Bringing spice to life, the new Chart House in Newcastle is all set to show off its chic modern look - alongside its rich history - at its official opening on Wednesday.
The new bar-restaurant is the result of a revamp of what used to be Charts - and prior to that Flynn's bar - and is out to showcase the story of the Grade ll-listed building with an imaginative Maritime Spice Route theme. And that theme is reflected in both its interior and its menu where both food and drink boast exotic ingredients.
The building, in its Quayside spot offering customers wonderful views of the Tyne, its bridges and Sage Gateshead opposite, dates from the late 18th Century and used to be home to a map purveyor called Matthew S Dodds who printed charts there for ships voyaging the world. The original Charts name still can be seen on the outside brick wall, above the new sign.
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Inside the venue, which has been designed by London-based O1 Creative whose founder Stephen Richardson is originally from Newcastle, a pastel colour scheme of sea-blues and cream gives it an airy feel. A real map design, typical of the type produced during that period, has been turned into a wallpaper which features in the room where Dodds worked - on the floor below his living quarters - that is now the upper level restaurant.
With this being a protected building, the Chart House revamp has been a sensitive one with original brick walls left untouched. All the artwork adorning them also has either a maritime or a spice theme.
On a tour of the venue, which includes a mezzanine floor, Rhys McKinnel, chief executive officer of Pub Culture, the hospitality group which owns Chart House, explained that - in another nod to the past - the exterior of the building soon will have an awning, over its small pavement seating area.
This had been the subject of planning discussions but was given the go-ahead when they discovered early photos showing an awning in place on the original premises. So, the venue soon will be the only building on the quayside front to have a canopy. "In fact, we're putting back something that was there beforehand," points out Rhys.
After a soft opening, Chart House will launch properly at lunch-time on Wednesday when customers will be able to pop in for drinks ahead of the kitchen opening at 5pm. There head chef Matt Watkins has been busy exploring new spices and taste combinations for a menu which captures the spice route flavours of the old Mediterranean, Arabia and South China Seas route.
After breakfast is served in the morning, his lunch and dinner menus will follow up with a mixed offering of small and large plates including such dishes as seared tiger prawns with feta, spiced tomato and ouzo salad; Ras El Hanout spiced lamb meatballs, with lemon and courgette salad, which is one of Matt's favourites, and Thai spiced seabass served in a banana leaf with a mango and coconut salad.
There is also a children's menu. The wine list features classics ranging from Portugal and Spain to the south of France and Italy, while the spice route inspiration is echoed in the cocktail menu and, in preparation for the opening, assistant manager Cameron Richardson, who is also in charge of the bar, will be making up another batch of home-made syrups and foam - flavoured with the likes of lemon and rose - which are among the ingredients of a bespoke range he has been perfecting.
The cocktails have names such as Valencian Orange Grove, Persian Fizz and Silk Road and Cameron has loved the challenge of creating something new which is his main love. He adds of his well-stocked new bar: "I think of it as my kitchen, working alongside Matt."
Chart House will be open from Wednesdays to Sundays. The bar will serve drinks from noon until 10pm (midnight on Friday and Saturday and until 8pm Sunday) and food will be served 5pm-9pm on Wednesday; noon until 9pm from Thursday to Saturday and from noon until 6pm on Sunday. To book a table at Chart House see here.
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