Plaza: A New Bar and Kitchen Coming to Tynemouth's Grand Parade

A familiar name is coming back to the Grand Parade. Plaza, a new bar, kitchen and garden at the Palace Buildings, is due to open this month with views across Longsands and out to the North Sea.

Who is behind it

Plaza comes from Joe and Ollie Brack, the Newcastle brothers behind Brack Burger, who already run Surfers next door. According to High Life North, it will serve drinks, cocktails and what the team calls a new style of menu, with an evening view out over the sea.

Joe Brack has described the venue as an intimate bar and kitchen with a side garden. It will sit alongside a second site for Eatflix, the brothers' 5D "eat-along" cinema, which is also coming to the Palace Buildings. Speaking to ChronicleLive (as reported by Brit Brief), he said both would be "ready on the coast in time for Christmas".

Why the name matters

For many Tynemouth residents, "Plaza" still means the huge glass-roofed pleasure palace that stood on the Grand Parade from 1878 until it was destroyed by fire on 10 February 1996. It began life as an aquarium and winter garden and later housed a ballroom, theatre and amusements. The new venue borrows the name as a nod to that history rather than recreating the building. You can read more about the original in our piece on the lost buildings of Tynemouth.

What we don't know yet

High Life North lists the opening as November, but no exact date, opening hours or menu has been published yet. Plaza has launched an Instagram account, which is the best place to watch for the opening date. We will update this post once it is confirmed.

In the meantime, our guide to Christmas in Tynemouth covers what else is happening on the coast this winter.