Triple boost for South Shields leisure

The Nook retail and leisure pitch has welcomed new tenants as the council hailed its culinary offer as a “key driver” for growth.

In a space formerly occupied by Barclays Bank, the Old Bank Pizza Co. has introduced a pizza parlour majoring on high quality ingredients, open kitchen and wood-firing pizza oven imported from Italy.

Richard Bond from The Old Bank Pizza Co said: “We’re proud to have been the first restaurant at The Nook. It’s also great to see other restaurants have opened nearby, making it a new hub for the local area.”

The Olive Tree, a recently established Italian restaurant and bar situated on Sunderland Road, has seen a previously disused building transformed into a space with greenery-themed décor and new fittings throughout.

Owner Ilhan Ekinci said: “We opened our doors to the local community, and we were overwhelmed by the support and custom we received. We are still going strong, and we are loving every minute.”

Mio’s, formerly known as Café Mio, has evolved into a versatile coffee and tapas bar, with their slogan ‘Coffee by day, cocktails by night’. The venue has been operating since 2012, but since the Covid pandemic has been redesigned to meet changing tastes and trends.

Kieran Savage, co-owner of Mio’s said: “It was a big risk closing and refurbing with the current climate but thankfully we have a strong hard-working team. We put everything we can into making sure the business continues to grow, develop, and succeed.”

Cllr Margaret Meling, lead member for economic growth at South Tyneside Council, said: “The vibrant culinary scene in South Shields is a key driver of our economic growth, and the addition of three exciting new restaurants at The Nook will provide yet another boost to our thriving hospitality industry.

“We are delighted to be able to welcome them to the town and would like to wish them all the best for the future.”