Terry Laybourne plans steak and ale eatery

Nov 4 2009 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

AWARD-WINNING North East restaurateur Terry Laybourne is working on plans to open a new steak and ale eatery on Tyneside in the New Year.

Twenty one years since opening his first restaurant Laybourne’s 21 Hospitality Group now includes Café 21 and Caffe Vivo, on Newcastle Quayside, Café 21 at Fenwick, Bistro 21 in Durham and Jesmond Dene House Hotel and Restaurant.

The man who brought the first Michelin star to the North East now runs a business which employs a total of around 220 people and has a combined turnover of £6.4m.

And now he is working on a new pub-style venue above the Live Theatre, also on Newcastle’s Quayside. Mr Laybourne has not formally unveiled the plans but they are understood to be a pub-style venue based on the chophouse or steakhouse model which has seen a recent return to fashion.

It is likely to focus on high quality locally sourced meat and serve real ales as well as wine.

Laybourne opened his first restaurant 21 Queen Street on Newcastle’s Quayside in 1988 and to celebrate his two decades-plus in business he recently held a celebratory dinner at Café 21.

Over the years he has picked up a series of accolades including Decanter magazine, Restaurant of the Year; Perrier, Northern Restaurant of the Year; an Egon Ronay Star; and perhaps, the most prestigious of all, gaining a Michelin Star in 1992.

And last year Laybourne picked up several more awards including a Taste of North East England Gold Award and a ‘lifetime’ achievement award at the Northern Hospitality Awards.