Inside Lagom - Newcastle's new coffee shop looking to offer something new to the city's cafe scene

While high street brands remain hugely popular across the city and wider North East, a series of independent sites are looking to build a thriving cafe scene - and Lagom is no different.

The new self described coffee bar on Monk Street in the city centre took over the site of the old Canny Goat Coffee House, retaining a handful of staff, and turned around the building within two weeks ahead of its opening day in late June.

“It’s been really good” said co-owner Charlie Doyle, talking about their first weeks as a business.

“We’ve had a lot of locals in, a lot of regulars from the old site too.”

“When we first took over the place we had a vision for it” added Matthew Mitchell, the other mind behind the new cafe.

“It’s been fantastic” he added. “I suppose both of us were a little bit nervous at first, thinking we’ve been shut for two weeks, but it just kicked straight off.”

Doyle added: “I think because we’ve only been closed for two weeks I think that helped massively because we’ve been able to keep the old regulars.

“I think if we were shut for a lot longer it would have been hard to start up again.”

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The new cafe offers a series of regular brews as well as a rotating menu which is currently set to see three drink options change every month to keep the menu lively.

“For me, I love the whole speciality coffee scene” said Mitchell. “The local coffee scene here is something I found a bit frustrating. We are still battling against the big boy roasters but to me, this is what a coffee shop should be.

“It’s independent, locally roasted and a celebration of what coffees are out there.”

In addition to drinks, the site also offers sandwiches and cakes, and has teamed up with the likes of Bloc and Bottle for their options.

The site is looking to be more than just a space for people to head though, with the pair hoping to start offering community sessions in the near future.

“It’s a case of, if it stays as it is, fantastic” says Mitchell, “but if we can grow it and look at other options, start doing education evenings and cupping sessions, that would be the next step.

Watch our full chat with Charlie Doyle and Matthew Mitchell here.