Climb Newcastle

Climb Newcastle is a fantastic indoor Bouldering Wall in Byker next to the Metro Station. Bouldering is climbing without a harness, normally climbing many short routes with crash pads below. It's a great form of exercise that can be as relaxing and stretching or hard pushing and challenging as you like. 
Climb Newcastle was set up three years ago by three climbers with a vision, they retro-fitted the Byker Swimming Pool into an accessible centre for climbing. They run introductory and intermediate classes while also running a dedicated children's climbing wall for parties or classes.


The staff are friendly and relaxed, the atmosphere is casual. When I visited, it was quiet enough to really get stuck into the climbing, but busy enough to chat with the more experienced climbers. Who were open to talk over technique and the routes.
The climbing wall has colour coded routes that indicate varying difficulty (difficulty is graded in numbers, the higher the grade, the harder the climb) and average twenty routes for each category. Which is great if you are not sure what to. Don't let that number fool you, although it takes between one and five minutes to complete a route, it's a good burn. Due to my unconditioned soft hands my climbing was cut short, but Climb Newcastle also has a conditioning room with various exercise toys to build strength and condition climbing muscles, this room also leads into a smaller climbing room that is for serious climbers that want to strengthen their hands by gripping impossibly small hold, and I mean Impossible!!

Happy with myself for being so active, I treated myself to a cappuccino, at their own coffee shop! Serving a range of tea's, energy drinks and the usual range of coffee's, I happily relaxed with my cappuccino in the small cafe area that plays climbing video's, nice inspiration for climbers. The notice board advertises lots of events and competitions that they host or take part in, these guys are serious about climbing.
Climb Newcastle also has a equipment shop, selling climbing shoes, chalk, clothing (both climbing and casual), crash pads and a range of other climbing dedicated stock.


Climb Newcastle is a great place to learn to climb with enthusiastic and friendly staff, various courses and a great range of things to climb! There is a small annual membership for £3.50 with a day session session costing £7(concessions available). Which felt pricey considering my fitness limited my climb, but there is no time limit and the option to sign out and come back later in the day (with the option of getting fitter). Shoe hire is an extra £2.50.


Climb Newcastle is convenient, relevant to beginners and seasoned climbers with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. For more information, visit their website.
www.climbnewcastle.com


Open:
Monday-Friday: 12-10pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am-8pm

Intermezzo

Intermezzo is a cool cafe-bar packed neatly into the corner of Tyneside Cinema. It has an Italian cafe/bar charm with the red leather, patio doors and shelf of liqueurs behind the counter. They open late every night and offer wine, beers and a menu of almost fifty cocktails (£5). Their cocktail menu competes with any of the cocktail bars in town with an added bonus of a range of coffee cocktails. They have a small selection of panini's and pastries available too.

It's a tight fit inside Intermezzo, but they have plenty of outside seating which adds to the Italian atmosphere. It's a smokers paradise. The music is cool and contemporary which very much defines intermezzo. The coffee is rich and strong (Americano £2.10), served in the smaller continental style cups. There is a very arty atmosphere which is odd as there is very little art work, mainly due to the fact that there isn't much wall space.


Intermezzo is perfect for an after work coffee or glass of wine, depending on the day you've had I guess. Any visit to Tyneside Cinema should either start or finish with a trip to this cool little coffee shop.


Open: 
Monday-Saturday: 8am-11pm
Sunday 11am-11pm.


Wifi available, Cocktails & Wine, Smoker Friendly.

Ma Provence French Bakery

On Grey Street right next to Monument Metro is Ma Provence. A small cafe that serves a selection of french baked goodies. Firstly for me, they make fresh Crepes, which made them a winner already, the mouth watering provincial french menu also includes fresh croissants, pizza slices, tasty flans, chunky stews and soups with a new selections of waffles. My crepe was a Ham & Cheese (Savory £3.50, Sweet £2.50) crepe which took a little longer to arrive than expected, but when it did, it was a simple but eye-pleasing square parcel, the ham & cheese filling was rich and creamy and it was quickly wolfed down. The coffee (Americano £1.35) was a not the greatest, served in small cups like the continent, it was little bit flat like the coffee beans were stale.

