A popular Indian street food business has found a new home after it was given notice on its previous location in October.
Thali Tray, which was based in Arch 2 Brewpub in Ouseburn, has relocated to the second floor of Bealim House on Newcastle's Gallowgate with an 80-seat restaurant and will open on Saturday December 17 at 12pm. The building is a former printworks and is home to the city's first and currently only working gin distillery, and Thali Tray's owner Josh Roberts is already considering how gin and cocktail pairings will work with the street food vendor's menu.
The restaurant built up quite a following in its time in one of the world's coolest neighbourhoods, thanks to its two curry and nan or puri dishes with a selection of pickles and sides. The quirky setting helped too, with fire pits keeping customers warm even on the coldest nights under Byker Bridge.
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The move to a permanent indoor location on the second floor means that the fire pits will be no more, though the food is going to be much the same. Owner Josh Roberts said: "We're absolutely over the moon about the new venue and we feel like it's a great new home for Thali Tray.
"It's going to be the same food that people came to know and love and we're going to have quite a few familiar faces back from the old team. We're really excited to get the gang back together!"
And Josh can't wait to get opened up again, with bookings already being made for Thali Tray's return on Saturday December 17. He said: "We've been blown away by all of the support that we've received on social media during our final services at Arch 2.
"We've been blown away by the reaction to our new premises so we're really excited to share it with them and we can't wait to see everyone back. And since our new permanent home in Bealim House is also the home of the Newcastle Gin Company, I can see some really cool gin pairings going on with Thali Tray's food - I can't wait!"
Ollie Vaulkhard, director of Vauklhard Group, said: "Thali Tray is a very, very good brand from our local area. Josh and I have worked together for a number of years and Josh's mum was one of my first customers at the Quilted Camel many years ago.
"The stars have aligned and I think he really adds something very, very strong to Bealim House. We have a lovely bar, nice gin, good food, in a sense it's a venue doing multiple things and we're going to move Central Bean in there next year.
"It's going to be a multi-use venue doing lots of things with lots of people. It'll be lovely."
Arch 2 Brewpub, the Ouseburn location that formerly hosted Thali Tray, has replaced the vendor with Wingin' It, which serves deep fried chicken wings, burgers and loaded fries. For more information about Bealim House and Thali Tray or to make a booking, visit the Bealim House website or go straight to Thali Tray's.
Are you planning to visit Thali Tray in its new location? Let us know!
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