Sidney’s restaurant falls victim to the credit crunch

Apr 22 2009 by Sophie Doughty, The Journal

AN award-winning restaurant is closing its doors after becoming the latest victim of the credit crunch.

Sidney’s, in Tynemouth, North Tyneside, ceases trading this week.

The bistro has succumbed to the recession as more and more of its customers have been tightening their belts and staying at home.

Yesterday acclaimed chef Alan O’Kane, who took over the restaurant, on Percy Park Road, in 2006, was unavailable for comment. The restaurant last night was closed.

Sidney’s, which specialises in locally produced food and freshly caught fish from North Shields Fish Quay has scooped numerous awards since it opened in 1999.

It was the inaugural winner of The Journal’s Best New Restaurant of the Year just months after opening and has appeared in both the Which? and Harden’s good food guides and has achieved an AA rosette.

The restaurant was also included in The Observer Food Monthly’s Top 10 Coastal Restaurants and in The Times’ Top Five seaside restaurants, and achieved the prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand status in 2006, which recognises good food at affordable prices.