The atmosphere is really relaxed, I have the feeling they have a small but highly loyal clientele with an appreciation for french culture. There were even a couple of french accents I heard while tucking into my crepe. However, it is a small cafe, so be warned if there are more than a few of you going, you may have to wait for a seat.

Ma Provence is a lovely little coffee house, if you have ever visited France, it will be sure to bring back all those fond memories.

http://www.maprovence.co.uk/

Central Bean Coffee House

Near the center of town by St James Metro is Central Bean Coffee House. It's a coffee shop that in my eyes has combined all the strengths of chain coffee shops but has retained the passion and values of a local business. 

Firstly in the design, as you walk in, it has all the professional sleek and organisation of a large chain coffee shop, but the love is evident in its details. No expense has been sparred, the high quality in the furniture and decorations shines through, from the totem-pole at the entrance, wooden ceiling above the coffee counter to the coffee ring wallpaper in sofa lounge area. It is so simple and tasteful in design.

The coffee menu matches the design, providing a full coffee range like a Starbucks or Costa but with passion and quality at heart, each coffee is Perfect. This cannot be stressed enough. Each Americano has a beautiful golden crema and each latte is a silky, milky delight with either a tulip or fern-leaf pattern on top (a small latte is £2.35, cheaper than a Costa flat-white). A testimony to the expertise and dedication of the staff, who are friendly and attentive.

There is also a small but tasty selection of sandwiches (average £2.90), panini's (£3.95) and a selection of quality tray bakes and cakes.The Yum-Yums are a personal recommendation £1.75.

The atmosphere is relaxed and people are chatting away happily or getting stuck into books or laptops. So if you love the style of large chains coffee shops and great coffee but want to take the "I Buy Newcastle" attitude, I highly recommend Central Bean Coffee House that has branches in Jesmond and Morpeth with a new branch in the new business park coming.

Open:

Monday-Friday 7.30am-6pm.

Saturday 9am-4pm.  

Sunday 10a-2pm.

WiFi available, Great coffee.

http://www.centralbean.co.uk/

Heaton Perk

Heaton Perk is a cosy coffee shop on Heaton Park Road. It's a little treasure trove of vintage chic. The cool mismatching furniture and the walls of used books (that are available to browse or book swap) are mirrored in their range of drinks, using local Pumphrys coffee and fashionable Canada Hot Apple tea that is complimented by cookies, panini's and cakes topped by a great selection of classic sweeties and treats from back in the day. So hats off to the staff for being patient while we take five minutes to order! 

Heaton Perk has all its strengths in its casual retro style, great atmosphere and its community spirit. They support a variety of community events and host a bunch of their own fun little clubs. Pop in for a coffee and browse the fliers and posters of all the events going on.


Open: 
Monday to Wednesday: 8am-6pm
Thursday: 8am-9.30pm
Friday & Saturday: 8am-6pm
Sunday: 11am-4pm


WiFi available. Book Swap. Board Games. Baby Friendly.

Cafe One 20

An afternoon stroll in the sun brings us to Cafe One 20 at 120 Heaton Road (do you see what they did there?), on the corner of Heaton Road and Cardigan Terrace. It's a tidy and trendy looking cafe with modern leather couches and chairs, arty photos of Newcastle and an enticing display of cakes and tray bakes.


The staff are cheerful and the coffee is tasty and strong.
 A creative selection of paninis and sandwich available, both vegitarian (£3.95 with salad & coleslaw) and carnivorous (£4.25 with salad & coleslaw) with a wide breakfast menu providing toast (£1.25) to their Cafe One 20 take on the full English breakfast (£4.50).
Cafe One 20 offer the usual range of coffees using a local coffee brand complimented by a range of Canadian Hot Apple sweet-teas, other herbal teas and Chai Teas.

Cafe One 20 is open Monday to Saturday 9am til 5pm and Sundays 10am til 4pm. 
wi-fi not available. Baby friendly.


A comfortable and professional cafe in the heart of a popular student area that ticks all the boxes. Perfect for a business coffee/lunch or break from the books. Drop in some time if your in the area.