Our Story

Who we are

We are a female-owned independent kitchen, cafe and bakery bang in the middle of Newcastle city centre. We’re Olive & Bean. But we’re always something more. Olive & a cheery hello. Olive & a little extra on the side. Olive & big bakes. We aim to be an inviting and welcoming place where people come back because we’re all about consistency, quality and comfort.

For almost 20 years we’ve been baking and preparing everything in-house, serving up food that’s made to fill you up. We’re not flashy, or trying to go viral. We’re just here – quietly confident. We do what we do well and keep doing it. People know what they’re getting and that’s why they come back.

What we do

A table for six. A quiet corner. A cake to share. A breakfast that’s just the business after a night on the town. Everyone is welcome and we cater for all.

At Olive & Bean we strive to provide great quality, fresh & delicious food to our customers. Whether it’s a sweet or savoury offering that gets you out of bed in the morning, we have something on the menu to satisfy any appetite.

We don’t change much but we do grow with everyone who walks through the green door. From first dates to wedding cakes and essays to babycinos, we’re always here for the small (and big) moments in life.

We treat every customer like a regular, and every regular like a friend. We’ll get that coffee just the way you like it. Sit in your favourite spot. This is a place that feels like yours.

Why we do it

We love connecting with others. Whether someone needs a deliciously warm scone after trawling Eldon Square, they’re popping in with the kids before the match, grabbing a chicken, mozzarella & pesto panini on the way home or they’re having a quiet workday, we’re a local landmark in people’s everyday lives.

We’re Olive & Bean. But really, we’re Olive & everyone.

Olive &
a cheery
hello

Over the years

We’ve been an inviting and welcoming place where people come back to year on year, because we’re all about consistency, quality, and comfort. The seed of the idea that eventually grew into Olive & Bean as you see it today began back in 2006…

The beginning

While working together in a supermarket, Michael and Jane decided it was time to make a break for it and create a way to work for themselves. Both having a background in and a passion for food, it felt like a natural step to open up their own deli.

Newcastle’s busy city centre was the prime location but it took almost a year to secure a property fit for purpose. Eventually we found a home behind the iconic Grainger Market and spent a further 5 months renovating the very old but beautiful Edwardian building Olive & Bean inhabits today.

Up & running

After a lot of hard work and many long days and nights, the doors were opened to the public for the first time on Saturday the 3rd of May 2008.

Back then O&B looked very different to what it does today, we only had one floor open, with a huge deli counter taking up most of the shop downstairs. That is where we got our name, we originally served olives & beans!

Within the first few months of being open we learned two important things; firstly, we needed more tables! Everybody wanted to sit in to eat and secondly, the importance of air-con! Luckily being independent meant we could change and adapt our plans as and when it was needed and we have continued to do so for the last 15 years.

Evolution

Now we have a full service kitchen that works hard to serve our breakfast and lunch menu’s fresh everyday, enough seats over two floors for around 100 people, and a well stocked cake counter full of homemade cakes, brownies and tiffins (and more!) all made in our on-site bakery on our 3rd floor. We still pride ourselves on making great coffee too, and although the form of Olive & Bean has changed extraordinarily since it began our ethos has remained.

We could have never imagined when we started what Olive & Bean has grown into today, we will keep pushing through all of the challenges that come with being a small but mighty independent business and look forward to where we will be in another decade. We’re hoping maybe we’ll be retired on a sunny beach somewhere tropical? We can always dream, and until then we will be happy to serve you everyday on Clayton Street instead!

Olive &
your favourite
spot

Find us here