The Nook, a popular shopping area in South Shields, has welcomed three new culinary gems.
The Olive Tree, The Old Bank Pizza Co and Mio’s are all bringing new dining experiences to the area.
The Olive Tree, a newly established Italian restaurant and bar situated on Sunderland Road, welcomed its first customers in July, presenting a diverse array of Italian flavours, from steaks to pizzas, pastas, burgers, risottos, and a fantastic selection of seafood.
The transformation of the venue by owner Ilhan Ekinci and partner Jeanette Amess has seen the building, which was previously an empty shell, transform into an inviting restaurant adorned with greenery themed décor, a new bar, beautiful tables and booths and authentic lighting.
It also boasts a well-stocked bar, serving classic cocktails like Mojitos, Aperol Spritz, Espresso Martini, Limencello Spritz, Negroni and more.
Ilhan Ekinci, owner of The Olive Tree 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.”
The Old Bank Pizza Co. has transformed the former Barclays Bank site into a vibrant pizza parlour, with a menu comprising hand-stretched pizzas, starters, salads, desserts, and a curated selection of drinks.
With an emphasis on quality, the team at The Old Bank Pizza Co. make their own dough which is proofed for 24 hours and use the highest quality ingredients such as San Marzano tomato and fior di latte cheese.
Additionally, the restaurant’s open kitchen concept offers a glimpse for diners to see their pizzas being hand stretched and cooked in a fantastic wood fire pizza oven that was 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.
“We started with our traditional hand stretched pizzas but have gradually grown our menu in keeping with what local diners would like to see. We expanded the menu to serve pasta and the feedback has been excellent. We also serve small plates and sandwiches until 3pm.
“We really appreciate the warm welcome from the local community, it’s been really inspiring for us at The Old Bank Pizza. It’s good to know that we have been viewed as a positive addition to the area.”
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, owned by Kathryn and Kieran Savage, now offers a redesigned space with an evening menu featuring tapas, hanging kebabs, flatbreads, and an extensive selection of cocktails and wines.
Kieran Savage, co-owner of Mio’s said:
“We opened in 2012 providing Italian coffee, pastries, and light bites. After the pandemic, we noticed a complete change in the market and people’s priorities had changed. So, we took the opportunity to refurbish and adapt with the times.
“We applied for a late licence, extended our kitchen, refurbished the full shop, installed a bar with draught lager, cider and IPA and increased our function room size.
“We rebranded ourselves to Mio’s with the slogan coffee by day, cocktails by night. As we aren’t just a coffee shop anymore, we offer a lot of different things from a cup of coffee to a glass of wine, live music, and private functions.
“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.”
