A bag of locally-roasted North Shore Coffee Co. coffee beans can bring Newcastle’s diverse food and drink scene into your loved one’s daily routine. Visit their cafe, Neighbourhood Coffee in Heaton (or, soon, on St. Mary’s Terrace), where you can pick up a range of accessories. For espresso drinkers, vacuum-sealed storage pots keep beans fresh, or for people looking to elevate their daily instant coffee, you can get drip coffee makers and moka pots.
Alternatively, Ouseburn Coffee Company can be found on St George’s Terrace in Jesmond, in Fenwick’s Food Hall, and at Tynemouth Market every weekend. If you have a bigger budget, their Artisan Box gives a selection of four coffee blends, for four purposes, including for both espresso and filter coffee, with a single origin option as well as blends.
If they like to get their coffee out, a gift card for one of Newcastle’s many independent coffee shops would be perfect. If they don’t already have one, a reusable coffee cup would go perfectly with this!
For kitchenware collectors
If your friend has a Pinterest board of cottage kitchens, beautiful crockery, and aesthetically-plated meals, a hand-selected piece would be a personal and lasting gift. You might find a small business on social media or Etsy; while stores like TK Maxx also often stock higher-end brands at smaller prices, including sought-after Le Creuset, there will be much more unique pieces at Tynemouth Market, Flea Circus, or even scattered around charity shops.
A gift like this can easily be paired with an elevated staple - you might find a salt pig and fill it with smoked, chilli, or garlic Maldon Salt, or you could pick up a butter dish along with some Acorn salted butter from Ernie’s deli in Ouseburn. Ernie also stock a variety of products from Yorkshire’s Shepherds Purse cheesemaker, which could be gifted alongside a wooden serving board or set of cheese knives. Unique wines, tinned fish, and oils can be found nearby, as Ooze and Cook House leave nothing to be desired.
For chefs
Recipe books are a great gift, especially if you find a niche you know your recipient will love; whether that be a book specialising in a certain cuisine or an introduction to different skills, there’s an expert guide for every chef. A few crowd-pleasing suggestions: The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan can be found new or secondhand, and is a staple in many households for a reason. If you know someone who loves cooking Italian food (and often makes more than pesto pasta), this cookbook covers food from across the country. NOSH For Students is an amazing all-rounder for flatmates who order in, as it includes access to an app that compiles favourited recipes into a shopping list.
If you know someone who loves cooking Italian food (and often makes more than pesto pasta), this cookbook covers food from across the country.
For your favourite chef, a recipe diary is a gift that will help them preserve their perfected recipes; they can be found online from just under £10. This gift shows a genuine appreciation for their cooking as well as an intimate knowledge of their interests.
For sweet-toothed friends
There are so many ways to support locally-owned, Newcastle-based businesses. The Canny Chocolate Company are based in South Shields; they sell boxes of handmade chocolates, truffles, adventurously coated fruits and nuts, and hot chocolate flakes, both online and in-store, with plenty of options under £10. Northern Rye consistently impress with their sweet treats, and now offer three shortbread selection boxes. Finally, you can treat them every day by buying them a gift card for somewhere like Pink Lane Bakery or Deep North, both having multiple locations to visit and a range of donuts or pastries and cakes they can choose from themselves.
For mixologists
Giving the gift of vodka can feel impersonal - there are politer ways to gift someone known best for their performance on socials. To elevate a bottle of wine at pres, you can find distinctive corkscrews and vintage glassware (see The Find and Bibleot Nook); a poster or book of cocktail recipes will help bring a bottle of spirit to life; even no-fuss beer drinkers would prize a unique bottle opener.
If they host drinks regularly, picking up a unique set of cards, a big pack of Uno, or a simple board game will ensure you choose a gift that is well-loved and well-used.