Tired of sticky floors, acidic trebles and clubs that are fragranced with the lingering smell of sick? Then get yourself down to The Great British Cupcakery for a spot of afternoon tea, a white washed haven of sugar and spice and all things very, very nice.
Nestled amongst the winding banks of the River Tyne lies this hidden cake lovers paradise. Situated on 15 Queen Street, The Great British Cupcakery is home to (arguably) the best cakes in Newcastle, tempting even the most committed calorie counters into a heaven of chocolate filled goodness. Brimming with scones, sandwiches, cakes and its now toon- famous mighty milkshakes, the parlour is perfect for those with a sharp sweet tooth and the ideal setting for a catch up with the girls for a Valencia- filtered #lunchdate or somewhere to wind down during exam period over a quick bite to eat.
“Was I disappointed as I took my first sip of this pint of milk and chocolate loveliness? The answer is a resounding no.”
I’ve done Quay Ingredient. I’ve exhausted Olive and Bean. Semester one had seen me practically live in Quilliam’s. So after hearing raving reviews from many of my friends and course mates alike, I decided to take the plunge and was interested to see whether this den of baked goodness did in fact truly live up to the hype.
Arriving on a Saturday at the peak of midday, the cosy and quaint setting was a welcoming sight from the cold harsh wind. Decorated with fairy lights, pink gingham buntings and Victorian- esque cake stands, the parlour is perfect for Bake off fans and all round food enthusiasts who, tired of commercialised Starbucks and Costas, are wanting to try something just that little bit different.
Reasonably priced with enough choice to satisfy even the pickiest of taste buds, I settled on ordering the smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich before feasting my eyes on the milkshake menu. Overwhelmed with choice, I was tempted by the salted caramel flavour but instead played it safe and stuck to what I knew best; cookies and cream.
First arrived my sandwich. Generous in portion size, it was accompanied by crisps and garnished with a side portion of salad. As a hearty eater, I was very much satisfied by this and looked forward in anticipation to the remainder of my meal. Was I disappointed as I took my first sip of this pint of milk and chocolate loveliness? The answer is a resounding no. Filled to the brim with whipped cream and laced with milk and white chocolate, this mother of all milkshakes is topped off with two warm and gooey chocolate cookies and vanilla ice cream. Heaven in a cup. Literally.
The only downside to my Cupcakery experience is that we had to wait around 25 minutes for a seat, something that can prove testing when surrounded by appetising display cakes and the saliva-inducing smell of freshly baked goods. However this slight grievance melted away as we sipped our milkshakes overlooking our view of the Tyne bridge and can be easily avoided by visiting on a quieter day other than a Saturday.
So alas, join the bandwagon and visit The Great British Cupcakery- your waistline might regret it, but I promise you won’t.
15 Queen Street, Quayside, Newcastle, NE1 3UG
