With an arty ethic and live music upstairs, The Side is an independently spirited enterprise.

The Venue
With its yellow window frame exterior, The Side Cafe Bar is part of the Amber cinema complex, although run as a separate business. It’s also changed ownership recently, passing into the hands of Josephine and Gemma who are in the throes of revamping the place while preserving its arty, alternative credentials.

Understated and shabby chic, the cafe has a lived-in feel. Its high black wooden stools propped up against the window ledges give views of the imperious Tyne Bridge. There’s ambient music in the background, pale floorboards and flowers and plants on the sills. The ceiling is white and decorated and the counter is on the right with the glass displaying cakes and other goodies.

Upstairs is a lounge which hosts live music and looks like someone’s living room with its orange walls plastered with 1920s film posters. It has a real wood floor and gold-framed mirrors, including one in one of the arched windows. Overall, it looks like a colony of artists has been encamped here for a good few months.

The People
It's an artistic cafe that supports artists and musicians so, as you'd expect, most people who come here are of a creative bent. It hosts regular live music events and there's always a bit of a buzz about the place. In the morning this is the perfect place to come if you have a hangover. Your bleary eyed appearance won't be judged (you may even get a sympathetic look), there's comfy seats, soft music and they serve up tasty, filling food. And if it's the evening, they'll help you get to work on that hangover.

The Food and Drink
Breakfasts here include a full English at £5.25, or smoked salmon and scrambled eggs with roasted tomatoes and green beans in mustard, lemon and honey. The eggs are soft and fluffy and the dressing gives the dish a tangy kick. There are French crepes too with a choice of toppings (honey and better or homemade marmalade are the favourites). Or else muesli and yoghurt for the uber-health conscious.

For lunch sandwiches and bagels cost around £4 (Parma ham and roasted peppers for £4.10 or £3.50 to take out and a ratatouille wrap is £3.50). Or you could get a Mediterranean platter of cold meats and cheeses for £6.50, which is great to share. There’s a specials board too. There’s Amstel on tap and upstairs they also have Baltika, Peroni, Corona, Stella, Asahi, Kopparberg in bottles. Wine is £2.80 a glass and £12 a bottle and there are all the types of coffees with flavoured syrups if it takes your fancy.

The Final Word
A bastion of artistic independence, changes are afoot, although they seem to be relatively cosmetic. Watch this space.

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