Multi-million pound plan to make By The River Brew a permanent fixture
A redevelopment of Gateshead’s hugely popular By The River Brew into a permanent riverside destination looks set to be approved next week.
The team behind the beloved brewery, taproom, street food hub, and restaurant unveiled plans last year for a multi-million pound transformation of the Quayside site, which sits beneath the Tyne Bridge.
By The River and the much-celebrated Trakol restaurant are both now closed, though the shipping container development’s terrace was reopened temporarily this summer for the Summer On The Southside pop-up, but had become popular fixtures since first opening in 2018.
Councillors could now approve plans next week that would allow for a major revamp of the Hillgate Quay food and drink complex.
A project that will come before Gateshead Council’s planning committee would see the vacant HWKRMRKT shipping container street food market removed and replaced by a new events venue.
The existing café and bike shop building would be reduced in scale and repurposed as a bar, while a new café, bar, and restaurant building will also be erected to replace the existing shipping container brewery and restaurant.
A separate, seasonal bar is also planned close to the Swing Bridge and new bike shop and workshop is also proposed.
A report being put to the planning committee states that the works would “support major regeneration of the Quays” and deliver a “more permanent and diverse mix of cultural, commercial and leisure led uses”.
Recommending that councillors grant approval for the scheme, town planners added: “The proposed design marks a notable improvement from the existing scheme on this site, and more historically, the previous abandoned car park in this location. Prior to that the site served as access to the ‘boat nightclub’ the Tuxedo Princess which was moored under the Bridge deck, highlighting a history of quirky uses in this prominent location. The proposed development would represent an enhancement to the Conservation Area and setting of the Tyne and Swing Bridges, with the sheer dominance of the Tyne Bridge above ensuring that the proposed works would not detract from it.”
A planning application submitted to the council in January describes the vision for Hillgate Quay’s future as “an evolution of this successful temporary development, aiming to create a high quality, city centre destination located below the iconic Tyne Bridge”.
It adds: “Over the last six years the By The River operation has provided successful proof of concept for this type of development on this site, in commercial and operational terms as well as contributing to the vibrancy and cultural offer of Gateshead and the wider region.
“Putting sustainability at its heart, the proposal seeks where possible to repurpose and add to the existing development rather than demolish and build entirely from scratch.”