This is probably the most fascinating cafe I've ever visited. The local's know it as Bertorelli's (you can read some history here). It's so atmospheric. Generations of accumulated promotional stuff lie around everywhere. Great signs, fantastic old fruit machines. An unscrupulous dealer could absolutely clean up. This place should be preserved by the national trust if no-one's going to buy it as a going concern.
And they make a lovely cup of tea.
Thanks for this...
beautiful...
Posted by: Ricardo | July 29, 2004 at 03:03 PM
Thanks for this...
beautiful...
I have no comments to do only this comment with no comment...
just looking...
Posted by: Ricardo | July 29, 2004 at 03:06 PM
Ella,
seeing the cafe again brought back many happy memories. I enjoyed everything about the Cafe, the place, the people and in those days - the sunshine!
The summary of the cafe and especially Mr Bertorelli was very accurate, and brought a smile to my face. Hope all goes well for you and my favourite hairdresser - Frank.
Best Wishes Joan.
Posted by: Joan | August 20, 2004 at 12:32 PM
I have so many happy memories of you all in
the cafe. Ella how I used to love coming on holiday to my nan & granddad & uncle victor's because it ment I could pop downstairs to you for and Ice cream and a game on the slot machines. It was so good to come back and see you I just wish I could have turned the clock back 40 years and seen Mr Bertorelli and played the juke box. When I think of Newbiggin by the Sea you are always in my thoughts Thank you Ella for all my happy child hood memories of Newbiggin by the Sea. Mary Lymer
Posted by: mary Lymer | September 07, 2004 at 09:19 PM
I visited this place for the first time in summer 2005 with my mother, wife and baby daughter. My late Father's family lived in Newbiggin in the 1930's and this cafe was there then. Apparently my Grandfather suffered from an Ulcer picked up as a result of being gassed in WW1 and ice cream from Bertorelli's was the only thing that gave him relief when the pain got bad. I'd often heard my parents talk about this and it was nice to see the place. It was very friendly and characterful and 'the bairn' enjoyed her ice cream.
Posted by: Robin Wilcox | January 05, 2006 at 03:09 PM
we always pop in to your lovley little cafe on our way back from scotland where do you get all of the old fruit machines from? there great our kids love them.
Posted by: mr w little | February 13, 2006 at 07:56 PM
Happy days! I'm 60 now. I remember Mr Bertorelli, handing me a red turtle shaped frozen lollipop 55 years ago, with as much joy as I had receiving it. He had several metal molds of various animals for making frozen lollipops. The children would pick an animal. Great fun for kids. He was a good strong man, who I surmise had worked very hard for many years before buying that place. It would be interesting to know his history. Personally, I would love to buy that place and retire there. Especially with the fresh air and the nice pub nearby.
Posted by: Jack Hough | March 25, 2006 at 12:11 AM
i always remember going to the cafe when i was little and on holiday in Newbiggin with my family and these days i take my husband and kids and its still as lovely as ever. Thanks for the memories
Posted by: Hayley | April 01, 2006 at 03:55 PM
Bertorellis Cafe, has'nt changed a bit since I grew up there from 1956, Wilkie Terrace has gone the Church school has gone and woodhorn colliery is now a museum, perhaps Bertorellis could just stay the way it is for another fifty years.
Posted by: John Allett | May 29, 2006 at 05:16 PM
My grandparents Matthew and Elizabeth French lived in Newbiggin from about 1912 to the 60s - wonderful icecreams, summer holidays, ponies on the beach...
I visited a couple of years ago and
had the worst coffee in the world - only one kind -white Instant...
but it was wonderfulto be there!. I even found a tin of Black Bullets (sweets) that my grandad loved. So many memorie. The place should be preserved as a Historic Cafe - and why for goodness sake Cafe Riviera - it will always be Bertorelli's.
Posted by: Norma McCallum | July 20, 2006 at 12:56 AM
Its gone now, closed and awaiting new owners.
Everyone in Newbiggin is very sad.
Posted by: Ian | October 28, 2006 at 10:19 PM
I'm not sad, Ian.
