A popular Northumberland restaurant has closed it doors to prepare for a grand reopening as a new “big name” concept.
Tomahawk Steakhouse officially opened its doors in the former home of Catch Seafood restaurant near Ponteland, previously the Waggon Inn, in 2019 – its third in the region at the time – serving up its popular Tomahawk steaks, Himalayan salt dry-aged beef and Yorkshire wagyu.
Since then the company has expanded rapidly, operating restaurants under the brands Tomahawk Steakhouse, Pollo by Tomahawk and Rio Brazilian, in key towns and cities including Yarm, Saltburn, Warrington, Acklam Hall, Nottingham, Darlington and most recently in Morpeth.
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Now the success of its newest location so close to Ponteland has triggered the temporary closure ahead of a new brand’s unveiling.
Owner Howard Eggleston said: “It is a positive story as we have recently opened a new site up in Morpeth just a few miles away and this was always in the plan to close Ponteland just after this new opening. We are overwhelmed by the lovely response we have had from the people of Morpeth and been very busy since opening with it performing as our second highest performing venue so a fantastic response.
“However for Ponteland - we’ve got a really exciting new brand partner coming to replace Tomahawk. We are still in final talks for agreeing the finer points and are super excited and looking forward to bringing such a huge name to the area - we can’t say any more at this time but it’s definitely a ‘watch this space’.”
Earlier this year, Mr Eggleston closed his Tomahawk Steakhouse in Chester to convert it to a Rio Brazilian, which will reopen later this month. The group currently has 18 restaurants with two Rio Brazilians set to open in Sunderland and York to open this year.
The company recently explored the possibility of opening its own training school to aid the hospitality sector’s recruitment crisis, while also having discussions with investors amid ambitious growth plans. At the time, the firm revealed it was in talks with a number of private equity firms, which could help it take its portfolio to more than 50 sites.
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