A day in Heaton
Heaton is an area of Newcastle often remarked as the sweet spot of the city. It is home to a variety of quirky businesses and pretty landscapes for you to explore. Hop off the Metro at Chillingham Road, and Heaton is instantly your oyster.
To plan a perfect day in Heaton, you have to start with a morning coffee at Roma. A 10-minute walk from Chillingham Road Metro station, Roma serves up speciality coffees from local roaster Pink Lane, as well as a rotating guest espresso to choose from. The interior of Roma is calm and simplistic with burgundy tiling and warm lights, the perfect way to start your morning. If the sun is in your favour, you can also try to snatch up the bench outside and begin the day with some extra Vitamin D.
Following on from your coffee, take a 60-yard walk to Smoke and Sear, to experience one of the best brunches in Newcastle. The restaurant started out as a food trailer before moving to its permanent location on Heaton Road. Although their specialty lies in their steak and eggs, an unmissable option has to also be their Croffles. A Croffle is a croissant dough pressed in a waffle iron, described as fluffy and buttery. Smoke and Sear have seasonal toppings loaded onto this dish, with regular changes to keep you coming back for more. It is recommended to book as this is a popular spot, it is cosy and rustic, a true hidden gem that has been uncovered.
After breakfast, you can spend the rest of the morning and early afternoon, wandering through the area, exploring the variety of independent shops that Heaton has to offer. Head over to Bolingbroke road to discover 1b Books. 1b Books, opened in December 2023, have a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction titles with a focus on queer books and translated fiction. The perfect spot to pick up some new books from an independent store.
Continuing on with the independent theme, head across to Flea Circus, for a treasure trove of second-hand goods. This store is an Aladdin’s cave, brimming with interiors, clothes and vintage antiques. There is over 60 regional indie sellers and makers featured in the store, making it the perfect place to support the local area.
After all that shopping, you may fancy a spot of lunch. Dot Bagels has to be the ticket. Think New-York bagels with a North-East infusion. Located directly on Chillingham Road, Dot Bagels are all handmade daily in their Heaton shop. With the best names in town, the menu selection, is so difficult to choose from. Whether its “Salt on Chilli RD” or “Frida Bagel-Oh” , there is something for everyone. If you're still pretty full from brunch, their “pops” range are a perfect snack, especially the pizza pops!
After all that savoury, sweet should surely follow? Well, Lily Tree bakery will fill that extra corner. Lily Tree is proudly fully gluten, soy and nut free, but don’t let this put you off if you don’t have those allergies, as they specialise in crafting the best bakes that you wouldn’t even notice the difference. The menu is often changing, however if you are lucky, you must try their filled muffins or cake pops for that afternoon pick-me-up.
Take your sweet treat with you, over to Heaton Park; a stunning green space with a network of footpaths to explore. In the park there are two play areas, a dog park and a stunning refurbished Victorian pavilion and terrace. The terrace is the perfect spot on a sunny day with views across the park. See if you can spot the ‘Shoe Tree’ in the park and count how many shoes there are!
After all that food and strolling, head onto the People’s Theatre for an early-evening showing of one of their amazing productions. You’ll often find local workshops held here too so be sure to check their events calendar so you can get involved!
Following on from the theatre, the evening will start creeping in, at this point you could stop off at Elder Beer Café. This beer café is one of Heaton’s most favoured establishments, it is a hip bar with craft beers and a beer garden that a pint is begging to be drank in.
If you are already ready for dinner, miss the pre-drink and head straight to Flint Pizza, a small intimate pizzeria, where you can watch your dinner be made right in front of you. Flint Pizza use the finest sourdough and local ingredients to craft a crust so good you feel transported to Naples. Pair dinner with any of their wines and enjoy the lively atmosphere.
Once you have had your pizza, walk 10 minutes down the road back to Chillingham Metro station where you can hop back on the yellow line, knowing you have truly conquered Heaton and its top spots.