Operator found for park cafe closed by council
Operator found for park cafe closed by council
Daniel Holland - Local Democracy Reporting ServiceFri, June 26, 2026 at 6:11 AM UTC
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Exhibition Park cafe was shut in January
A closed park cafe is set to be taken over be a local doughnut chain.
Deep North is poised to reopen the cafe in Exhibition Park, which was shut down by Newcastle City Council earlier this year after it said it was losing money. There was a public backlash against the site's closure, with concerns about the loss of food, drink and toilet facilities in the park.
The Ouseburn-based business, which also has branches in Tynemouth and at Sunderland's Sheepfolds Stables, said the well-visited park had "huge potential, with the right offer and operation".
The deal is yet to be finalised, but the business has submitted a new licensing application. A public consultation is due to run until 13 July.
The cafe in Paddy Freeman's park was also closed by the council, but the Local Democracy Reporting Service said no new operator has been announced at this stage.
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'Huge potential'
City council bosses said they could not afford to keep the two ventures running and claimed they were "haemorrhaging" cash and costing taxpayers about £200,000 per year to subsidise.
Deep North director Phil King said: "I use the park myself and have long thought that the site has huge potential, with the right offer and operation."
The company's licence application, made under the trading name Bandstand!, is for the sale of alcohol on and off the premises and live music every day until 23:00 BST.
New city council leader, Liberal Democrat Colin Ferguson, said he was "delighted to see the return of cafe and toilet facilities to Exhibition Park and I know officers are working hard to deliver the same in Paddy Freeman's".
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Newcastle City Council
Source: “AOL Money”
