One of Newcastle’s most popular restaurants is set to close its doors … and reopen as a modern wine bar and café.
Chef and restaurateur Terry Laybourne has announced the closure of his popular Italian restaurant Caffe Vivo.
The Quayside eatery is celebrating its 10th anniversary while also revealing its last full service will be held on Saturday August 25. The restaurant will then close its doors for refurbishment for several weeks before reopening as a new wine bar and cafe.
During the last decade Caffe Vivo, part of Terry’s successful 21 Hospitality Group, has won a string of awards which includes it been recognised as a ‘Local Gem’ in last year’s UK Good Food Guide. It was the 10th time it has appeared in the Guide and the third time it has received the ‘Local Gem’ accolade. Most recently Caffe Vivo featured in OpenTable’s Top 10 Best Healthy Restaurants in Newcastle and Northumberland.
Terry Laybourne explained: “After 10 great years we believe it’s about time to allow Caffe Vivo a well-earned retirement. We like to keep things fresh and interesting.
“Nobody can stand still in food and hospitality. We’re always looking to freshen things up and we think this change reflects a growing shift in dining and drinking. We’ve enjoyed an explosion in craft beers this last five years or more and now there’s a big shift within the wine sector with new craft wines coming from emerging small vineyards.”
The new venture – to be called St Vincent – will be an informal, relaxed modern wine bar that will offer a huge range of wines from small independent producers, served alongside good food on ‘small plates’ classic cocktails, craft beer, vermouths and Amaro. Breakfast, brunch and evening menus will be offered when it opens in September.
More details will be revealed in the coming month – with a provisional website established to inform people of the opening https://www.saintvincentncl.co.uk/