The Waterline on the quayside in Newcastle has reopened as a stylish bar restaurant called The Jolly Fisherman on the Quay following a £700k investment by Star Pubs & Bars and local pub restaurant operator David Whitehead.
A former bonded warehouse, The Jolly Fisherman on the Quay now features a spacious contemporary bar with booth and freestanding seating on the ground floor opening out onto a new terrace with tables and chairs for alfresco eating and drinking, making the most of its quayside setting.
Upstairs is a new restaurant with an outside terrace with full-length foldaway glass doors to maximise the view and bring the outside in during warmer months. Two kitchens have been installed to cater for the different offers and increased focus on food.
The style is modern urban with vintage tiles and wooden floors and design touches such as fishing rope, bleached drift wood and marine lighting incorporated throughout.
As a result of the refurbishment the number of covers have doubled. It now has 224 inside and 40 outside.
David who runs the renowned Jolly Fisherman in Craster and the Plough Hotel in Alnwick has brought across the best elements of the Fisherman at Craster menu – the famous whisky crab soup, crab sandwich, fish boards, oysters and langoustines, all of which are locally caught. He’s also taken on Adam Hegarty as head chef.
The Jolly Fisherman is open from 9am for early morning coffees, teas and pastries/snacks. Drinks include premium beers such as Bier Moretti, Heineken Served Extra Cold, and craft ales, as well as a selection of ciders, and a wide range of wines, cocktails and branded spirits including over 15 different gins and 15 different single malts.
David said of The Waterline: “There has been a real gap in the market for a top quality casual bar restaurant in Newcastle serving fresh fish. This combined with the location of the Jolly Fisherman on the Quay and the success we’ve had in Craster, lead me to believe the pub restaurant will be well received in Newcastle.
“Views and atmosphere are very important to the success of our ventures. I am passionate about creating a venue with a cosy, welcoming and relaxed feel. I want people to come to The Jolly Fisherman on the Quay and not want to venture anywhere else. Here they’ll get fabulous views, good quality food, drink and service and importantly a great atmosphere.”
Lawson Mountstevens added: “It’s great news for Newcastle and for Star Pubs & Bars to have a professional of David’s standing take on such an iconic site as the Waterline. The location is superb, but with new bars and restaurants opening up on the quayside, investment was needed to ensure the pub kept pace with customers changing needs and the increased competition. We’re delighted to have co-invested with David to improve the pub, securing it for the long-term. I am sure, like David’s other ventures, the Jolly Fisherman on the Quay will be a great success.”