• Mon. Mar 2nd, 2026

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EXCITING NEW VENTURE TO OPEN IN PONTELAND

ByDave Stopher

Mar 2, 2026

PONTELAND is set to welcome an exciting new hospitality outlet, as part of a leisure firm’s expansion plans.

Yolo Ponteland will open its doors for the final time this Saturday (28 Feb) and the keys will then be handed over to a new operator.

And the hope is that customers will turn out in force at the venue this weekend for a final goodbye.

The bar, at Bell Villas, has been part of Danieli Leisure- which also runs Yolo Townhouse in Newcastle – for the past decade but has now been sold to experienced food and drink operators, Joe and Ollie Brack.

The brothers have built an impressive portfolio of successful brands across the North East since launching Brack Burger during the Covid pandemic.

What began as a single concept during challenging times has grown into seven thriving ventures, each carving out its own loyal following. Their latest and most notable launch, Say When, marks an exciting new chapter in their continued expansion.

And it is the success of Say When – which launched in December last year – which has led to the decision to open a second branch at Ponteland.

“We have had an amazing response to Say When in Gosforth and we’re very excited to be bringing the brand to this fantastic site in Ponteland,” said Joe Brack.

Yolo Ponteland was one of the first leisure outlets opened by hospitality entrepreneur, Neill Winch, who has gone on to create the highly successful STACK brand.

“We have had some fantastic years at Yolo Ponteland and we are very grateful for all of the support we have had from everyone in the village,” he said.

“It felt the right time for us to move away and allow a totally new concept to take up residence and having worked with Joe and Ollie previously, we know they are exactly the right operators to take this venue on the next stage of its journey.

“We wish them every success.”