Blackfriars Newcastle: 25 Years of Food, History and Hospitality

For 25 years, Blackfriars has been bringing together food, history and hospitality in the heart of Newcastle.

What began in 2001 as a small café occupying little more than what is now the restaurant’s main dining room has grown into one of Newcastle’s best-known historic hospitality destinations.

Today, Blackfriars Newcastle is home to an award-winning restaurant, Medieval Banquet Hall, Cookery School, brewery, Wine Tasting Room, Parlour Bar, meeting and function spaces and Cloister Garden – all set within a remarkable 13th-century former Dominican friary.

But the story of Blackfriars goes back much further than 25 years.

From a medieval friary to a Newcastle restaurant

A 13th-century building with centuries of history

Blackfriars occupies one of the most fascinating historic buildings in Newcastle city centre.

The site dates back to the 13th century, when it was home to Dominican friars. Over the centuries, the building has had many different uses and has survived periods of significant change before eventually becoming the home of the Blackfriars restaurant we know today.

When Andy and Sam Hook took on the business in 2001, they saw the potential in a historic site with plenty of untapped possibilities.

Over the following 25 years, they gradually expanded into neighbouring parts of the complex, creating new spaces and experiences while carefully retaining the character of the original medieval building.

The result is a destination where you can enjoy a meal, take part in a cookery class, attend a medieval banquet, sample locally brewed beer or simply explore a unique piece of Newcastle’s history.

25 years of growing Blackfriars Newcastle

What started as a small café has developed into a diverse hospitality and heritage destination.

Blackfriars now includes:

• Restaurant – an award-winning restaurant celebrating seasonal food and local produce.
• Medieval Banquet Hall – a unique historic space for medieval feasts, celebrations and events.
• Blackfriars Cookery School – offering hands-on cookery classes and food experiences.
• St Dominic’s Brewery – Blackfriars’ own brewery producing beer on site.
• Tasting Room – hosting wine tastings and food and drink events.
• Parlour Bar – a relaxed space for drinks and informal gatherings.
• Meeting and function rooms – historic spaces for meetings, celebrations and private events.
• Cloister Garden – an atmospheric outdoor space within the former friary complex.

Each part of Blackfriars adds another chapter to the story of the building.

Keeping Newcastle’s history alive through food

For Andy and Sam, preserving the building has always been just one part of the Blackfriars story.

Over the years, the team has worked with historians, archaeologists, local partners and regional tourism organisations to find new ways to bring the site’s history to life.

Food has become a particularly important way of doing this.

From medieval banquets and historical talks to cookery classes, food history events and heritage experiences, Blackfriars gives visitors the chance to experience history rather than simply read about it.

The Cookery School also provides an opportunity to explore food from different cultures and periods, connecting modern cooking with the stories, ingredients and techniques that have shaped what we eat today.

It is this combination of Newcastle heritage, food and hospitality that has helped Blackfriars develop its distinctive identity.

25 years of people, not just a building

While the medieval building may be what first catches people’s attention, it is the people who have made Blackfriars what it is today.

Over the past quarter of a century, hundreds of staff members have been part of the Blackfriars story, with some team members having been with the business for more than a decade.

The restaurant has also built a loyal following among local diners, businesses, visitors and groups, while working with suppliers, contractors, historians, tourism organisations and cultural partners along the way.

As Andy Hook puts it:

“Twenty-five years ago, we thought we had taken on a small café. What we actually inherited was 800 years of history and over the last quarter of a century, thousands of people have helped us add another chapter.”

That sense of community has remained central to Blackfriars.

“Buildings are just stone and restaurants are just tables. It is people who make somewhere special. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped Blackfriars not only survive, but thrive.”

Celebrating 25 years at Blackfriars

To mark 25 years at the helm of Blackfriars, Andy and Sam are bringing together some of the people who have been part of the journey.

A private anniversary dinner will be attended by invited guests including North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, representatives from Experience North East England, friends and family, original suppliers and long-standing members of the Blackfriars team.

The celebration is a chance to look back at how far the business has come, while also looking ahead to the next chapter.

What makes Blackfriars unique?

There are plenty of historic places to visit in Newcastle, but few combine heritage, food, hospitality and education in quite the same way.

You can dine inside a former medieval friary, learn to cook in the historic building, enjoy a beer brewed on site, attend a tasting or celebration, or simply spend time in the Cloister Garden.

For local residents, Blackfriars has become part of the fabric of Newcastle. For visitors, it offers a chance to experience a different side of the city – one where centuries-old history and modern hospitality sit side by side.

And while 25 years is a significant milestone, it is only one chapter in a story that began more than eight centuries ago.

Looking ahead to the next chapter

As Blackfriars celebrates its 25th anniversary, the aim remains much the same as it was when Andy and Sam first took on the site: to make the most of this extraordinary building and create experiences that people want to return to.

Andy says:

“Blackfriars has always been a place for the community. We are proud to be the latest custodians of that extraordinary story.”

After 25 years, the story of Blackfriars Newcastle continues – with plenty more chapters still to come.