Flock Cafe and Wine Bar Opens on Park View, Whitley Bay

Park View's run of independent cafes and bars has a new arrival. Flock, a cafe and wine bar from a couple already well known in the Newcastle food scene, has opened at the north end of the street, a short walk from the Whitley Bay seafront. For anyone who lives locally it adds another all-day spot to a strip that has steadily become one of the best places to eat and drink on the coast.

Who is behind it

Flock is run by Sophie and Jon Sibley, the pair behind Assemble in Newcastle's Old Eldon Square and House in Heaton. Jon also founded The Town Mouse near the Haymarket. Bringing that experience out to the coast, they have set up at 203 Park View, NE26 3RD, among the independent cafes and boutiques at the top of the street.

What to expect

The idea is a place that works from morning coffee through to an evening glass of wine. During the day there is coffee and pastries, alongside small plates built around seasonal produce on a regularly changing menu that draws on Slovak dining traditions. The drinks list is where Flock leans into something a little different, with a carefully chosen selection of wines including natural and skin-contact bottles. Sophie has pointed to a skin-contact orange wine from Gogo Wines, a female-led winery in the Kakheti region of Georgia, as one to try.

Families are firmly part of the plan. Flock has been set up to welcome children, offering relaxed lunches for parents alongside its cafe service, which is not always a given on a night-out drinks strip.

There is a local flavour to the look of the place too. The branding, featuring quirky seagulls in boots, is by North East artist Suzie Winsor, and the hand-painted signage is the work of Alex Richardson at Mango Signs.

The wider picture

A permanent chef joins the kitchen in August, and the plan for summer 2026 is a run of pop-ups and guest-chef collaborations, so the menu is worth keeping an eye on in the early months. It is another sign of confidence in Park View as a food-and-drink destination, and a welcome one for residents who would rather not head into town for a good coffee or a considered glass of wine.

You can read more in Appetite magazine's write-up.

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