Restaurant begins new Sunday evening venture

TOP city chef Kenny Atkinson is launching a new dining concept at his Michelin star House of Tides to attract new customers to the restaurant for chill-out Sunday evenings.

- BARBARA HODGSON

The restaurateur, who has spoken about the financial challenges facing the hospitality industry, is finding new ways to keep things interesting for diners and, from this month, ‘After-Hours’ events will be serving up a mix of music, drinks and eighties music vibes.

But at the same time Atkinson is facing more rising costs, this time due to vandalism. House of Tides - his first restaurant, which he opened in a restored former 16th-century merchants’ house on Newcastle quayside in 2014 - was recently targeted by vandals who threw bricks at its windows and damaged roof tiles.

Vandalism is causing thousands of pounds of damage, he said, with repairs proving even more costly due to the building’s listed status.

“It's something we can ill afford,” he added.

Earlier this year, he joined fellow Michelin chef Cal Byerley, of Restaurant Pine in Northumberland, in calling for Government action on soaring tax bills which threaten the future of small hospitality businesses. Other city restaurants have aired similar concerns about industry decline amid rising costs and bills which have caused some local businesses to buckle.