Northern Rye

Since opening by a tributary of the Tyne in 2020, this little bakeshop in the bohemian enclave of Ouseburn has created quite a stir among the city’s cognoscenti. Behind the counter, energetic black-clad staff construct imaginative sandwiches such as roasted aubergine with chimichurri and curtido (fermented vegetables) or ham and pease-pudding rolls. What makes these a class apart is the superb bread, from cruncy-crusted baguettes to best-in-class olive and rosemary focaccia. Among the sweet stuff, the slightly salty, buttery chocolate-chip cookie is worth every calorie. Laptop-tapping regulars sit on the few stools inside, sipping tasty mochas, while others eat outside by the river. There are also outlets in North Shields: a ‘stunningly good’ bakehouse, a coffee shop, and the bakery itself.