I spent Friday night on Heaton Road and now it’s my favourite place in Newcastle

Heaton has been on the rise for years. A hub of incredible food, green spaces, independent shops and now, increasingly, neighbourhood bars, the area is beginning to rival that of the city centre and Ouseburn for weekend revellers. 

This year, Heaton was named one of the best places to live in the North of England by The Sunday Times which didn’t come as a surprise. I’ve spent a lot of time in the area over the years and have recently moved just down the road. And I love to spend my weekends hopping between its bars, micropubs, cafes and restaurants. 

Like a lot of my weekends, I spent my Friday night working my way up Heaton Road and was reminded why it's my favourite place to spend time in Newcastle.

First, we started off at the Tipsy Toad for a quick drink. A micropub at the bottom of the high street, it’s quirky and full of character. It’s also a real community hub. With monthly comedy nights, a weekly quiz and poker night, it's the ideal spot for a chilled drink or two. 

With grumbling bellies, we started to think about food. There are so many food options when you take in the whole of Heaton. For example, Flint on Chillingham Road or Punto further up Heaton Road. But we opted for Estate Tea Company. 

Now, it would be a crime for me to talk about Estate Tea Company without drawing attention to what me and my friends believe is the best cocktail in Newcastle. If you ever have the pleasure of visiting them, you have to try the Coriander Tinkle. Crazy name, I know. But I regularly dream about just how good it is. Not overly coriander-y and extremely fresh, it’s the drink of the summer- or in my case, perhaps my life.

To go with our heavenly drinks, we ordered a few of their Pan-Asian small plates. The food is delicious and I’d really recommend the cucumber side salad to round it all off. It can get quite busy on a weekend, so it’s probably best to book ahead. It’s a great lunchtime spot, too.

Afterwards, we wandered further up the street to one of my favourite places in the city- never mind Heaton.

House is a newish neighbourhood bar on Heaton Road. Opened in 2023, House specialises in natural wine with so many incredible options. Natural wine can be a bit daunting, but the owners are so helpful in finding the right drink for you. Since going regularly, I’ve been converted to fizzy, chilled reds which may sound strange but are so drinkable. 

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All in all, Heaton has so much to offer. On this particular Friday we only managed to get round three spots, but I have so many more favourites. There really is a new place to discover with every visit. 

If you fancy something a bit different, away from the crowds and monotony of town, I’d recommend nowhere else.