Music star memorabilia and a specially-created Newcastle burger are on the menu at the new Hard Rock Cafe at Newcastle Quayside’s historic Guildhall.
Sited across two floors of the Grade I listed building, the restaurant can take up to 180 covers – and a highlight of the menu is undoubtedly the steak burgers for which Hard Rock is famous.
That includes the original fresh Black Angus steak burger, with smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, crispy onion ring, leaf lettuce and vine-ripened tomato, served with Hard Rock signature steak sauce.
Salads come with steak, grilled chicken or California-style cobb – chicken with roasted corn, black beans and Monterey Jack cheese, while sandwiches include barbecue pulled pork, grilled chicken or the Classic Club, all served with seasoned or cheese fries.
And the highlight of the menu is a completely unique addition in the form of the black and white Whey Aye Burger, one of the Hard Rock local legendary burgers which has been designed specifically for the first North East restaurant.
The burger comes with Northumberland cheese, Newcastle Brown Ale onion compote, horseradish cream with a spring onion, cheddar cheese and pease pudding beignet – served in a toasted charcoal and sesame seed bun.
Along with a selection of bottled beers and wines, there will be a range of ‘boozy milkshakes’ and signature cocktails including Hurricane – a 1940s New Orleans classic comprised of Bacardi Superior Rum, a blend of orange, mango, pineapple juice and grenadine, finished with a float of Captain Morgan Dark Rum and Amaretto.
In true Hard Rock fashion, diners will be seated alongside glass cabinets filled with fascinating rock and roll memorabilia memorabilia – with items from Sting, Bryan Ferry and Mark Knopfler – and, for those keen to snap up a memento of their visit, there will be a Hard Rock – Rock Shop selling themed merchandise.
“Opening Hard Rock Cafe Newcastle during 2021 has been a huge challenge for our partners, and we feel extremely proud to finally be able to announce the opening of this iconic cafe in the beautiful city of Newcastle,” said Anibal Fernandez, Vice President of Franchise Operations, Hard Rock International.
The sought-after franchise was secured by North East healthcare entrepreneurs David and Penny Tilly, with the support of NGI and NE1.
“It’s been quite a rocky road what with the obstacles that inevitably come with listed buildings and, of course, a global pandemic,” she said.
“But Hard Rock has been incredibly supportive. As everyone knows, their standards are incredibly high, but they’ve backed us to the hilt.
“We really hope people are blown away – and it’s a great coup for the city to have the first ever Hard Rock Cafe in the North East of England.”
For further information visit www.hardrockcafe.com
