I tried The Cluny's summer menu and got a taste of the sun in Ouseburn

The Cluny is synonymous with Newcastle’s independent music scene with the Ouseburn site having previously played host to the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran and New York Dolls, but any regular around the trendy east end of the city will also tell you it is also a well loved bar and kitchen.

As someone who has spent plenty of time in the riverside building’s bar waiting for doors to open before gigs, when the site announced its summer food menu I thought it was only fair to head out and see what one of the city’s most beloved venues has to offer.

The seasonal additions to the menu were included at the end of June and I headed over to check it out before England Women vs France at St James Park on the first available weekend.

Having never eaten at The CLuny before, I had no idea what to expect from the traditional standard menu, although I soon found out it was the standard burger, hot dog and wraps affair you often see from similar venues across the country with a solid amount of meat free options for the vegetarians and vegans among us, which includes myself.

Things got even better for me when I saw the vast majority of the new additions to the menu were marked with a clear green V on the menu, and after grabbing a slightly overpriced pint of the Jakehead IPA from Wylam Brewery, decided on the bruschetta and orange and halloumi salad to keep me going for the evening.

Other new options on offer included a five-bean quesadilla, and a bayou basket, which consisted of fish goujons, squid, prawn and blanch bait.

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After a short wait and a moment to appreciate the soundtrack at the venue - which seamlessly moved between Fleetwood Mac, Bloc Party and Dolly Parton - and my food had arrived, just as cool as you would want from the dishes I decided to try out.

The bruschetta, which is somehow easily messed up across swathes of the UK, was immaculate with a good balance between the cheese and tomato while the orange and halloumi salad was also stunning.

It is a combination I hadn’t thought of trying previously, but the mix of textures and flavours really felt like a great way to kick start the summer months.

While the meal I had may not have been enough to keep me going through the evening, the options on offer will definitely give diners a few new options for a light lunch when walking through what this great part of the city has to offer.