A popular restaurant on the Gateshead Quayside has announced it is closing its kitchen for good as rising bills take their toll on the business.
River Beat Quayside has welcomed customers for the last eight years, serving up food and cocktails to regulars, tourists and even celebrities including Sam Fender. Owner and head chef Andrew Drape invested more than £50,000 transforming Pipewellgate House, next to the Swing Bridge, into River Beat, opening it as a relaxed restaurant offering tapas with an Asian twist.
Built in 1845, the building once housed the old River Police Station, and over the last two decades has hosted a succession of restaurants, including the South Bank Grill. Before opening in 2015 Mr Drape told of the potential in the site thanks to its amazing views. However, the company announced the restaurant’s closure on social media channels, highlighting inflationary pressures and parking issues.
