
Cafe Under The Spire
Quick info
About Cafe Under The Spire
Cafe Under The Spire is a bar and grill in Gateshead on Derwentwater Rd, housed in a church and run as an art cafe by day before turning into a Bangladeshi street food restaurant in the evening. Fabrics, paintings and mirror balls decorate the building, and local artwork and mosaics line the walls, with some pieces available to buy. Craft areas let visitors make crafts of their own. The menu includes the Spire Special Toastie with onion chutney, and Sunday dinners and a Sunday roast are on offer, with a live band playing that day. Orders are placed at the counter. The doors are open Tuesday to Sunday and closed Mondays.
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast, spire special toastie, gluten free options and bangladeshi night menu.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast, spire special toastie, gluten free options and bangladeshi night menu.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the art-filled interior, described as cosy, quirky, whimsical and bohemian, with local artwork and mosaics on the walls, mirror balls, and a church setting. Food comes close behind: the Spire Special Toastie with onion chutney, a hot lamb sandwich with loads of meat and so many chips, a meat pie, salmon, and Sunday dinners called delicious and very big, with a live band on one Sunday. In the evening the menu turns Bangladeshi, which one diner calls phenomenal. Staff are mostly described as friendly. The complaints are about service and extras. One reviewer waited almost 15 minutes for two coffees and two cakes with a single person working the counter, and the same reviewer found the outside tables beside the bins, with locals drinking their own alcohol near the gate. Another found the salad not fresh, with soggy onions. One diner says the menu promises gluten free meals, yet a server could not promise a fully gluten free dish, though a different reviewer praises the gluten free options.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the art-filled interior, described as cosy, quirky, whimsical and bohemian, with local artwork and mosaics on the walls, mirror balls, and a church setting. Food comes close behind: the Spire Special Toastie with onion chutney, a hot lamb sandwich with loads of meat and so many chips, a meat pie, salmon, and Sunday dinners called delicious and very big, with a live band on one Sunday. In the evening the menu turns Bangladeshi, which one diner calls phenomenal. Staff are mostly described as friendly. The complaints are about service and extras. One reviewer waited almost 15 minutes for two coffees and two cakes with a single person working the counter, and the same reviewer found the outside tables beside the bins, with locals drinking their own alcohol near the gate. Another found the salad not fresh, with soggy onions. One diner says the menu promises gluten free meals, yet a server could not promise a fully gluten free dish, though a different reviewer praises the gluten free options.
Featured reviews
- Harvey
“This was my first time visiting, and it certainly won't be my last. As soon as you walk in, you're met by a cosy, whimsical interior with local artwork hung on the walls. The staff who greeted us and took our order were polite and friendly. The pot of tea we ordered was massive considering how much we paid for it—excellent value for money. Although the food took a little while to arrive, the staff made us aware of this when we ordered, and in the end it didn't take as long as expected. When the food did arrive, it was superb. The Spire Special Toastie was phenomenal, and the onion chutney was a particular highlight. The main dining area was clean and well presented. The mosaics hung on the walls looked stunning and created a gorgeous ambience, made even better by the fact that you could buy them to take home. The staff continued to check in on us throughout our visit and even thanked us as we left. The prices were very reasonable given the portion sizes, and the quality of the food was fantastic. I would absolutely recommend a visit if you want good food, friendly staff, and a charming atmosphere. I will 100% be visiting again soon.”
- Rebecca Winter
“We dropped in for a quick something on a sunny day as we were attracted by the tables outside. We had been previously some years before and that was pleasant enough, but times appear to have changed. We decided on 2 coffees and a couple of cakes; despite the fact there were only 2 people in the queue in front of us, it took almost 15 minutes to get served. In between serving customers wishing to order, the staff member was serving drinks at the other counter. At busy times, it would be been better to have 2 members on. This said, our order was not delivered that quickly because- as I say - people kept coming to the counter for drinks or queries. We sat outside to the right near to the wall and realised within a short amount of time that this was a mistake- the bins are around the corner and staff are back and forth putting waste into them. This is not the worst of it - the worst is provided by those locals who like to meet up near the gate with their own alcohol and then hang around inside the venue to add extra colour. Lovely. The staff appeared to know them and passed a few words - unfortunately, none of those words being ‘move on’. My advice? Stay inside. The coffee and food were fine, bar the slow service due to under staffing. But al fresco? Nah.”
- Bee Kate
“Lovely setting with a beautiful bohemian vibe but despite there being messages on the menu stating 'we cater for gluten free for meals if you let us know' (or something to that effect) they don't. My friend is gluten free and when she asked about meal options she was told by the server that they couldn't promise it would be fully gluten free, why have that on menu then? Bit misleading. Parking is an absolute joke as well no wonder the place was quiet with those charges!”
- Helen Wilson
“It was very quiet while I was there but my visit fell between lunch and dinner on a sunny Saturday. I had seen several people at the outside tables though. Although ny first choice, borscht, was unavailable, the meat pie was good. Rather than chips, I opted for a green salad which came dressed with balsamic vinegar. The cider was neither too dry nor too sweet, and the staff were welcoming and chatty. The cafe is in a church and has been decorated with fabrics, paintings, and mirror balls to give a cosy, eclectic vibe.”
- Kaz Bialobrzeski
“Great service and atmosphere. Good coffee Sunday roast looked decent too! Wish I tried it”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Quirky art cafe during the day and transforms into a Bangladeshi Street food restaurant in the evening.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible car park · Wheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Location
Bar & grills near Cafe Under The Spire
- Cog and Wheel4.65021.9 mi
roast dinner, morning cloud matcha pop-up, chips with cog dust
- Monkseaton Arms4.38218.5 mi away
wheelchair accessibility, fish and chips, happy hour pints
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Under The Spire | 4.4453 | — | sunday roast, spire special toastie, gluten free options |
| Cog and Wheel | 4.6502 | 1.9 mi | roast dinner, morning cloud matcha pop-up, chips with cog dust |
| Monkseaton Arms | 4.3821 | 8.5 mi away | wheelchair accessibility, fish and chips, happy hour pints |
The 2 nearest bar & grills by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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