A North East restaurateur has told how he has been forced to close his Gateshead venture for good after rising bills and other costs took their toll on the business.
River Beat has welcomed customers for the last eight years, serving up Asian tapas with a twist to regulars and tourists, while also winning a number of awards. Now, however, owner and head chef Andrew Drape, who invested more than £50,000 into transforming Pipewellgate House into River Beat, has announced the closure of the restaurant.
Mr Drape made the closure announcement on social media channels, saying: “It comes with great sadness as well as pride with our journey for the last eight years, but with energy bills and food hikes; the no parking around every inch of our building. We hope everyone who dined/party and laughed with us always remember us. I’d also like to thank all the staff who were part of the adventure.”
Read more: North East offshore group Tekmar extends talks with potential bidder
After the announcement the restaurant was inundated with messages. Mr Drape said: “The response we have had has been amazing - but it won’t feed mouths or put money in the till, and there had to come a cut-off point. Everyone is struggling and people are scared to go out and spend. How can we say to people: ‘I know money is tight and heating bills are going up but can you come out and eat?’”
River Beat, based in the old River Police Station building, has hosted a succession of restaurants over the last two decades, including the South Bank Grill. Before opening in 2015, Mr Drape told of the potential in the site thanks to its amazing views, but he said the months following the easing of Covid restrictions have brought a range of new challenges.
He said: “There have been a number of factors. All around the building are double yellow lines, so there’s nowhere nearby to park. And then Covid hasn’t gone away either. We had cancellations over Christmas, some who had big bookings, and you can’t fill those last minute when everyone already has plans.
“I’m the one and only director, with no backers, so I was in getting into more and more debt. With rising rates, bills, staff costs and food costs you need £10,000 a month before you open the doors. And then there’s all the other costs - pest control, security alarms, accountants. The last pay packets to staff came out of my pocket.
“As much as I love River Beat and the amazing views, and the awards we won and the best staff - I couldn’t ask for better staff - I had to close. When I broke the news to the staff, they were heartbroken.”
While River Beat will now be liquidated, Mr Drape also has another restaurant venture in Sunderland, Buddha Beat, which opened in the former D’Acqua restaurant site in John Street, where he signed a 10-year lease for the Grade II listed basement site.
He said the Sunderland restaurant is reporting profit after just three weeks of trading, welcoming in more than double the number of customers too, in stark contrast to the Gateshead site, which has seen energy bills soar from £800 a month to £4,000. Mr Drape said: “The Sunderland restaurant is going really well, and the support I’ve had from the council, including grants to open, has been brilliant.”
He added that any vouchers redeemed will be valid at Buddha Beat in Sunderland and would be honoured for an extra six months.
READ NEXT
