Monday 30 September 2013
Grainger Market: The pizza that sells like hot cakes
Grainger Market: The pizza that sells like hot cakes: While big chain restaurants invest huge amounts of money on improving their brand name it seems that the word of mouth still serves well for...
New chip shop - Pilgrim Street
Following from my post of 5th September 2013 http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/new-cafe-bar-for-blue-carpet-square.html , this is another business that I was glad to see the back of: Pizza al Taglio, on the corner of Pilgrim street and Market Street.
There has been a succession of failed takeaway businesses at this location so don't know if it's in a difficult position for a takeaway (probably not since there are two sandwich shops nearby and a Pizza/kebab shop nearby) or if there were just flawed businesses . Following the demise of O'Brians sandwich shop, there was, I think, a Polish venture called Pierogi. I don't know what they sold, I don't know if it was even Polish; but I do know that in Russian, the word Pirogi means "pies" - and that looks a bit similar to Pierogi. Not a good start to a business if passers by - your potential customers - have to guess what you are offering.
This cafe/ takeaway - whatever, soon closed. In its place, a pizza slice takeaway opened. At least it was clear what they were selling even if you couldn't work out what the takeaway was called - they did take the trouble to explain, perhaps condescendingly, how to pronounce the name, by adding a translation to the shop sign (Peets-al-tal-yo).
OK I found that a bit irritating, but my main problem with the shop was that it was promising authentic Italian pizza experience - freshly prepared, using fresh ingredients to an authentic rustic Italian recipe - what a crock of shit. I did try one- I must admit I was sold on the description and they did look appetising. But, it wasn't fresh or authentic, nor was it fast food. I expected that there would be a proper wood firing oven in which whole pizzas were cooked, ready to be sliced and served up. No, there were no cooking smells in the shop, no heat from the kitchen, in fact, no sense of anything being cooked at all on the premises. What I got was a precooked slice of pizza which was then put in a microwave or steamer (or something) to warm it up. Very disappointing, about as authentic as Pizza Hit slices and not as tasty; and certainly not a patch on that other pizza slice company"Fresh Pizza By The Slice" in the Gainger Market: http://graingermarket.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/pizza-that-sells-like-hot-cakes.html, http://www.newcastleeats.co.uk/post/18612079659/review-of-pizza-by-the-slice-grainger-market.
Passing this shop last week, I noticed that there was a new sign above the shop "Town Fry" and a poster in the window announcing that a traditional fish and chip shop will be opening soon. I'm not sure if there will be enough demand for fish and chips at this location - on a lunchtime at least (I'm sure I might be tempted), but I wish them success in this venture.
There has been a succession of failed takeaway businesses at this location so don't know if it's in a difficult position for a takeaway (probably not since there are two sandwich shops nearby and a Pizza/kebab shop nearby) or if there were just flawed businesses . Following the demise of O'Brians sandwich shop, there was, I think, a Polish venture called Pierogi. I don't know what they sold, I don't know if it was even Polish; but I do know that in Russian, the word Pirogi means "pies" - and that looks a bit similar to Pierogi. Not a good start to a business if passers by - your potential customers - have to guess what you are offering.
This cafe/ takeaway - whatever, soon closed. In its place, a pizza slice takeaway opened. At least it was clear what they were selling even if you couldn't work out what the takeaway was called - they did take the trouble to explain, perhaps condescendingly, how to pronounce the name, by adding a translation to the shop sign (Peets-al-tal-yo).
OK I found that a bit irritating, but my main problem with the shop was that it was promising authentic Italian pizza experience - freshly prepared, using fresh ingredients to an authentic rustic Italian recipe - what a crock of shit. I did try one- I must admit I was sold on the description and they did look appetising. But, it wasn't fresh or authentic, nor was it fast food. I expected that there would be a proper wood firing oven in which whole pizzas were cooked, ready to be sliced and served up. No, there were no cooking smells in the shop, no heat from the kitchen, in fact, no sense of anything being cooked at all on the premises. What I got was a precooked slice of pizza which was then put in a microwave or steamer (or something) to warm it up. Very disappointing, about as authentic as Pizza Hit slices and not as tasty; and certainly not a patch on that other pizza slice company"Fresh Pizza By The Slice" in the Gainger Market: http://graingermarket.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/pizza-that-sells-like-hot-cakes.html, http://www.newcastleeats.co.uk/post/18612079659/review-of-pizza-by-the-slice-grainger-market.
