience designed to impress to their refined take on the traditional Sunday lunch. The restaurant also has some of the very best views of the quayside which really adds to the whole dining experience.

Located in Ouseburn, Newcastle’s creative quarter, you’ll find The Kiln Café. Kiln started in 2017 as a pottery studio that served coffee on the side. It has now evolved into a lovely café, serving menus that take cues from the Middle East while still being shaped by the North East. You can pop by for their brunch, afternoon or evening menus and tuck delicious choices from house granola bowls, hummus and pitas, and plenty of stunning meats from the grill, the choice is yours. Fun fact: all the ceramics used in the café’s service are carefully crafted on-site and are available to purchase in-house!

The Broad Chare is a proper pub serving sensational home-cooked food, which is proudly British. They also serve some tasty elevated bar snacks such as hand raised pork pies and cauliflower fritters, if you fancy a little bite to eat with your drink. The menus are seasonal, so you can taste the very best flavours, from pies with lashings of gravy, bubble and squeak to butcher’s steak, you’re in for a treat. Fun fact: Terry Laybourne, the owner of The Broad Chare, was the first chef in Newcastle to be awarded a Michelin Star!

The Small Canteen is a bistro style spot with small regularly changing menu, it delivers seasonal dishes of a gourmet standard. Alongside the food they serve organic wines and also craft beers. It’s a cosy little spot to get some of the best local and high-quality food in Newcastle at an affordable price. The Canteen is situated in Sandyford, sandwiched between Jesmond and Heaton, which is an up-and-coming foodie neighbourhood.

Ready to explore more of NewcastleGateshead’s food scene? From award-winning restaurants, fine dining spots, to incredible local food markets and much more, click here to discover the perfect foodie spots to tuck into on your next visit.