Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
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End of a Newcastle institution

Posted by Brian on 21/10/2026, 7:01 pm

Its been announced that Mark Toneys have closed down. The cafes in Grainger St and Percy St as well as the stand in the Grainger Market have served generations of families with frothy coffee. Knickerbocker Glories and French salad sandwiches amongst other things. The direct descendants sold it on to a distant relative in 2022. We were in a couple of weeks back and it was almost empty and to be honest the sandwiches we got were very poor value for money so it seems the writing had been on the wall for a while.

Re: End of a Newcastle institution

Posted by Liz Dance on 21/10/2026, 7:10 pm, in reply to "End of a Newcastle institution "

Oh that’s such a pity, it was a family name, a go to place when I was a kid.

Re: End of a Newcastle institution

Posted by Maria on 21/10/2026, 7:22 pm, in reply to "Re: End of a Newcastle institution "

Always went over the years.I think one of the owners had died a few years ago .last time I was in a couple years ago the coffee was awful complained she did apologise and said the girl had just started who had made it.That was Percy st I was with my cousin can't remember what we had to eat not good we both said to each other won't be going again .

Re: End of a Newcastle institution

Posted by Brian on 21/10/2026, 7:23 pm, in reply to "Re: End of a Newcastle institution "

I don't think you were the only one who made that decision.

Re: End of a Newcastle institution (Brian)

Posted by Stan Wears on 22/10/2026, 8:31 am, in reply to "Re: End of a Newcastle institution "

Sad news. Can you tell me Brian, was that once Dickens Tea Rooms before it was Mark Toney's. I remember going to the Palace theatre around 1956 for the pantomime and we went to Dickens Tea Rooms with waitresses dressed in black and white. I still remember the cutlery being Kings pattern which looked posh!

Re: End of a Newcastle institution (Brian)

Posted by Brian on 22/10/2026, 4:31 pm, in reply to "Re: End of a Newcastle institution (Brian)"

Hi Stan, the Mark Toneys on Percy street opened its doors in the mid 1930s. Tge Grainger street parlour opened in the early 1960s. I wonder if you were at what is now the City Tavern on Northumberland Road which was a cafe in the 1950s with a number of names including the cottage before becoming Carricks. Both had waitresses in the black and white. I cannot find a Dickens Tea rooms listing for Newcastle so far on Percy Street.

Re: End of a Newcastle institution (Brian)

Posted by Maria on 22/10/2026, 5:05 pm, in reply to "Re: End of a Newcastle institution (Brian)"

Found Dickens cafe was at 47 grey st 1930 till 1970s wore what you described the waitresses.

Re: End of a Newcastle institution (Brian)

Posted by Maria on 22/10/2026, 5:25 pm, in reply to "Re: End of a Newcastle institution (Brian)"

Sorry should have put tea rooms opened 1935 people going to theatre etc Carrick's came later in the 70 s.

Re: End of a Newcastle institution (Brian)

Posted by Brian on 22/10/2026, 5:46 pm, in reply to "Re: End of a Newcastle institution (Brian)"

Carricks came along in late 1950s and became the City tavern as we went into the 1970s. The building was originally a dairy and stables.

Re: End of a Newcastle institution (Brian)

Posted by Brian on 22/10/2026, 5:50 pm, in reply to "Re: End of a Newcastle institution (Brian)"

Although the cafe was owned by Carricks it went by the name of Tilleys from 1962 til 1971 when it became the City Tavern