Another tired old place awaits some new life and enthusiasm.
...and they microwaved their bacon sandwiches!
Posted by: AndyC | October 28, 2006 at 10:25 PM
I think its done its time, but I wonder what comes in its place. I will hold off my opinion until then.
Posted by: Rebecca | October 28, 2006 at 10:50 PM
I remember saving up all my pennies for the numerous slot machines at Bertorelli's. Putting "orange juice" on the juke box and playing on the one-armed bandits. It was a huge part of my childhood and I'm so sad to hear that it's gone. To me, as a child on holiday, a trip to Bertorelli's was always fantastic after a hard day's rockpooling. I thought that it would be there forever.
Posted by: Rosie Miles | November 10, 2006 at 03:43 AM
Bertorelli's cafe was as much a part of the village as the Lifeboat House, the Church Point,
The 'Store', the Horse Shoe Steps
and the Quay Wall. Let's hope that something of value is retained in Newbiggin, as without it, Newbiggin would just not be the same.
Posted by: Derek Seely | December 01, 2006 at 01:02 PM
Does anyone know if this cafe is still for sale? thanks
Posted by: john | January 08, 2007 at 05:59 PM
Yes it is John. But Frank is not in a big hurry to sell as there is all of the development happening on the sea front. There is going to be a big jump in value over the next 12 months.
Posted by: Ian | January 20, 2007 at 12:30 AM
i sure hope that the cafe gets opened up again, it was a nice place to be and have a cuppa on a warm or windy day. The workemen are setting up their staying area at the minuiet and works will begin soon on the sea front starting in april for appox 28 weeks. walking past cafe rivera as it is now it looks empty and forboding. i hope that things in newbiggin pick up and hopefully the cafe is as it once was.
Posted by: Tizzy | March 18, 2007 at 08:09 PM
Remember this cafe well, it was the only place you could hear Black Sabbath on a duke box in 1970 (spent a fortune), also the cups of oxo with a cream cracker ..... those were the days!
Posted by: Dave | June 07, 2007 at 10:12 PM
I have many happy memories of Newbiggin having been brought up in Ashington. I always used to call in to Berorelli's for a cup of oxo!
My last visit was in the late 1950's (having moved to Middlesex), but I have over the years returned to the north-east for visits to see my Aunt. I will have to call in for my first cup of oxo in 50 years the next time I'm up there.
Happy days, Leon MacDonald
Posted by: Leon MacDonald | July 16, 2007 at 10:42 AM
Ive lived in the south for 45yrs but every time I returned to the area I was born in I never failed to go to the cafe for a taste of the best ice cream in the land.I am told from my cousin its now been sold.What a shame.
Posted by: ELIZABETH RANCE(nee BROWNLIE) | September 30, 2007 at 10:06 PM
from the late 60 s up untill the mid 70s Every saturday my dad would walk me along the beach to Bertorellis for a tall glass of cream soda topped with ice cream.I well remember the red chairs and the "flippie machines" I remember the man behind the counter would put a small stool in front of the machine so I could see over the top to play the machine .also remember that you could often hear a piano being played through the open upstairs windows.I seem to remember there was a smaller bertorellis shop at dixons corner as well .I havent been home for many years now but whenever i think of my family/hometown bertorellis allways springs to mind.this place should be written into the history of newbiggin.
Posted by: Derek Pilkington | November 16, 2007 at 10:00 PM
IT'S BACK!!! Bertorelli's is open again! Oh, Joy! Oh, Rapture! Although I now live in Venice, Italy, Bertorelli's was such a major part of my Ashington/Lynemouth childhood. Indeed, Rosamund Bertorelli (married name Tyler) was my music teacher at Morpeth Grammar School!
Check out this link for the story and then go to the café and have a bacon sarnie!
http://www.wansbeck.gov.uk/index.cfm?page=viewnews.cfm&id=401
Posted by: Glenn | November 22, 2007 at 05:15 PM
Elizabeth -- probably the piano you remember was being played by Rosamund.
Posted by: Glenn | November 22, 2007 at 05:17 PM