Passing this shop last week, I noticed that there was a new sign above the shop "Town Fry" and a poster in the window announcing that a traditional fish and chip shop will be opening soon. I'm not sure if there will be enough demand for fish and chips at this location - on a lunchtime at least (I'm sure I might be tempted), but I wish them success in this venture.
Friday 27 September 2013
Reet lush beer
Sign outside the Brewdog bar on Dean Street. If it was in the Bigg Market, it might have said "propa lush beer in ere hew". This is a canny bar, serving real ale, on Dean Street. I
Friday 20 September 2013
Gateshead flats demolition continues
One down, one and half to go. Of the three flats being demolished adjacent to the flyover, the second has been gutted and is being picked apart piece by piece. I took this pic this morning from the car with my phone (I was a passenger, of course). I wish I could just get out of the car with my SLR and take some decent shots.
More pictures
More pictures
Tuesday 17 September 2013
Sunny morning in Dunston
Dropped my car off at Jennings Ford at Dunston yesterday morning at 8am, and enjoyed a pleasant stroll along the Teams, as I awaited a lift into town, just when the first rays of the sun started to poke through the clouds. So I took some pics of the flats.
Friday 13 September 2013
Mad hippy dancer on blue carpet
Today we were treated to a lone dancer performing on the blue carpet. She was knocking out some strange freestyle hippy moves accompanied by a bongo player. This went in for about half an hour - she was obviously enjoying herself.
Thursday 5 September 2013
The Dun Cow pub - Gateshead
I ran past this building today, which is just across the Tyne Bridge on the Gateshead side and I thought "didn't this used to be a pub". I then started racking my brains to remember what it was called. As I got user I saw this image of a cow on the door "aha! The Dun Cow!" (at least I think it was - I haven't checked yet).
Pons Aelius
Pons Aelius- the original Latin name for an ancient crossing on the Tyne - and a name I considered for this blog. This bas relief on the side of the old BhS store on Northumberland Street has thankfully survived the redevelopment of the site for the Primark extension. Past his loads without paying much attention to it. Quite like it now.
New cafe-bar for the Blue Carpet square
I hesitate in celebrating the closure of any business in the north east- not just because of the impact it has on the lives of those people affected, but because I want to see a vibrant, thriving and well developed retail sector (and economy) in the north east, and take no pleasure in any set backs or failures.
However, some economists argue that recessions can be good for clearing out 'dead wood' to make room for strong new growth. I .e. - failing businesses can hog resources and finance (customers even?) which could be better employed elsewhere - they crowd out investment which could be supporting the development of new or stronger businesses. In this respect, I am glad to see the back of these two businesses: Fusion bar and Supashop newsagents and takeaway.
Back in year 2000, or so, there were two thriving businesses on what is now the (abysmal) blue carpet square on New Bridge Street. One was a newsagents, which had expanded from a small narrow unit with little stock to a larger unit with quality wooden shop fittings and an extended range of stock which included alcohol and some food. Next door was a cafe called The Sour Pickle. This cafe also sold takeaway sandwiches and other food. On a lunchtime, the cafe would be jam packed- all tables occupied and a queue of people waiting to be served. and there would be a queue of people out of the door, most days, wanting to buy sandwiches. The bacon, chicken, cheese, and coleslaw in a sun dried tomato ciabatta bun was my favourite - a bit of mouthful to order, but I rattled the order off like a New Yorker, I was tempted to ask for a cuorrfee to go.
I say they were thriving businesses, but they both no doubt suffered from the long period of disruption caused by construction work and delays when the blue carpet was being installed. This affected both visibility and access to the premises for up to two years (the project ran into funding difficulties and there were technical problems in creating that right shade of yellow-grey tile - so essential for a blue carpet).
Anyway, around this time, the owners of the newsagents and the cafe separately decided to sell up, and a single buyer bought both businesses. The new owner gutted the cafe, rearranged the layout, painted a royal blue colour and renamed the cafe "Cafe Blue". He got rid of all the friendly young fit lasses who worked in the Sour Pickle, and kept on the miserable old boiler. The place died on its arse. In the meantime, the newsagents was similarly gutted and then went through a 13 year period of constant renovation and reorganisation without any obvious improvements resulting - the phrase "you can't polish a turd" springs to mind here as being an apt description of the result of their efforts.
