About Us

On 5th September 2014 we moved into the former Taylor Wimpey sales office following an 8 month roller coaster ride which involved living in a caravan and fitting the café out (on a shoestring budget!) in just 8 weeks!

On 31st October 2014 we were very excited to be able to open to the public. The cafe is always evolving and as new and long-term ideas come to fruition, we continue to be overwhelmed by the level of positivity and generosity from our customers, neighbours, friends and family.

 

We are proud that our café meets the original aims and ethos of Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway’s ‘european’ vision for the estate. They always envisioned a café to be a hub for the community and this is something we will always strive to maintain.

The Staiths Cafe aims to become a destination point for comfort, socialising and relaxation, set within the unique surrounds of the Dunston Staiths. By providing high quality coffee, fresh, honest food, together with basic daily essentials like fresh bread and a range of local produce, The Staiths Cafe can offer its customers a true third place between home and work.

We hope to create a space that will provide a hub for the local community, somewhere to meet friends, read a book or simply get away from the daily stresses of life. Similarly to Wayne and Geraldine we see potential in multi functional spaces, similar to European cafes in Berlin and Amsterdam, we aim to host various cultural activities and events throughout the year.

 

Opened by The North Eastern Railway Company in 1893, Dunston Staiths is believed to be the largest timber structure in Europe. At its height, 5.5m tonnes of coal a year was taken by rail from the Durham coalfields and loaded from the Staiths onto ships waiting on the River Tyne, which transported coal around the British Isles and Internationally. Now, with support from Heritage Lottery; Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust plan to make this iconic structure into a sustainable visitor attraction.

For further information and opening times visit - www.dunstonstaiths.org.uk

Our team is made up of a lovely group of local people who live within the Staiths Southbank housing estate and Gateshead. They will do their best to serve you efficiently - and always with a smile! Our skills and experience cover catering, barista training, hospitality and arts and cultural production and management.
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We welcome well behaved dogs on leads, cyclists and children! We can provide water for your pooch, bike racks for your wheels and mini portions, baby changing facilities and high chairs for your little ones.