Cafés and pubs noted for having good views of the Tyne usually put Newcastle's landmark bridges in their visitors' eyelines.
Ouseburn's Free Trade Inn has been highlighted in the national press for that very reason recently, while many while away hours admiring the Quayside from By The River Brew under the Tyne Bridge. However, there's one café a little further down river from which you can't see the Tyne, Millennium or Swing Bridges.
Instead, it offers a much more tranquil vista from its position, tucked away behind the bascule bridge at St. Peter's Marina in Byker. La Verne Vintage has billed itself as offering 'canny brews with canny views' since it opened during the Covid pandemic.
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That is not just a reference to the collection of picnic tables overlooking the river, but also to their one of a kind coffee that's roasted in Lithuania and only available at La Verne Vintage and Café La Verne in North Shields. The recent heatwave has been kind to the former, with regulars and new guests coming to soak up the sun as temperatures regularly hit the high 20s.
But it's not always like that - manager Paige Walmsley said: "We are completely governed by the sky, if it's raining we're not making a living."
While the warm weather has been welcomed, Paige, from Chester-le-Street, who runs the café with her mam Susan, brother Mark and volunteer Davina Oulthwaite, has had to contend with the wind, thunderstorms and frozen pipes since opening in October 2020. Paige said: "We really rely on our regulars when it's raining who are really dedicated, there are people who live in Chandler's Quay who come out especially because they know no-one else will come out!
"We have even stayed open with frozen pipes and no electricity. We feel an obligation to work because sometimes, our customers only see us during the day - at least that was the case during Covid."
La Verne Vintage opened after Paige's business partner Eli chose the site at St. Peter's Basin. But it's been the Walmsley family who have built up a community, with many continuing to come back long after restrictions were lifted.
Paige continued: "Of course it was an awful thing, but if Covid hadn't happened we probably wouldn't have the dynamic that we do. A lot of people formed friendships during that time because they lived alone, we were often the only people they saw."
One person who found comfort in La Verne Vintage during the pandemic and continues to do so now is Diane Rowell. She said: "It's a wonderful place, it's a safe zone for me. I have anxiety and depression and I know I can come here and not feel anxious, not feel stressed.
"Everyone who comes down is friendly and everyone will speak to everyone else. Also the food is to die for, it's all fresh and the coffee is brilliant!"
But La Verne's success hasn't just brought people in from the local area, they've got fans who travel from far and wide for a little slice of peace and quiet by the river. Paige continued: "We have people coming from north Northumberland quite regularly, we've got some who come from the Isle of Lewis and their next visit is in September.
"We've also got customers in Portugal and a lot of Lithuanian followers as that's where our coffee is roasted. We do have a very niche customer base!"
The café not only sells food and drink from its wooden trailer, but also has two rails of vintage clothes, some of which have been designed by Paige herself. She added: "I really like inspiring and empowering others and a lot of my designs are of chunky women and unique looking people - I've always been really interested in building others up and my t-shirts are just meant to be little pieces of joy."
La Verne Vintage's early "roaring success," as Paige puts it, has been backed up by two awards, and the Walmsleys have a third within their sights. Already named the Best Coffee Shop in the North East and coming in the top three in the England Business Awards, a Good Food Award could follow - if they get enough votes from their customers.
Paige continued: "It was completely surreal, we'd only been open less than a year and we were up against cafes that were really well-established in Jesmond and Gosforth and it was just mental. It would be amazing to win the Good Food award but we haven't really been pushing this one as much because I don't want to be asking our customers to vote for us all the time - we're taking it as a bit of fun, it's nice to be nominated."
To find out more about La Verne Vintage, visit their pages on Facebook and Instagram.
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