Cafe Blue closed down and the premises were refurbished - initially to a decent standard. Fusion Bar opened in its place and it first it seemed to be quite a pleasant place to have a drink, although it was a bit on the small side. Unfortunately, it was not long before it started to go down hill. A website called The Burglars Dog (which hilariously but viciously provided reviews of all the pubs in Newcastle - tracking their constants changes and fortunes) described the change as if it were a crack den where anything decent or of value and been ripped out and sold for drugs - leaving a depressing shitty hole in its place - I paraphrase here cos i can't find the original review, so I am not doing justice to the Burglars Dog reviewers description). Further developments saw the partial merger of both premises - they knocked a hole in the wall for a door, but access between the two premises was impeded by a supporting column.
Unbelievably, both business limped on for many years until they finally closed earlier this year. I have now heard that the original owner of the newsagents is hoping to open a cafe bar here in October, which will be called "The Laughing Tiger". It's a bit of an odd choice of name, especially since there is a cafe nearby, on the base of block of flats above John Dobson Street, called The Laughing Cat. Is he trying to prove that he is the top cat in town?
However, some economists argue that recessions can be good for clearing out 'dead wood' to make room for strong new growth. I .e. - failing businesses can hog resources and finance (customers even?) which could be better employed elsewhere - they crowd out investment which could be supporting the development of new or stronger businesses. In this respect, I am glad to see the back of these two businesses: Fusion bar and Supashop newsagents and takeaway.
Back in year 2000, or so, there were two thriving businesses on what is now the (abysmal) blue carpet square on New Bridge Street. One was a newsagents, which had expanded from a small narrow unit with little stock to a larger unit with quality wooden shop fittings and an extended range of stock which included alcohol and some food. Next door was a cafe called The Sour Pickle. This cafe also sold takeaway sandwiches and other food. On a lunchtime, the cafe would be jam packed- all tables occupied and a queue of people waiting to be served. and there would be a queue of people out of the door, most days, wanting to buy sandwiches. The bacon, chicken, cheese, and coleslaw in a sun dried tomato ciabatta bun was my favourite - a bit of mouthful to order, but I rattled the order off like a New Yorker, I was tempted to ask for a cuorrfee to go.
I say they were thriving businesses, but they both no doubt suffered from the long period of disruption caused by construction work and delays when the blue carpet was being installed. This affected both visibility and access to the premises for up to two years (the project ran into funding difficulties and there were technical problems in creating that right shade of yellow-grey tile - so essential for a blue carpet).
Anyway, around this time, the owners of the newsagents and the cafe separately decided to sell up, and a single buyer bought both businesses. The new owner gutted the cafe, rearranged the layout, painted a royal blue colour and renamed the cafe "Cafe Blue". He got rid of all the friendly young fit lasses who worked in the Sour Pickle, and kept on the miserable old boiler. The place died on its arse. In the meantime, the newsagents was similarly gutted and then went through a 13 year period of constant renovation and reorganisation without any obvious improvements resulting - the phrase "you can't polish a turd" springs to mind here as being an apt description of the result of their efforts.
Cafe Blue closed down and the premises were refurbished - initially to a decent standard. Fusion Bar opened in its place and it first it seemed to be quite a pleasant place to have a drink, although it was a bit on the small side. Unfortunately, it was not long before it started to go down hill. A website called The Burglars Dog (which hilariously but viciously provided reviews of all the pubs in Newcastle - tracking their constants changes and fortunes) described the change as if it were a crack den where anything decent or of value and been ripped out and sold for drugs - leaving a depressing shitty hole in its place - I paraphrase here cos i can't find the original review, so I am not doing justice to the Burglars Dog reviewers description). Further developments saw the partial merger of both premises - they knocked a hole in the wall for a door, but access between the two premises was impeded by a supporting column.
Unbelievably, both business limped on for many years until they finally closed earlier this year. I have now heard that the original owner of the newsagents is hoping to open a cafe bar here in October, which will be called "The Laughing Tiger". It's a bit of an odd choice of name, especially since there is a cafe nearby, on the base of block of flats above John Dobson Street, called The Laughing Cat. Is he trying to prove that he is the top cat in town?
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